Caroly Wilcox facts for kids
Caroly Wilcox (born May 16, 1931 – died January 9, 2021) was an amazing American theatre artist. She was most famous for her work with the Muppets. You might know her creations from shows like Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and Fraggle Rock. She also worked on Muppet movies like The Muppet Movie and The Muppets Take Manhattan.
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Early Life and Education
Caroly Wilcox was born on May 16, 1931. Her father, Clair Wilcox, was an economics professor. Caroly went to Swarthmore College. She graduated from there in 1952. Even in college, she showed her creative side. She helped organize a folk festival. She also designed sets for a play.
Starting Her Career
When she was younger, Caroly was a folk singer. She was part of a group called The Samplers. They even made a record together in 1961. Caroly also performed in a Broadway show. This was in 1958. She also worked on a puppet show in Boston. This was before she joined the Muppets.
Working with the Muppets
Caroly Wilcox started working with the Muppets in 1969. This was a very important time for her career. She became the director of the Muppet workshop in New York. She helped create many characters for Sesame Street. These included the Yip-Yips. She also worked on an early version of Elmo. Caroly worked on Sesame Street from its very start in 1969. She continued until she retired in 2012.
More Muppet Projects
Caroly also worked on other popular Muppet shows. These included The Muppet Show (from 1976 to 1981). She also worked on Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977). Another big project was Fraggle Rock (from 1983 to 1987). She helped with the special Put Down the Duckie in 1988.
Muppet Movies
Caroly's talents also extended to Muppet movies. She worked on The Muppet Movie in 1979. She also helped with The Great Muppet Caper in 1981. Her work can be seen in The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984). She also contributed to Follow That Bird (1985).
Awards and Teaching
Caroly was part of the teams nominated for Emmy Awards. This was for her amazing costume design work. In 1990, the Sesame Street team won a Daytime Emmy. Caroly was a part of that winning team. She also taught puppetry workshops. She taught at New York University. She shared her skills with many students.
Later Life
Caroly Wilcox passed away on January 9, 2021. She was 89 years old. Her work brought joy to millions of children and families. She left a lasting mark on the world of puppetry.