Eric Jacobson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Jacobson
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Jacobson at San Diego Comic-Con in 2015
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| Born | January 15, 1971 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | NYU Tisch School of the Arts (BFA) |
| Occupation | Puppeteer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Jacobson |
| Children | 2 |
Eric Jacobson (born January 15, 1971) is an American puppeteer. He is famous for bringing many beloved characters to life. He performs characters like Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle for The Muppets Studio.
He also performs popular Sesame Street characters. These include Bert, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, and Guy Smiley. Eric took over these roles from the original performers, like Frank Oz and Caroll Spinney. He has been a puppeteer since 1994.
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Early Life and Inspiration
Eric Jacobson was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 15, 1971. He was inspired to become a puppeteer after the death of the famous Jim Henson. Jim Henson created many of the Muppets and Sesame Street characters.
In 1992, Eric was a student at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. During this time, he worked as an intern at the Jim Henson Company. He helped in their special library that keeps old records and materials. He earned his college degree the next year.
Bringing Characters to Life
Eric Jacobson started his puppeteering career on Sesame Street in 1994. He often worked with Frank Oz, who was a legendary puppeteer. Eric would perform characters like Grover and Bert when Frank Oz was not available.
Later, Eric became the main performer for these characters after Frank Oz retired from the roles. Since 2005, Eric has also performed Guy Smiley. After Caroll Spinney retired in 2018, Eric took over the role of Oscar the Grouch full-time.
Working with The Muppets
Eric began performing Miss Piggy for the Muppets in 2001. He first showed off his Miss Piggy at a fan event called "MuppetFest." The next year, he started performing Fozzie Bear and Animal. Their first appearance with Eric was in the movie It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.
In 2005, he also started performing Sam Eagle in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. All these characters were originally performed by Frank Oz. Eric even talked with Frank Oz to make sure he kept the characters' voices and movements just right.
Other Fun Projects
Besides his work with Henson, Eric has worked on other children's TV shows. These include The Puzzle Place and Jack's Big Music Show. He has also performed in live puppet shows.
For Disney, Eric performed Harry the Duck on Bear in the Big Blue House. He also puppeteered Piglet on The Book of Pooh. In 2007, he was a puppeteer and writer for Bunnytown on Playhouse Disney.
Personal Life
Eric Jacobson is married to Mary Jacobson. They met when Mary was working as a production assistant on Sesame Street. They have two children together.
Awards and Recognitions
Eric Jacobson has been recognized for his amazing puppeteering work. He has received nominations for several awards. These include the Daytime Emmy Award and the Primetime Emmy Award. He was nominated for his work on Sesame Street and other specials.
Film and Television Appearances
Eric Jacobson has performed his famous characters in many movies and TV shows.
- Movies: He has been in films like The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014). He also appeared in Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) for Disney+.
- Television: He continues to perform on Sesame Street since 1994. He was also in The Muppets TV series (2015-2016). More recently, he performed Animal in The Muppets Mayhem (2023) on Disney+.
- Video Games: Eric has lent his voice to characters in video games too. These include Muppets Party Cruise (2003) and Disney Speedstorm (2023).
- Other Appearances: His characters have also appeared in theme park shows, web series, and live performances. These include "Muppet YouTube Shorts" and "The Muppets Take the Bowl" live show.
