List of Muppets facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about characters from The Muppet Show and related works. For Sesame Street characters, see List of Sesame Street Muppets.

The Muppets cast in The Muppet Show.

The Muppets are a famous group of funny puppet characters created by Jim Henson. They have appeared in many TV shows, movies, and other media since the 1950s. Most of these characters first appeared on The Muppet Show, a TV series that ran from 1976 to 1981. Since then, new characters have joined the group in other shows and movies.

The very first Muppet characters were seen in Sam and Friends, a show from 1955 to 1961. Kermit the Frog was one of the first Muppets Jim Henson ever made. The Muppets became very well-known after appearing on the children's TV show Sesame Street. Jim Henson's company owned the Sesame Street characters until 2000. Now, they are owned by Sesame Workshop and are considered a separate group of characters.

Since 2004, the Muppet characters you see here have been owned by The Muppets Studio, which is part of The Walt Disney Company.

Main Characters

Kermit the Frog

Performed by Jim Henson (1955–1990), Steve Whitmire (1990–2016), Matt Vogel (2017–present)

Kermit is a smart and calm frog. He is the main character and the leader of the Muppets. Jim Henson created Kermit in 1955. Kermit is one of Henson's most famous characters. He was the host of The Muppet Show, where he had to manage all the crazy things happening backstage. Kermit has been in every Muppet show and movie since he was created.

Miss Piggy

Performed by Frank Oz (1976–2002), Eric Jacobson (2001–present)

Miss Piggy is a strong and famous pig who loves being a star. She was Kermit's girlfriend until 2015. People describe her as powerful and feminine, but also a bit bossy. Bonnie Erickson designed and built her. Miss Piggy first appeared in a TV special in 1974.

Fozzie Bear

Performed by Frank Oz (1976–2000), Eric Jacobson (2002–present)

Fozzie is a bear who loves telling jokes. He is a stand-up comedian on The Muppet Show. Sometimes his jokes aren't very good, but he keeps trying! Frank Oz created Fozzie's personality and performed him until 2000. Since then, Eric Jacobson has performed Fozzie.

Gonzo the Great

Performed by Dave Goelz (1976–present)

Gonzo is a strange creature with a hooked nose. He loves doing daring stunts and performances. It's a running joke that no one knows what kind of animal Gonzo is. In some shows, he's called a "whatever" or a "weirdo." In the movie Muppets from Space, it was revealed that Gonzo is an alien. Dave Goelz created Gonzo and has performed him ever since.

Rowlf the Dog

Performed by Jim Henson (1962–1990), Bill Barretta (1996–present)

Rowlf is a chill piano-playing dog. He first appeared in commercials for dog food. He then became a sidekick on The Jimmy Dean Show. Rowlf was one of the first Muppets to have a very clear personality. He is known for being down-to-earth and having a dry sense of humor.

Scooter

Performed by Richard Hunt (1976–1991), David Rudman (2008–present)

Scooter is the helpful stage manager and assistant at the Muppet Theatre. He makes sure everything runs smoothly, even with all the chaos. Richard Hunt based Scooter's voice and personality on how he remembered himself when he was younger. Scooter first appeared in the first season of The Muppet Show.

Pepe the King Prawn

Performed by Bill Barretta

Pepe is a funny and confident king prawn. He was introduced in Muppets Tonight, where he often worked as an elevator operator and cook. Pepe later became the spokesperson for a restaurant chain.

Rizzo the Rat

Performed by Steve Whitmire (1980–2016)

Rizzo is a clever and funny brown rat. He's known for his sarcastic New York City attitude. Rizzo first appeared in season four of The Muppet Show.

Animal

Performed by Frank Oz (1975–2000), Eric Jacobson (2002–present)

Animal is the wild and crazy monster drummer for the band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. He is known for his huge appetite and energetic personality. Jim Henson designed Animal.

Supporting Characters

Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem

This is a rock band with six members:

Dr. Teeth: The leader and keyboard player with a deep voice.
Floyd Pepper: The cool and cynical bass player.
Janice: The lead guitar player with a flower-child personality.
Zoot: The laid-back saxophone player.
Animal: The wild drummer.
Lips: The trumpet player who mumbles.

Other Muppets like Rowlf the Dog and Rizzo have sometimes played with the band too.

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

Performed by Dave Goelz

Bunsen is a smart but often forgetful scientist. He loves to do science experiments and show off his inventions. These experiments usually go wrong, and his assistant, Beaker, often gets hurt! Bunsen first appeared in the first season of The Muppet Show.

Beaker

Performed by Richard Hunt (1977–1991), Steve Whitmire (1992–2016), David Rudman (2017–present)

Beaker is Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's unlucky lab assistant. He often becomes the victim of Bunsen's experiments, which usually end with him getting seriously injured. Beaker first appeared in the second season of The Muppet Show.

Sam Eagle

Performed by Frank Oz (1975–2000), Eric Jacobson (2005–present)

Sam Eagle is a patriotic bald eagle. He believes in good manners and traditional values. He often acts like a snob and a bit of a prude. Sam was designed by Jim Henson. He often appears in shows and attractions, reminding everyone to be proper.

Statler and Waldorf

Statler: Performed by Richard Hunt (1976–1991), Jerry Nelson (1975, 1992–2003), Steve Whitmire (2002–2016), Peter Linz (2017–present)
Waldorf: Performed by Jim Henson (1975–1990), Dave Goelz (1992–present)

Statler and Waldorf are two old, grumpy men. They sit in a balcony box on The Muppet Show and constantly make fun of the Muppets' performances. They were named after two famous hotels in New York City.

The Swedish Chef

Performed by Jim Henson (1975–1990), David Rudman (1992), Bill Barretta (1996–present)

The Swedish Chef is a silly chef who speaks in a made-up Swedish language. He often throws food and uses strange cooking tools. Jim Henson and Frank Oz worked together to perform him, with Oz providing the hands for the unexpected actions.

Walter

Performed by Peter Linz

Walter is a shy, human-like Muppet who is a huge fan of the Muppets. He was introduced in The Muppets (2011). Walter helped Kermit reunite the Muppets to save their theater. He later joined the Muppets after showing off his amazing whistling talent.

Camilla the Chicken

Performed by Jerry Nelson (1978–2003), Matt Vogel (2008–present)

Camilla the Chicken is Gonzo's longtime girlfriend. She often appears on The Muppet Show and in movies. In Muppet Babies, Camilla was Baby Gonzo's stuffed chicken doll that came to life in his imagination.

Bobo the Bear

Performed by Bill Barretta

Bobo the Bear is a big, friendly brown bear. He might look imposing, but he's usually kind and a bit confused. He has appeared in several Muppet films and TV shows. On Muppets Tonight, he was a security guard. In The Muppets movie, he worked for the bad guy, Tex Richman, but wasn't fully aware of the evil plan.

Uncle Deadly

Performed by Jerry Nelson (1976–1979), Matt Vogel (2011–present)

Uncle Deadly is a spooky-looking, blue dragon-like monster who hangs around the Muppet Theater. He was once a performer who was "killed by the critics." He made a big return in The Muppets movie, where he worked for Tex Richman but later realized he was a Muppet and joined the good side. He often works as Miss Piggy's wardrobe supervisor.

Clifford

Performed by Kevin Clash

Clifford is a cool, purple, sunglasses-wearing character with dreadlocks. He was originally the bassist for a band on The Jim Henson Hour. Clifford later became the host of Muppets Tonight. His look changed for that show, but he went back to his original sunglasses look for later appearances.

Recurring Characters

Beauregard

Performed by Dave Goelz

Beauregard is the Muppets' janitor and stagehand. He tries to be helpful, but his clumsy efforts often lead to funny disasters. He has super strength and can lift very heavy objects easily. Beauregard often appears accidentally on stage during performances.

Crazy Harry

Performed by John Lovelady (1974, 1976–1977), Richard Hunt (1975; 1981) Jerry Nelson (1976–2003), Matt Vogel (2008–present)

Crazy Harry is a pyrotechnician who loves explosions! He carries a plunger box that sets off hidden charges, often to the surprise of other Muppets. He appeared regularly in the early seasons of The Muppet Show and has made appearances in many Muppet movies, always ready to make things go boom.

Lew Zealand

Performed by Jerry Nelson (1978–2003), Bill Barretta (2002–2005), Matt Vogel (2008–present)

Lew Zealand is a unique Muppet who is obsessed with throwing fish that come back to him, like boomerangs! He tries to promote his "Boomerang Fish" act on The Muppet Show. He can even play music by squeezing fish! Lew has had supporting roles in many Muppet movies, always with his returning fish.

Link Hogthrob

Performed by Jim Henson (1977–1990), Steve Whitmire (2000–2016), Peter Linz (2017–present)

Link Hogthrob is a pig who acts like a stereotypical leading man, with blond hair and a high opinion of himself. He is best known as the captain of the Swinetrek in the "Pigs in Space" sketches on The Muppet Show. He often causes problems for Miss Piggy, who is his co-star.

Marvin Suggs

Performed by Frank Oz (1976–1981), Eric Jacobson (2011–present)

Marvin Suggs is a flashy musician who plays a "Muppaphone." This instrument is made of small, furry pink and orange Muppets that make an "ow" sound when Marvin taps their heads with a mallet. He appeared in The Muppets movie in 2011.

The Newsman

Performed by Jim Henson (1976–1990), Richard Hunt (1981), Jerry Nelson (1996), Brian Henson (2001–2003), Steve Whitmire (2008–2016), Eric Jacobson (2017–present)

The Newsman is the serious news reporter for The Muppet Show. He tries to deliver the news accurately, but he often gets confused by the strange stories or interviews. Almost every time, something related to the news story happens to him, like objects falling on his head!

Pops

Performed by Jerry Nelson (1980–2002), Matt Vogel (2011–present)

Pops is an elderly doorman at the Muppet Theatre. He greeted the guest star in every episode of the fifth season of The Muppet Show. He also played a big role as the innkeeper of the Happiness Hotel in The Great Muppet Caper.

Robin the Frog

Performed by Jerry Nelson (1971–2003), Matt Vogel (2008–2017), Peter Linz (2017–present)

Robin the Frog is Kermit's young and sweet nephew. He loves spending time with his Uncle Kermit and his best friend, Sweetums. One of his most famous moments was singing "Halfway Down the Stairs." Robin played a very important role as Tiny Tim in The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Sweetums

Performed by Jerry Nelson (1971, in-suit performer, 2000), Carl Banas (1971, voice only), Richard Hunt (1976–1991), John Henson (1991, 1996–2005), Matt Vogel (2009–present)

Sweetums is a very large, hairy ogre, about nine feet tall. Even though he looks intimidating, he is actually very friendly and kind, which is why he's called "Sweetums." He first appeared in The Frog Prince. In The Muppet Movie, he chased after Kermit and his friends all the way to Hollywood.

Other Characters

Frackles

Frackles are a type of Muppet monster. They first appeared in a TV special called The Great Santa Claus Switch. They often appeared in The Muppet Show. Frackles usually have fur and toothy beaks. They often changed their look and didn't have specific names, acting as background characters. Gonzo actually started out as a Frackle!

Penguins

Penguins are often seen in many Muppet shows and movies. Most of them don't have names, but some do:

Gloria Estefan Penguin: A baby penguin adopted by Miss Piggy in The Muppets TV series.
Nicky Napoleon: The leader of a band called Nicky Napoleon and His Emperor Penguins.
Winky Pinkerton: A penguin who does bird impressions.
Summer Penguin: Introduced in the 2018 Muppet Babies, she is the artist of the group.

Whatnots

Whatnots are like blank Muppets that can be customized for different roles. They have blank heads and faces, but their clothes and hair can be changed. Characters like Scooter, Lew Zealand, and Marvin Suggs were first made using Whatnot puppets before they got their own unique puppets. There used to be a workshop where people could buy their own custom Whatnot Muppets!

More Fun Muppet Friends

80s Robot: A robot chauffeur from the 1980s who uses old slang and offers retro drinks. He helped the Muppets find each other in The Muppets.
Andy and Randy Pig: Miss Piggy's silly nephews who often cause trouble as production assistants on Muppets Tonight.
Annie Sue: A young, innocent female pig who is sometimes Miss Piggy's rival on The Muppet Show.
Beautiful Day Monster: A bluish-gray monster who appeared on Sesame Street. He was known for trying to ruin a girl's "beautiful day" and scaring Kermit.
Big Mean Carl: A shaggy monster with horns who loves to eat things, including other Muppets! He often works as a receptionist for Miss Piggy's talk show.
Constantine: An evil Russian frog who looks just like Kermit, except for a mole on his face. He is known as the "World's Most Dangerous Frog" and is a master criminal in Muppets Most Wanted.
Denise: A pig who was Kermit's girlfriend in The Muppets TV series.
Doglion: A large monster with a dog-like face, often seen with Sweetums.
Dr. Julius Strangepork: A pig who is the chief science officer in the "Pigs in Space" sketches.
Emily Bear: Fozzie Bear's elderly mother.
Foo-Foo: Miss Piggy's cute white dog, a Bichon Frisé.
Johnny Fiama and Sal Minella: A singing duo. Johnny is a singer like Frank Sinatra, and Sal is his chimpanzee bodyguard. They first appeared on Muppets Tonight.
Mahna Mahna: A purple, wild-haired Muppet famous for singing the song "Mah Nà Mah Nà" with the Snowths.
Mildred Huxtetter: An educated purple woman with a beak-like nose.
The Moopets: A funny tribute band that looks like the Muppets but are a bit different. They include Miss Poogy (like Miss Piggy) and Kermoot (like Kermit).
Nigel (Muppets Tonight version): A stressed-out light green monster who is the director of Muppets Tonight.
Snowths: Two pink, furry, horned creatures with tube-like mouths who sing backup for Mahna Mahna.
Thog: A large, blue monster with a sweet personality. He first appeared in The Great Santa Claus Switch.
Wayne and Wanda: A married pair of snobby singers who can never seem to finish a song.
Yolanda Rat: A female brown rat and friend of Rizzo's, who first appeared in The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Images for kids

Bobo the Bear
Robin the Frog