The Muppets
puppet characters created by Jim Henson From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The Muppets are puppet characters created by Jim Henson. The characters include Kermit the Frog and the Muppet cast of Sesame Street. The Muppets are known for an absurd burlesque and humorous style of variety-sketch comedy.
Jim Henson started work with the Muppets in the 1950s and continued until his death in 1990. He said the name "muppet" came from combining the words "puppet" and "marionette." However, he also said he just liked the way the word sounded.
The Muppets are now owned by The Muppets Studio and The Walt Disney Company. The term "muppet" is trademarked and owned by The Walt Disney Company. Muppets used in Sesame Street are still called muppets at times, and have special permission from The Walt Disney Company to use that name.
Remove ads
Description
Many of Jim Henson's muppets have large eyes, round noses, and large mouths that go from one end of the face to the other (almost ear to ear). Muppets are often made out of foam with felt on top.
Puppeteers usually control the muppet with one hand in the head while the other hand controls the arms. Sometimes the arms have a stick that is used to move the hand and arm - this is called the "arm rod." Puppeteers hold the arm rod at one end and the other end touches the muppet hand.
Some muppets have hands that are gloves. Puppeteers put their hands in the gloves of these muppets so the muppet can move its fingers. For this reason, most muppets appear to favor their left hands.
Remove ads
Muppeteers and their characters
Main Muppeteers
Many Muppeteers voiced a variety of characters. For example, Jim Henson was the voice of Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Link Hogthrob, Mahna Mahna, Waldorf, Shakey Sanchez, Green Frackle, Green Heap, Beautiful Day Monster, The Newsman, Flower Eating Monster, Cantus the Minstrel, Sam, Harry the Hipster, Yorick, Emmet Otter, Timmy Monster, Lubbock Lou, and various other characters.
Similarly, Frank Oz voiced Animal, Cookie Monster, Grover, Sam the Eagle, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Beaker, George the Janitor, Mildred Huxhetter, Purple Heap, Splurge, Doglion, Gramps, and various other characters.
Meanwhile, Jerry Nelson voiced Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Crazy Harry, Lew Zealand, Pops, Uncle Deadly, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Gorgon Heap, Thog, Slim Wilson, and other characters.
Richard Hunt voiced Scooter, Statler, Gunge, Sweetums, Blue Frackle, Bubba, and other characters. Dave Goelz also portrayed numerous Muppets, including Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, Boober Fraggle, Uncle Traveling Matt, Rugby Tiger, Digit, Stinky the Skunk, Brewtster, Philo, Bobby Benson, Wayne, and Zeke.
Additional Muppeteers
Additional Muppeteers include:
- Alice Dinnean: She voiced Hilda, Wanda, Sherry Netherland, Phoebe, and others
- Bill Barretta: Croaker, Pepe the King Prawn, Big Mean Carl, and others
- Carmen Osbahr: Rosita
- David Rudman: Baby Bear and others
- Fran Brill: Prairie Dawn, Zoe, Betty Lou, Little Bird, Elmo, and others
- Joey Mazzarino: Maxine the Indian Elephant, Goggles and others
- John Tartaglia: Phoebe and others
- Julianne Buescher: Yolanda Rat, Janice, Sherry Netherland, Denise, and others
- Kevin Clash: Hoots the Owl and others
- Leslie Carrara-Rudolph - Abby Cadabby, and others
- Matt Vogel - 80's Robot, Constantine, and others
- Martin P. Robinson - Mr. Snuffleupagus, Telly Monster, and others
- Peter Linz - Walter and others
- Stephanie D'Abruzzo: Curly Bear and others
- Steve Whitmire: Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Lips, Pink Martian, and other characters
Various characters
Several Muppeteers voiced various unspecified characters, including:
- Eric Jacobson
- Jennifer Barnhart
- John Kennedy
- Noel MacNeal
- Pam Arciero
- Ryan Dillon
- Tyler Bunch
Remove ads
Media
Cast and characters in adaptations
Discography
- Opening themes
- "The Muppet Show Theme" (1976-2022)
- "Rock On" (2023)
- Closing themes
- "The Muppet Show Theme" (instrumental) (1976-2022) (except 2011)
- "The Rainbow Connection" (1979, 1986, 2001 and 2015 only)
- "Mahna Mahna" (2011 only)
- "Bright" (2015 only)
- "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" (2016 only)
- "The Muppets Mayhem End Credits" (2023)
Remove ads
Other websites
- Fandom has a wiki on this subject: The Muppets
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads