Aart Staartjes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aart Staartjes
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Aart Staartjes (1979)
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| Born | 1 March 1938 Nieuwendam, Netherlands
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| Died | 12 January 2020 (aged 81) Groningen, Netherlands
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| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation | Actor Director Presenter Author |
| Years active | 1957-2020 |
| Known for | Playing Meneer Aart in Sesamstraat |
Aart Staartjes (born March 1, 1938 – died January 12, 2020) was a Dutch actor, director, TV presenter, and documentary maker from Amsterdam. He was famous for playing Meneer Aart (Mr. Aart) on Sesamstraat, which is the Dutch version of Sesame Street. As Meneer Aart, he even wrote a book! Its title means 'Mr. Aart: Life and work of the man who does not want to be named a friend to children'. Aart Staartjes also used to host the yearly arrival of Sinterklaas in the Netherlands.
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Growing Up
Aart Staartjes was born in Nieuwendam, a part of Amsterdam-Noord. He had an older brother and a younger sister. They lived in a house on the Nieuwendammerdijk. His father, grandfather, and an uncle worked in a carpentry shop behind their home.
Aart started primary school when he was eight. After that, he went to a school called mulo in Amsterdam. Then he attended a Kweekschool, which was a college for future teachers. He left the Kweekschool in 1958 to go to theatre school instead. He finished his studies there in 1961.
His Acting Career
After finishing theatre school, Aart Staartjes worked with different acting groups. He made his first stage appearance in 1961 in a play called Meneer Topaze. This play was based on a story written in the 1930s.
Aart appeared in many TV shows. In 1967, he started a show called Woord voor Woord. In this show, he read parts from the Bible. He also lent his voice to Rocus, de vrije vogel (the free bird), in the children's show Fabeltjeskrant.
Creating Kids' Shows
A big moment in Aart Staartjes' career happened in 1972. A TV company asked him to create a children's show. He worked with actors and singers Wieteke van Dort and Joost Prinsen. They also teamed up with writers Willem Wilmink, Karel Eykman, and Hans Dorrestijn. Together, they made De Stratemakeropzeeshow.
This show was made especially for kids and sometimes caused a bit of a stir. For example, one song was criticized in a newspaper. The show ran until 1974. After it ended, Aart helped direct and acted in De film van ome Willem. This popular show starred Edwin Rutten and ran until 1989.
Aart also voiced Bernard in the Dutch version of the movie The Rescuers. He also did other voices, like Deacon Owl and Deadeye the Rabbit.
In 1979, Aart worked again with Wieteke van Dort and Joost Prinsen. They created J.J. de Bom voorheen De Kindervriend. Aart played Hein Gatje, a postman. He delivered letters where children wrote about their problems. The show then tried to help solve these problems. Even though it was very popular, the TV company stopped it after 32 episodes.
Mr. Aart and Other Roles
In 1984, Aart Staartjes started playing Meneer Aart in Sesamstraat. This is the Dutch version of Sesame Street. Meneer Aart was a bit of a grumpy old man. He often complained, especially about the animal characters like Pino, Tommie, and Ieniemienie. This character was added because some people thought Sesamstraat was too sweet.
After the actor Lex Goudsmit passed away in 1999, Meneer Aart took over his role as the "grandfather" character on the show. Aart played Meneer Aart until 2018. That's when the TV company decided to stop making new episodes and only show old ones.
Aart Staartjes also starred in Het Klokhuis. This show started in 1988 and was made for children who were a bit older than the Sesamstraat audience. In Het Klokhuis, he played Professor Doctor Fetze Alsvanouds. This character was a bit forgetful professor from a real university that closed a long time ago. Aart helped create this show.
For almost 20 years, until 2001, Aart also welcomed Sinterklaas when he arrived in the Netherlands each year. By this time, he was acting less often. However, he still performed sometimes. In 2002, he was in a TV drama called Mevrouw de minister. In 2006, he played circus director Willy Waltz in the series Waltz.
Personal Life
Aart Staartjes was 22 years old when his first child was born. He later divorced his first wife. He then married a woman named Hanna.
His Passing
On January 10, 2020, Aart Staartjes was in an accident. His quadricycle (a small vehicle) collided with a car in Leeuwarden. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition. He passed away two days later, at the age of 81.
Film and TV Roles
- De FabeltjesKrant (TV series), voice of Rocus de Vrije Vogel (1969–72)
- De Stratemakeropzeeshow (TV series), playing Stratemaker-op-zee (1972–74)
- Oorlogswinter (Winter in Wartime) (1975 TV mini-series), Director
- Pinkeltje (1978 film), playing Pinkeltje (Fingerling)
- De Film van Ome Willem (TV series)
- J.J. de Bom, voorheen de Kindervriend (TV series), as Hein Gatje (1979–81)
- Het Klokhuis (TV series) 1988–, including as Fetze Als-vanouds
- Waltz (TV mini-series) 2006, playing Willy Waltz
