Happy Birthday Humphrey B Bear

Hello from Humphrey B Bear

Let’s begin with an exclusive message sent to us by the Bear himself. Humphrey says, ‘A BIG hello to all my friends! I just wish I could give you the biggest honey hug for sticking with me through the years. Whether you watched me as a child, danced along with me as a parent, or shared a giggle as a grandparent, you’ve always been part of my big bear family. Thanks for every clap, cuddle, drawing and smile. Knowing you are there for me has kept me going and helped make my world magical. And guess what? Our adventure isn’t over yet! I’ll keep bringing you kindness, curiosity and just a pawful of cheeky fun!’ 

A big honey hug back to you, Humphrey!  

A very exciting life

The Nine Network’s anniversary special 40 Years: Entertaining South Australia, which screened in 1999, showcased the network’s history and paid tribute to its biggest stars. And guess who had his own segment? The popular newsreader Kevin Crease runs through Humphrey’s achievements – Logies wins, famous co-stars, a pantomime. We see his early days in black-and-white, and get a rare glimpse of Spanish Humphrey (Here’s Humphrey was franchised in the US and Latin America). Crease gets a cuddle for doing such a good job.

Even in his early 30s, Humphrey had the celebrity clout to stand alongside the legends of Australian TV. Over the years, our funny old fellow has been immortalised on a stamp, had a prime minister intervene to stop his program being cancelled, and been given a nod by the Australian band TISM (This is Serious Mum), whose drummer goes by the name Humphrey B Flaubert.  

A really amazing old bear 

If you’re thinking that Humphrey doesn’t look his age, you’re right! He may have spent six decades on our TVs, but some special magic in the air of his home, the Magic Forest, keeps him as a perpetual four-year-old – his interests and body language entirely relatable for his pre-school audiences.  

However, we don’t know many four-year-olds with coordination like Humphrey’s. As a silent bear, one of his main ways of spreading joy is to dance. Here’s an early example of Humphrey cutting a rug, on a 1968 episode of the Nine Network’s Country and Western Hour. Introduced as ‘the most famous kids personality in Australia today’, Humphrey gets a huge hand from the audience as he comes out in a fringed vest for some pawskootin’ fun.  

The children in the audience of Country and Western Hour could look rather glazed-eyed in some of the segments, but there’s no mistaking the glee on their faces in this one. Watch out particularly for the girl kicking her legs along with Humphrey. Even when he moved into colour and a world of increasing sophistication, this Bear’s appeal didn’t pall.

What does the B stand for in Humphrey B Bear?

Humphrey’s official birthday is 24 May 1965, the year the first episode of Here’s Humphrey aired on the Nine Network. He started life as ‘Bear Bear’; the name Humphrey was bestowed on him via a viewer’s competition, but he retained the B as a nod to his roots. Here’s Humphrey was set in Humphrey’s treehouse in the Magic Forest, from which he would issue out for adventures in the forest and the wider world. It was franchised internationally and became the longest-running children’s show in Australia. Despite being cancelled a couple of times, it ran on Australian TV until 2009. Since then, Humphrey’s been living a very exciting life: visiting children in hospitals (he’s an Ambassador for the Leukaemia Foundation), performing in stage shows, and concentrating on his online presence. He also has his own charity, the Magic Forest Group.  

So what is the secret of Humphrey’s evergreen appeal? His guardian, Craig Kocinski, says, ‘In a world that’s increasingly loud and fast, Humphrey gives us permission to slow down. His warmth is universal. His non-verbal style means every child – no matter their background, ability or culture – can connect with him. He radiates kindness, playfulness and safety. He doesn’t chase trends; he just shows up with a big heart. That never goes out of style.’ And so to the big issues – why doesn’t Humphrey wear pants? ‘I think the question should be more, “Why is he wearing a hat and a waistcoat and a tie?”’  

Humphrey learns to sign  

He may not speak, but Humphrey communicates eloquently. Often it’s just a skilful use of exuberant body language, but sometimes he uses traditional theatre mime, for instance tapping his forehead to say, ‘I remember’. In this segment, from a 1989 episode of Here’s Humphrey, he remembers the time his friend Bernice came to the Magic Forest to teach him sign language. Humphrey was a natural!  

This segment is an example of Humphrey using his platform to educate children, in this case about the different methods that people in the deaf community use to communicate. Bernice concentrates on the words for farm animals to make it fun for the kids at home.  

Hip-hop Humphrey  

This clip from a 1983 TV special, Humphrey Bear and the Great Gnome Robbery, displays some of Humphrey’s most endearing qualities: his childish curiosity, openness, and love of dancing. At a park by the sea, Humphrey goofs around with various buskers, doing ballet with a Pierrot, tipping a nod to his own statue, and holding his own with a break-dancing crew. Perhaps we should have sent Humphrey to the 2024 Olympics!  

Like all great TV personalities, Humphrey has an ability to move with the times without compromising the central quality of his appeal. We’re sure we’ll be blowing out candles with Humphrey B Bear for many years to come.  

Looking for more? 

• Explore more nostalgic Australian children's TV history with Mr Squiggle's Christmas cards
• Spend time with another Australian children's TV icon, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
• Dive into the 1990s golden age of Australian TV for tweens and teens

Want to be the first to hear stories and news from the NFSA? 
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss out.

Main image: TCN9 publicity still of Humphrey B Bear, released in 2016 to celebrate 60 years of Australian television. Courtesy: Nine Network. NFSA title: 1634509