Li became an apprentice to his father in the art of puppetry at the age of 11, and three years later set out on his own.
這樣一來，布袋戲很快成為台灣民間婚喪壽慶、迎神賽會、農暇豐收時的重要鄉村娛樂之一。戲班紛紛成立，並代代相傳。李天祿就是從小在戲棚裡長大的。十一歲時，他就墊著小板凳在父親的掌中劇團當副手參加演出。