Simon Barnes, Who Played 'Teletubbies' Character Tinky Winky, Dies at 52

London actor Simon Barnes, best known for playing the purple creature Tinky Winky on the popular late 90s kids show the "Teletubbies" has died, The Guardian reports. He was 52.

Barnes, a trained ballet dancer and choreographer, was the father of three and passed away four days after celebrating his birthday. He also leaves behind his wife Emma Robbins.

Tinky Winky, the purple humanoid creature that carried a "magic" red purse and had an antenna shaped like an upside-down triangle, made international headlines in 1999 when evangelical preacher Jerry Falwell accused the character of being "a gay role model."

Writing in the National Liberty Journal at the time, Fawell warned parents Tinky Winky could be a secret gay symbol because "he is purple, the gay pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle: the gay pride symbol."

For his part, Barnes, who described being in the "Teletubbies" as "a bit like the Beatles," took over the role of Tinky Winky in 1997 after actor Dave Thompson and Falwell's comments.

"People always ask me if Tinky Winky is gay," Barnes said, according to The Guardian. "But the character is supposed to be a three-year-old so the question is really quite silly."

Actress Emily Atack, Barnes' niece, took to Instagram to pay tribute to Barnes.

"My wonderful uncle Simon Barnes has been taken from us all so suddenly," she wrote. "The kindest and most talented man you could ever wish to meet. Loved by all who knew him, and will be forever."