Guğmundur "Gummi Thor Ziggy" Kárason
was born on June 14th, 1974 in Reykjavík, Iceland. He has brown hair, hazel eyes and is 6' 1" (1.86 m) tall.
In 1998 Guğmundur started working for LazyTown Entertainment. He soon became one of the core creative people, earning him the title of Creative Director.
He's involved in everything from performing one of the key characters to developing concepts and consulting on the show as well as designing visuals for the company. Guğmundur is the puppet performer and voice of Ziggy, and studied visual communication, graphics design and digital design for 3 years at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and in Danmarks Designskole. Graduated top of his department with a BA degree 2003.
Also, he attended two workshops at Jim Henson Productions in NYC, (1996, 1999) and attended a workshop at the Jim Henson Creature Shop in London, (1999).
Guğmundur is the son of director Kari H. Thorson and visual artist Jenny E. Guğmundsdóttir, and grew up around visual art and theater. From an early age he knew he wanted to combine those two. He found his answer in television puppetry and in 1994 he founded Wit Puppets. The company's goal was to conceive and build creatures and make them come alive, with character and humor. Since then, Wit Puppets has worked for all the largest production companies in Iceland. That includes commercials, theater and television and is proud to have performed and produced over a hundred puppets in the process.
Although the projects have become more elaborate and complex, Wit Puppets remains a small and solid company. Guğmundur's involvement in Wit Puppets ranges from character development and design to construction and even performing some of the puppets himself.
Guğmundur is the creator of a children's television show called "The Sidekicks". In the spring of 2003 he produced and directed an 18 min pilot for the show.
In January 2004, Lazy Town Entertainment started filming 40 twenty two minute episodes called LazyTown. The show aired in the US on Nick Jr. and CBS in 2004.
*** LTP EXCLUSIVE ***
A Brief Exchange With Guğmundur Thor
The Gummi Slide-Show
LTP Wit Puppets Photo Gallery
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