Van Snowden，Puppeteer Van Charles Snowden was born on February 9, 1939 in San Francisco, California. His parents were Wyatt Estes Snowden and Ortha Dufree. Snowden was raised on a farm in Branson, Missouri. Van started his career in Hollywood by donning the suit of the famous titular dragon H.R. Pufnstuf in the 1970 theatrical film "Pufnstuf.