< Sesame Street

Sesame Street/Characters


Muppets

Abby Cadabby

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph

A fairy introduced in season 37. She attends the Flying Fairy School.

"Abby's design is an intentional departure from the typical Muppet look because she's not originally from Sesame Street. The implication is that the fairies in her old neighborhood look like her."

Alex

Matt Vogel

He is an 8 year old boy who has a father in jail.

  • Depression: He is sad about having a father in jail.
  • Prison Episode: Well, his father broke the law and had to go to jail as his punishment.
  • You Are Not Alone: Sofia explains to Alex that when was Alex's age, her father was sent to jail after he violated the law. She explains that incarceration is when somebody breaks the law (a grown-up rule), then they have to go to jail or prison as their punishment.

Baby Bear

David Rudman

The smallest of the Three Bears. (Later, the second-smallest of the Four Bears.)

Barkley

Toby Towson, Brian Muehl, Fred Garver, Bruce Connelly

This large, playful Muppet dog is Linda's pet, who understands American Sign Language. Unlike Rowlf, Barkley is not anthropomorphized. When he debuted in Season 9, he was known as Woof Woof. In Season 10, he became Barkley.

The Beetles

Richard Hunt (lead singer)

They are a fabulous insect quartet who sang "Letter B", "Thinking of U", and "Hey Food" (with Cookie Monster).

Bert

Frank Oz, Eric Jacobson

Long-suffering roommate and Blue Oni to Ernie's Red Oni. Bert would generally prefer to be left alone with a book than put up with his friend's shenanigans.

"Oh. Music cue."

Big Bird

Caroll Spinney, then Matt Vogel

An inexplicably large, yellow bird, perpetually stuck at age 6. Mr. Snuffleupagus is his best friend.

Gordon: Why are you walking that way?
Big Bird: "Just because."
...
(Big Bird learns of Mr. Hooper's death)
Big Bird: "Why does it have to be this way?"
(Beat)
Gordon: "Big Bird, it has to be this way because."
Big Bird: "Just because?"
Gordon: "Just because."

  • Start My Own: Because Oscar wouldn't let him join the Grouchketeers.

Bruno

Carroll Spinney

A garbageman who carries Oscar's trashcan.

  • Suddenly Voiced: Although, Bruno is usually a silent character, there were a few occasions where he talked (Like in the end of the 1985 movie: Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, he says "Sure, Boss!") He even sang a doo-wop song about putting the trash in the trash can.

Frank Oz, David Rudman

The very incarnation of gluttony.

"This taste better than Latin Grammy!"

"Arrivederci, frog."

Frank Oz

Cookie Monster's alter ego and the host of Monsterpiece Theatre.

Cousin Monster

Jerry Nelson

She is Cookie Monster's baby cousin. She loves to eat like Cookie Monster. But does not like to eat cookies. She prefers fruits and vegetables.

Count von Count

Jerry Nelson (1971-2012 voiced) (1971-2004 puppetry), Then Matt Vogel (2004-present puppetry) (2012-present voiced)

An Ambiguously Undead purple guy with fangs, a Romanian accent, and a love of counting. He lives in a castle with a number of bats and has been seen dating various Countesses.

Davey and Joey Monkeys

David Rudman (Davey) and Joey Mazzario (Joey)

Two monkeys that lived on Sesame Street.

Don Music

Richard Hunt

A frustrated composer who ends up banging his head on the piano when he can't think of a rhyme. Kermit the Frog gives Don Music a suggestion (For example: Change Mary had a Little Lamb to Mary had a bicycle.)

  • Catchphrase: I'LL NEVER GET IT! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! (Hits head on the piano)
  • Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: In 1998, parents sent in complaints to Children's Television Workshop about their kids hitting their heads at home. Because of that, Sesame Street had to stop rerunning the Don Music segments on the show since Season 30.

Elmo

Kevin Clash

A 3½-year-old monster who speaks in a high-pitched voice and eschews pronouns. Host of the "Elmo's World" segment and the object of 1996's Tickle-Me-Elmo craze.

Elmo: "Elmo doesn't believe this."

Elmo: "Elmo loves you."

Ernie

Jim Henson, then Steve Whitmire

An enthusiastic, extroverted prankster who's Bert's roommate and Red to his Blue.

  • Consulting Mr. Puppet: His rubber duckie.
  • Couldn't Find a Pen: Bert asks him to make a shopping list, and the only thing Ernie can find to write with is chocolate pudding. Ernie then makes a list of every writing implement that he couldn't find, adding pudding to the list.

Bert: "He's improving. Last time he used spaghetti sauce."

Forgetful Jones

Michael Earl Davis, Richard Hunt

A cowboy with poor memory.

Grover

Frank Oz, then Eric Jacobson

A well-meaning, multitalented monster who suffers more humiliation and injury than the rest of the cast combined.

Guy Smiley

Jim Henson, then Eric Jacobson

A manic television personality who emcees whatever TV shows need emceeing.

Harvey Kneeslapper

Frank Oz

An Anything Muppet prankster who pranks other Anything Muppet people.

Herry

Jerry Nelson

A large, blue monster. Rarely appears these days.

Hoots the Owl

Kevin Clash

An old bluesman and sax player.

  • Destined Bystander: He (or, at least, the puppet that would later come to be him) first appeared in a single scene in Follow that Bird.
  • The Owl-Knowing One: Not all-knowing, but he's wise enough to know you can't play the sax with a rubber duck in your hand, and that carrots are healthier than cookies.

Mr. Johnson

Jerry Nelson (1971-2012 voiced) (1971-2004 puppetry), Then Matt Vogel (2004-present puppetry) (2012-present voiced)

A grumpy old customer who goes to Charlie's Restaurant.

  • Catchphrase: (When he sees Grover) I know you. You are that waiter from over at Charlie's.

Kermit the Frog

Jim Henson, then Steve Whitmire

The Muppet Show's easily flustered host, here usually playing a roving news reporter in a trench coat.

  • Call Back: He makes a surprise appearance in "Elmo's World: Frogs", where he is shown lounging in his apartment.
  • Crossover: Kermit once made routine guest appearances, frequently playing off Grover and Cookie Monster. Alas, the frog seldom appears these days.
  • Frogs and Toads
  • If You Can Read This...: An actual cameraman is named on the slate in the Oklahoma! sketch.
  • Intrepid Reporter: During the "Sesame Street News Flash" segments.
  • Jim Henson: His definitive role; Kermit and Ernie aren't that different, acoustically speaking. This is especially apparent in Bert and Ernie's Muppet Show guest appearance, where Ernie appears and speaks immediately after Kermit introduces the pair.
  • Loud Gulp: The idea of a frog eating a fly makes him nauseous.
  • Reality Subtext: Kermit was Put on a Bus because Disney bought out the Muppets. He still appears now and again in the occasional cameo or legacy segment.
  • Somewhere a Herpetologist Is Crying: This is Zigzagged in one scene, in which Bob lists frog facts, and Kermit insists that frogs act more like people, with human diets and apartment buildings.
  • Why Didn't You Just Say So?: Forgetful Jones says this, after messing up Oklahoma! for the third time.

The Miami Mice

Steve Whitmire (J.P.), Martin P. Robinson (Tito)

They are two detective mice from Miami Florida who solve crimes and mysteries.

Jerry Nelson

A giant talking cookie who appeared in Cookie Monster's nightmare after Cookie Monster finished the last of his birthday cookies his grandmother made for his birthday party. He tells Cookie Monster his very sad story on how he became that way. He used to be blue furry monster too. But his cookie-only diet caused him to be transformed into a cookie. Now, he tearfully regrets he never had any healthier food (such as carrots, fish, or whole wheat bread). When Cookie Monster woke up from his nightmare, he swore to never eat cookies again and starts to eat healthier food. Then, he eats a cookie remarks, "Well, maybe sometime a cookie!"

  • Body Horror: His cookie-only diet made him become a cookie.
  • Dream People: He only appeared in Cookie Monster's dream.
  • One-Shot Character: He only appeared in the Cookie Monster sketch where Cookie Monster had that nightmare.

The Amazing Mumford

Jerry Nelson

A bumbling Stage Magician whose magic never works quite right.

Murphy Brownbag

Candice Bergen (voice only), Kevin Clash (puppetry only)

The hostess of Lunch Talk. She interviewed Cookie Monster about what lunch is.

Murray

Joey Mazzarino

A fluffy orange monster with a round, oversized jaw who rose to fame by hosting a variety of recurring segments; namely Word on the Street and Murray Has a Little Lamb. These are unique in that they're kept separate from the regular Sesame Street scenes by being set in the "real world" where Murray has largely unscripted scenes interacting with "normal" people.

Norah Nicks

Fran Brill

The host of NTV. She introduces a music video by Nick Normal and the NickMatics.

No Celebrities Were Harmed: She is based on Nina Blackwood of MTV.

Oscar the Grouch

Caroll Spinney

An irritable, antisocial Grouch who lives in a Bigger on the Inside trash can with his worm Slimey and his elephant Fluffy.

Oscar's mission in life is to be as miserable and grouchy as possible, and pass that feeling on to everyone else. When a visitor knocks on his trash can -- invariably interrupting him from a nap or an important task -- Oscar greets them with a snarl. He complains that he wants to be left alone, although when he's left entirely to himself, he's dissatisfied -- there isn't anybody around to irritate or complain to.

Over the Top

Jerry Nelson (lead singer)

They sing ZZ Blues.

Pat Playjacks

Jim Henson

The host of Squeal of Fortune. Although not mentioning Guy Smiley, He is America's 2nd Favorite Game Show Host.

Prairie Dawn

Fran Brill

A small, pageant-obsessed girl who aspires to a career in journalism.

Rosita

Carmen Osbahr

A bilingual monster who plays guitar. She was originally patterned after a fruit bat, but quickly lost the wings.

  • Continuity Nod: Luis taught her how to play the guitar, and she has retained that skill very well.
  • Gratuitous Spanish
  • Mentors: Rosita takes Gina's son Marco under her wing, because he is Guatemalan.
  • Military Kid: Like Elmo, Rosita has to deal with having a military father. Her father comes home injured and confined to a wheelchair, and she has a hard time adjusting to the consequent changes.
  • True-Blue Femininity

Sherlock Hemlock

Jerry Nelson

A somewhat inept detective. Like many others, he's fallen by the wayside over the past decade or so.

Sonny Friendly

Richard Hunt, Then David Rudman

A television game show host who host mostly his traveling game shows.

Mr. Snuffleupagus

Jerry Nelson, then Michael Earl Davis, then Martin P. Robinson (voice and upper body) and Bryant Young (rear end)

A slow-talking, elephantlike creature and Big Bird's best friend.

Telly

Bob Payne, then Brian Meuhl, then Martin P. Robinson

A mildly neurotic, easily discouraged monster. Was best friends with Oscar; now best friends with Baby Bear.

Two-Headed Monster

Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson, then Peter Friedman, Joey Mazzarino and David Rudman

Exactly What It Says on the Tin. Usually appears in order to teach the merits of cooperation or sound out words phonetically.

Velma Blank

David Rudman

She is the co-hostess of Squeal of Fortune. She shows Count Von Count the prizes after he won the game.

Vincent Twice Vincent Twice

Martin P. Robinson

The host of Mysterious Theatre.

  • Catch Phrase: "I am your host, Vincent Twice, Vincent Twice. Welcoming you once again to Mysterious Theatre."
  • No Celebrities Were Harmed: He based on the Masterpiece Mystery host, Vincent Price.

Zoe

Fran Brill

A monster who was added in the 1990s in order to add balance to a predominantly male cast.

Monsters

A heterogeneous group of furry creatures, many of whom share the last name "Monster." Examples include Telly, Cookie, Herry, Grover, and Elmo.

Grouches

A group of crusty, monster-like creatures indigenous to Grouchland.

  • Bad Is Good and Good Is Bad
  • Big Ol' Unibrow: As mentioned under Oscar's entry, it's a species trait.
  • Bizarro Universe: Grouch society mirrors human society (right down to similar celebrities -- Dan Rather-Not and Donald Grump, for example), but they prefer unhappiness and filth to happiness and cleanliness.
  • Blue and Orange Morality: As explained above, they dislike (often downright condemn) nice and pleasant things, and like things that most other people would find unpleasant. Although a bit odd, it sounds simple enough, right? Well, this also means that they like feeling miserable, and yet the nice things they hate make them miserable, which they like and... yeah. Try not to think about it too hard.
  • Planet of Hats

Honkers & Dingers

All the Muppeteers

Two species of Muppet, one with a bicycle horn for a nose and the other with a table bell on top of its head, which they use instead of speaking.

Martians/Yip-Yips

All the Muppeteers

Jellyfish-like, hovering aliens with antennae, severe underbite, and a distinctive "yip yip yip yip uh-huh uh-huh" sound.

Anything Muppets

The Anything Muppets (known internally as "AMs") are "blank" Muppets with interchangeable features and clothing, and allow puppeteers to create new characters without having to build the Muppets from scratch. Famous Anythings include Guy Smiley, the Count, and Prairie Dawn.

Miscellaneous Muppets

Sesame Street features a vast array of other Muppets ranging from animals, letters, and numbers to bathtubs and Singing Food.

Humans

Alan

The current owner of Hooper's store.

Bob

Bob McGrath

An unassuming, low-key music teacher who lives in the apartment above Hooper's Store.

Chris

Gordon's nephew who came to Sesame Street looking for a job, and took one at Hooper's Store, to pay for college.

David

Norman Calloway (1971-1989)

An African-American man who worked at Hooper's Store after Mr. Hooper died.

Gina

Allison Bartlett O'Reilly

She started out as an assistant at Hooper's Store during The Eighties. A lot has changed since then.

  • Character Development: In the span of twenty four years, she has assisted at Hooper's store and a daycare, gone to veterinary school, opened a veterinary practice, and adopted her own son, Marco.
  • Hot Mom: Her current occupation, aside from being a veterinarian.
  • Instant Sedation: In one episode, books on the Letter of the Day and the Number of the Day have this effect on Marco.
  • Irony as She Is Cast: According to Muppet Wiki, Allison Bartlett O'Reilly is allergic to dogs. However, Gina doesn't treat any real ones.
  • Salt and Pepper: She and Savion were Just Friends.
  • Story Arc: The three part episode "Gina Adopts a Baby." The original airdate was changed to coincide with National Adoption Month (November 2006).
  • Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: It's more drawn out than usual, but Gina's occupation does change several times.

Gordon

Mat Robinson (1969-1972), Hal Miller (1972-1974), Roscoe Orman (1974-present)

A father figure to the Muppets and kids on the street, and the de facto leader when things go wrong.

"Big Bird, jump!"

  • The Other Darrin: Roscoe Orman, the current and longest-running Gordon, is the third actor to play the character (the fourth, if you count the uncredited actor in the week of test episodes from summer 1969). And the only one without a 'fro.
  • Team Dad

Mr. Handford

Leonard Jackson (1989-1990), then David Langston Smyrl (1990-1990)

A retired firefighter who ran Hooper's store after David left Sesame Street.

Mr. Hooper

Will Lee (1969-1982)

A grandfather figure to those around him, and the original owner of Hooper's Store.

Johnny Uno

Carl Gordon

Gordon's father and Miles' grandfather. He was a pop singer in the 1950s and 1960s who did a dance called "The Macaroni".

  • Cool Old Guy
  • Flashback: In the flashback, he was performing "Do the Macaroni" live on The Sesame Street Bandstand in the late 1950s.

Linda

Linda Bove

A librarian and Bob's (apparent) girlfriend. Also deaf. Owner of Barkley.

Luis

A Chicano who runs the Fix-It Shop with his wife, Maria.

Maria

Maria worked as Luis' employee before settling down and marrying him.

Mr. Noodle and family

An oddly dressed Vaudevillian mime who lives outside the window of Elmo's World. The role is occasionally performed by Mr. Noodle's brother Mr. Noodle, his sister Miss Noodle, or his other sister Miss Noodle.

  • The Ditz: The Noodles' role is to provide a character to whom 3-year-old viewers can feel superior.
  • One Steve Limit: Averted. Of course, all the Noodles are pretty much interchangeable.
  • The Speechless: When a Noodle vocalizes, he or she usually produces a French horn or animal sound.

Olivia

Gordon's sister and a professional photographer.

  • The Cast Showoff: Alaina Reed's career began in Broadway musicals. She often took the opportunity to show off her singing chops.

Savion

Savion Glover

He is Gina's boyfriend and tap dancer.

Susan

Loretta Long

Gordon's wife and, as such, a maternal figure to those around her.

Uncle Wally

Bill McCutcheon

He is Bob's uncle. He also owns a pet seal named Wolfgang.

Animated Characters

Teeny Little Super Guy

Jim Thurman

An stop motion animated cel character drawn in a cup.

  • Every Episode Ending: Every episode ends with The Teeny Little Super Guy going back into the Rotating Cabinet after finishing the adventure.

Singers: You can't tell a hero by his size, I'm just a Teeny Little Super Guy

Teeny Little Super Guy: OOOOOOH, YEAH! (Cabinet closes)

Unseen Characters

Charlie the Chef

He is the owner and the chef of Charlie's Restaurant.

  • He Should Not Be Seen: He is never seen or heard. But is mentioned by Grover.
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