The comedian-clown-jester known to many in the comedy world simply as Rumpel or Rumple has died.
Peter Simms wrote: "Crikey goose. I've some really sad news.
The worlds greatest fool ever and an amazing friend of mine. The awesome rumple, aka Jolly Goodfellow has sadly gone to that great circus ring in the sky.
There was and never will be another like him. His 48 hour plus long one man shows, including going to the toilet live on stage in a none offensive manner (and he did, I know this as I held the bucket) were legendary. His spring powered shoes were as unique as his sense of humour.
His life off stage was as brilliantly bizarre as his shows.
I learnt so much from him and the world of comedy is going to be a darker place without him.
You were the Andy Kaufman of our time. The Grimaldi of fools. But most of all and above all this, you were my friend."
In a lengthy varied career he worked in street theatre, appeared at Glastonbury and with Cirque du Soleil. There is further background here where it is revealed that the Australia-born performer "first arrived in Europe into London on a Qantas jet. It was a laughably short visit. He had worn his costume and false nose the entire 20+ hour trip. The wall between performance and backstage was to Rumple a sliding scale with a clown at each end."
James G Barrett wrote: "am sad to report that the legend Rumpel (aka @Jolly Goodfellow) has died. Rumpel was a very visible presence in the mid 90s underground scene in Australia. He left Australia about the same time I did (1997) and also came to England, where he was denied entry. He was wearing his full jester costume as he arrived at Heathrow. The border authorities assumed he was dressed for work, but he did not have a permit. What they failed to realise was this was how he dressed all the time.
One of my most enduring memories of Rumpel was him driving the Aliens bus out of Confest in 1995 (It was an Allen's bus, that had been purchased and transformed by.....was it Vibe Tribe?). Rumpel was driving the bus in his jester splendor, a huge cloud of dust trailing behind him as he passed us on the banks of the mighty Murry River. Rumpel often only used one word in his performances, "Crikey" a good 5 years before it became associated with the crocodile molester Steve Irwin. Rumpel was a regular at Brackets and Jam, an amazing community of uninhibited artists (https://bracketsandjamsydney.com/)
Rest in Fun you beautiful man."
Comedians from all over the world have been paying tribute on social media.
Phil Nichol wrote: "Love ya, Rumps. Thanks for all the giggles and inspiration…goose."
Adam Fields replied: "Sad news. What a unique soul. The world is a duller place without him."
Glenn Wool wrote: "Oh dear, that’s made me sad that he’s gone and smile because I thought of him," to which Nichol replied: "the essence of lovable"
Tony Law wrote: "Oh man. That’s so sad to hear. He was pure goodnesss and joy."
