David Rudman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Rudman
Rudman at SXSW in 2015
Born	(1963-06-01) June 1, 1963 (age 61) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Puppeteer puppet builder writer director producer
Years active	1981–present

David Rudman (born June 1, 1963) is an American puppeteer, puppet builder, writer, director, and producer known for his involvement with the Muppets and Sesame Street. Rudman currently performs the roles of Scooter, Janice, and Beaker for The Muppets Studio, which were all originated by Richard Hunt, as well as Cookie Monster and Baby Bear on Sesame Street.

Career

David Rudman has been a Sesame Street Muppet performer since 1985—currently performing Cookie Monster (since 2001), Baby Bear and the right head of the Two-Headed Monster (since 1998). He has received four Emmy nominations as Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series for his work on Sesame Street. Rudman has also directed several web videos for Sesame Street such as "Cookie Monster Auditions for Saturday Night Live" and "Conversations with Bert". He has performed in numerous television shows and specials including Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Muppets, where he performed characters originally portrayed by Richard Hunt, such as Scooter, Janice, Bobby Benson and Wayne. His film credits include The Muppets Take Manhattan, Labyrinth, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, A Muppet Christmas Carol, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted. Following the departure of Steve Whitmire in 2016, he became Beaker's new performer in 2017.

Personal life

Rudman attended Highland Park High School and graduated in 1981. He has been a speaker at the school's biennial Focus on the Arts program since 2003. He attended college at the University of Connecticut.

Rudman was the speaker at the 2005 graduation ceremony for the Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago.

Spiffy Pictures

Spiffy Pictures is a Chicago-based production company that was founded by David and Adam Rudman in 2003. The studio consists mainly of live-action television shows developed for networks such as Noggin, Disney Channel, the Nick Jr. Channel, and PBS.

In addition to his work on Sesame Street and with the Muppets, Rudman is co-owner of Spiffy, Pictures where he co-created, executive produced, directed and performed in Jack's Big Music Show (Noggin), Curious Buddies (Nick Jr. Baby), Bunnytown (Disney Junior), Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map (Warner Bros.), Frankie and Frank (Nick Jr.), Donkey Hodie (PBS Kids) and is the creator, executive producer, character designer, director and voice director of the animated series Nature Cat on PBS Kids, voicing several characters including Leo the Mammoth, Prospector Jones, Nevin, and the Seeker.

Filmography

• I Love Liberty (ABC)
• The Muppets Take Manhattan (film): Additional Muppets
• Little Muppet Monsters (CBS): Boo Monster
• Labyrinth (film): Goblins (puppetry only)
• Sesame Street (PBS): Baby Bear, Cookie Monster (2001–present), Two-Headed Monster (right head), Norman, Davey Monkey, Ernestine, Chicago the Lion, Humphrey, Freddy (Rudy's dad), Additional Muppets
• The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (HBO): Snort, The Snail, Additional Muppets
• A Muppet Family Christmas (ABC): Miss Piggy's Photographer, Additional Muppets
• Jim Henson's Play-Along Video (direct-to-video): Danny, Dino Doc, Farmer Lear, Mookie, Additional Muppets
• Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting (NBC): Additional Muppets
• The Cosby Show (NBC): Sweetums, Boo Monster
• The Jim Henson Hour (NBC): The Song of the Cloud Forest
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (film): Donatello (face)
• Muppet*Vision 3D (attraction): Roy and Max
• The Muppets at Walt Disney World (NBC): Frog, Additional Muppets
• Muppet Sing-Alongs: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs (direct-to-video): Percival Bear, Gopher, Termite, Waiter Penguin, Frog
• Sesame Street Visits the Firehouse (direct-to-video): Mr. Monster
• The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (CBS): Penguin, Additional Muppets
• Dinosaurs (ABC)
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (film): Old Joe (puppetry only), Peter Cratchit, The Swedish Chef, Wander McMooch, Beggar
• Dog City (Fox Kids): Bowser, Bram, Colonel Claghound, Additional Muppets
• CityKids (ABC): Frankie Frank, Additional Muppets, Muppet Coordinator
• Muppet Meeting Films (short): Big Head, Gimley, Jones, Additional Muppets
• A New Baby in the House (direct-to-video): Courtier
• Sesame Street Stays Up Late (PBS): Baby Bear, MNN Logo Orange Monster
• Muppet Time (Nick Jr.): Milton
• Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (CBS): Ned Mouse
• Donkey Hodie (PBS): Bob Dog, Grampy Hodie
• Muppets Sing-Alongs: It's Not Easy Being Green
• Muppets Tonight (Disney Channel): (Episode 201)
• Elmocize (direct-to-video): Twister Sister
• Aliens in the Family (ABC): Bobut
• Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck (PBS): Cookie Monster, Baby Bear
• Elmo Saves Christmas (PBS): Baby Bear, Humphrey, Elf #4
• 123 Count with Me (direct-to-video): Humphrey
• Elmo Says BOO! (direct-to-video): Baby Bear, Davey Monkey
• The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (film): Baby Bear, Alarm Clock Bird, Caterpillar, Pestie, Colander Stenchman, Grouch Ice Cream Customer, various Grouches
• Play with Me Sesame (Noggin): Cookie Monster, Ernestine, and Chicago the Lion
• Smart Cookies (PBS): Cookie Monster
• Kids Favorite Songs 2 (direct-to-video): Baby Bear, Lavender Anything Muppet boy, and Hero Guy (Hero Guy segment only)
• Elmo's World: The Wild Wild West (direct-to-video): Baby Bear and Hero Guy (Hero Guy segment only)
• Elmo's World: Happy Holidays (direct-to-video): Orange Gold Caroler, Cookie Monster and Baby Bear
• The Street We Live On (PBS): Cookie Monster, Baby Bear and Two-Headed Monster (right head)
• A Magical Halloween Adventure (direct-to-video): Pumpkin, Surprise Monster
• Happy Healthy Monsters (direct-to-video): Cookie Monster
• Cookie's Crumby Pictures (PBS): Cookie Monster
• Jack's Big Music Show (Noggin): Jack
• Elmo's Christmas Countdown (ABC): Cookie Monster and Baby Bear
• Studio DC: Almost Live (Disney Channel)
• Abby in Wonderland (direct-to-video): Cookie Monster
• A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa (NBC): Scooter, Janice and Luncheon Counter Monster
• The Muppets (film): Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy and Food in the "We Built This City" montage
• Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular (ABC): Scooter, Janice, Additional Muppets
• Muppets Most Wanted (film): Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy, Bobby Benson, Wayne, Gulag Rat, Baby, Thingy-Thing
• The Furchester Hotel (BBC): Cookie Monster, Sorbet Monster, Gonger, Arthur, Mr. Smellsalot
• The Muppets (ABC): Scooter, Janice
• The Muppets Take the Bowl: Scooter, Janice, Beaker (Live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–10, 2017)
• The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (HBO Max): Cookie Monster, Baby Bear, Sully, Two-Headed Monster (right head)
• Muppets Now (Disney+): Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Miss Poogy
• Muppets Haunted Mansion (Disney+): Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Wayne, Squid Ghost
• The Muppets Christmas Caroling Coach: Beaker (voice, theme park show at Disneyland during Disney Merriest Nights in 2021)
• The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+): Janice