Noreen Young, who created and starred in the popular 1990s Disney children's show Under the Umbrella Tree has died aged 85 following a stroke. Her family confirmed the news to CBC. The star produced Under the Umbrella Tree from 1987 to 1993 and portrayed one of the show's main characters Gloria Gopher. Noreen's brother Stephen Brathwaite, who played Jacob Bluejay in Under the Umbrella Tree, said she "was a wonderful sister" and said her work was "an act of love, really, for kids and for the community.

"Her character was her. Gloria Gopher was Noreen Young. She was a sweet, creative problem solving bulldozer," he told CBC. He explained she always had a love of puppets and went to art school, but found herself returning to puppetry afterwards. "I think she thought, 'Oh, puppets aren't cool. I'll do drawing and painting and sculpture.' Which she did. And then as soon as she's graduated, she was back at, at puppets," he said.

Chair and executive director of international puppet festival Puppets Up! Jane Torrance also remembered the TV icon. "I don't think that there's a kid who was born in the 80s or 90s who...watched CBC as a kid who doesn't know Noreen's work," she told the channel.

"I think once she started with puppets and saw where they could take her and where they could take her artistic career, it just became something she was going to do."

Canadian puppeteer Ronnie Burkett wrote on Instagram: "I wrote her a fan letter when I was ten years old. Foolish woman replied and was stuck with me for life. I am incredibly sad as I mourn her, but so very grateful for knowing Noreen Young."

On Facebook one tribute said: "She was a pioneer in her field, and her imaginative spirit and artistry left an indelible mark on generations of Canadians." Another fan paid tribute writing: "RIP. Condolences to family and friends."

Noreen who was born in Ottawa, Canada, worked in puppetry for over 50 years. The icon had said she was interested in puppets since she was 12-years-old and would perform puppet shows at stores and local coffee shops.

Some of her earliest work was with another CBC puppet show, Hi Diddle Day, which aired from 1968 to 1976. She also worked on Sesame Park, the Canadian version of Sesame Street. In total she was involved with over one hundred separate television productions.

She was also the first artistic director of the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival which began in 2005 and other than a hiatus between 2017 and 2022 is still running.

She was named a member of the Order of Canada in 1995.