Topo Gigio's Voice Actor Peppino Mazzullo Dies at 100

Giuseppe “Peppino” Mazzullo, the Italian actor who gave voice to the beloved mouse puppet Topo Gigio, died Wednesday at his home in Santo Stefano di Briga. He was 100.

Mazzullo achieved international fame for his humorous appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” There, Topo Gigio charmed audiences with his signature greeting, “Hello, Eddie,” and his closing remark, “Eddie, kiss me goodnight.”

Maria Perego created the 10-inch-tall puppet, which debuted on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Dec. 9, 1962. Mazzullo and the puppet made more than 50 appearances on the variety series, including its final broadcast on June 6, 1971. Topo Gigio’s antics provided a lighthearted contrast to Sullivan’s often stoic presentation.

Producers introduced Topo Gigio to make Sullivan’s show more engaging for younger viewers and compete with “The Wonderful World of Disney.” Comedian Joan Rivers wrote sketches for the puppet, calling it her “little lousy mouse” for paying her car payments.

While Mazzullo provided the voice, Perego manipulated Topo Gigio’s legs with her fingers and his mouth with rods. Two other puppeteers operated the puppet’s arms.

Mazzullo, born June 6, 1926, in Santo Stefano, trained at the Academy of Cinematographic Art in Rome and the Academy of Dramatic Art in Milan. Before his iconic role, he voiced the mouse in the 1961 film “The Magic World of Topo Gigio” and worked in radio for RAI.

He continued to voice Topo Gigio until 2006. After retiring, Mazzullo founded the Piccolissimo Teatro di Messina and taught acting.