The Muppets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Muppets |
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Creator | Jim Henson Jane Henson |
Original work | Sam and Friends |
Owner | The Muppets Studio (The Walt Disney Company) |
Print publications | |
Comics | Comics list |
Films and television | |
Films | Film list |
Television series | Television series list |
Games | |
Video games | Video game list |
Audio | |
Soundtracks | Discography |
Miscellaneous | |
Theme park attractions | Muppet*Vision 3D The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History Muppet Mobile Lab |
Web series | Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora |
The Muppets are puppet characters created by Jim Henson. The characters include Kermit the Frog and the Muppet cast of Sesame Street. Jim Henson started work with the Muppets in the 1950s and continued until his death in 1990. The Muppets are known for an absurd burlesque and humorous style of variety-sketch comedy.
The Muppets are now owned by The Walt Disney Company. The term "muppet" is trademarked and owned by The Walt Disney Company. Puppets used in Sesame Street are still called muppets at times, and have special permission to use that name from The Walt Disney Company.
Jim Henson said the name "muppet" came from combining the words "puppet" and "marionette," but he also said that he just liked the way the word sounded. There is no defined difference between a muppet and a puppet other than the link to Jim Henson. Many of Jim Henson's muppets have large eyes, round noses, and large mouths that go from one end of the face to the other (almost ear to ear). Muppets are often made out of foam with felt on top. Puppeteers usually control the muppet with one hand in the head and the other hand controls the muppets arms. Sometimes the arms have a stick that is used to move the hand and arm - this is called the "arm rod." Puppeteers hold the arm rod at one end and the other end touches the muppet hand. Some muppets have hands that are gloves. Puppeteers put their hands in the gloves of these muppets so the muppet can move its fingers. For this reason, most muppets appear to favor their left hands.
Contents
Muppeteers and their characters
Main Muppeteers
- Jim Henson - Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Ernie, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Link Hogthrob, Guy Smiley, Waldorf, Two-Headed Monster, Various
- Frank Oz - Bert, Cookie Monster, Grover, Sam the Eagle, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Various
- Jerry Nelson - Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Gobo Fraggle, Emmet Otter, Count von Count, Marjory the Trash Heap, Lew Zealand, Pops, Uncle Deadly, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Herry Monster, Announcer, Various
- Richard Hunt - Scooter, Statler, Don Music, Gunge, Two-Headed Monster, Sonny Friendly, Bobby Benson, Wayne, Various
- Dave Goelz - The Great Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, Boober Fraggle, Traveling Matt, Rugby Tiger, Digit, Stinky the Skunk, Brewtster, Philo, Gorgon Heap, Blue Frackle, Various
- Steve Whitmire - Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Wembley Fraggle, Waldo C. Graphic, Lips, Various
- Fran Brill - Prairie Dawn, Zoe, Betty Lou, Little Bird, Various
- Alice Dinnean - Wanda, Janice, Various
- Julianne Buescher - Yolanda Rat, Denise, Miss Piggy, Various
- Ryan Dillon - Elmo, Various
- Stephanie D'Abruzzo - Curly Bear, Various
- Bill Barretta - Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Big Mean Carl, Various
- Matt Vogel - 80's Robot, Constantine, Crazy Harry, Mr. Johnson, Various
- Martin P. Robinson - Telly Monster, Various
- Leslie Carrara-Rudolph - Abby Cadabby, Various
- Pam Arciero - Various
- Carmen Osbahr - Rosita
- Jennifer Barnhart - Gladys the Cow, Various
- Peter Linz - Walter, Various
- Noel MacNeal - Various
- Tyler Bunch - Foozie Bear, Various
- John Tartaglia - Various
- John Kennedy - Various
- Caroll Spinney as Oscar the Grouch
Cast and characters in adaptations
Characters | Films | |||||||||
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The Muppet Movie (1979) |
The Great Muppet Caper (1981) |
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) |
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) |
Muppet Treasure Island (1996) |
Muppets From Space (1999) |
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) |
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005) |
The Muppets (2011) |
Muppets Most Wanted (2014) |
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Main characters (appear in all films) |
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Kermit the Frog | Jim Henson | Steve Whitmire | ||||||||
Miss Piggy | Frank Oz | Frank Oz (voice) Kevin Clash (puppetry) |
Frank Oz (voice) Peter Linz (puppetry) |
Eric Jacobson | ||||||
Fozzie Bear | Frank Oz | Frank Oz (voice) Kevin Clash (puppetry) |
Frank Oz (voice) John Kennedy (puppetry) |
Eric Jacobson | ||||||
Gonzo | Dave Goelz | |||||||||
Statler | Richard Hunt | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson (voice) Steve Whitmire (puppetry) |
Steve Whitmire | ||||||
Waldorf | Jim Henson | Dave Goelz | ||||||||
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew | Dave Goelz | |||||||||
Beaker | Richard Hunt | Steve Whitmire | ||||||||
The Swedish Chef | Jim Henson | David Rudman | Bill Barretta | |||||||
Sam the Eagle | Frank Oz | Frank Oz (voice) Kevin Clash (puppetry) |
Frank Oz (voice) John Kennedy (puppetry) |
Kevin Clash (voice) John Kennedy (puppetry) |
Eric Jacobson | |||||
Animal | Frank Oz | Frank Oz (voice) Kevin Clash (puppetry) |
Frank Oz (voice) Rickey Boyd (puppetry) |
Eric Jacobson | ||||||
Supporting characters (appear in more than one film) |
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Rowlf the Dog | Jim Henson | Bill Barretta | Bill Barretta | |||||||
Scooter | Richard Hunt | Adam Hunt (voice) | Brian Henson | Rickey Boyd | David Rudman | |||||
Rizzo the Rat | Steve Whitmire | |||||||||
Pepe the King Prawn | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Walter | Peter Linz | |||||||||
Dr. Teeth | Jim Henson | John Kennedy | Bill Barretta | |||||||
Floyd Pepper | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson (voice) | John Kennedy | Matt Vogel | |||||
Janice | Richard Hunt | Brian Henson | Tyler Bunch | David Rudman | ||||||
Zoot | Dave Goelz | Dave Goelz | Dave Goelz | |||||||
Lips | Steve Whitmire | Steve Whitmire | Steve Whitmire | |||||||
Robin the Frog | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson (voice) | Matt Vogel | |||||
Sweetums | Richard Hunt | John Henson | Matt Vogel | |||||||
Lew Zealand | Jerry Nelson | Bill Barretta | Matt Vogel | |||||||
Beauregard | Dave Goelz | Dave Goelz | ||||||||
Pops | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson (voice) | Matt Vogel | |||||||
Crazy Harry | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson | Rickey Boyd | Matt Vogel | ||||||
Camilla the Chicken | Jerry Nelson | Jerry Nelson | Alice Dinnean | Matt Vogel | ||||||
Marvin Suggs | Frank Oz | Eric Jacobson | ||||||||
Link Hogthrob | Jim Henson | Steve Whitmire | ||||||||
The Newsman | Jim Henson | Steve Whitmire | ||||||||
Bobo the Bear | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
80's Robot | Matt Vogel | |||||||||
Johnny Fiama | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Sal Minella | Brian Henson | |||||||||
Bean Bunny | Steve Whitmire | Steve Whitmire | ||||||||
Miss Poogy | David Rudman | |||||||||
Big Mean Carl | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Wayne | David Rudman | |||||||||
Wanda | Alice Dinnean (voice) Mat Vogel (puppetry) |
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One-shot characters |
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Constantine | Matt Vogel | |||||||||
Foo Foo | Steve Whitmire | |||||||||
Bobby Benson | David Rudman | |||||||||
Baby Boss | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Carlo Flamingo | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Manolo Flamingo | Peter Linz | |||||||||
Leprechaun Security Guard | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Foozie | Tyler Bunch | |||||||||
Kermoot | Dave Goelz | |||||||||
Roowlf | Matt Vogel | |||||||||
Janooce | Matt Vogel | |||||||||
Joe Snow | Mel Brooks (voice) Allan Trautman (puppetry) |
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Clifford | Kevin Clash | |||||||||
Dr. Phil van Neuter | Brian Henson | |||||||||
Bubba the Rat | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
The Birdman | Dave Goelz | |||||||||
Ubergonzo | Jerry Nelson | |||||||||
Cosmic Fish #1 | Steve Whitmire | |||||||||
Cosmic Fish #2 | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Blind Pew | Jerry Nelson | |||||||||
Black Dog | Kevin Clash | |||||||||
Spa'am | Kevin Clash | |||||||||
Bad Polly | Kevin Clash | |||||||||
Mad Monty | Jerry Nelson | |||||||||
Clueless Morgan | Bill Barretta | |||||||||
Ghost of Christmas Past | Jessica Fox (voice) Rob Tygner, Karen Prell, William Todd-Jones(puppetry) |
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Ghost of Christmas Present | Jerry Nelson (voice) Don Austen (puppetry) |
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Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come | Don Austen, Rob Tygner (puppetry) | |||||||||
Emily 'Ma' Bear | Jerry Nelson | |||||||||
Old Joe | David Shaw Parker (voice) David Rudman (puppetry) |
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Peter Cratchit | David Rudman | |||||||||
Betina Cratchit | Dave Goelz | |||||||||
Belinda Cratchit | Steve Whitmire | |||||||||
Chester Rat | Dave Goelz | |||||||||
Masterson Rat | Bruce Edward Hall | |||||||||
Tatooey Rat | Brian Muehl | |||||||||
Yolanda Rat | Karen Prell | |||||||||
Beth Bear | Bruce Edward Hall | |||||||||
Bill (frog) | Dave Goelz | |||||||||
Gil (frog) | Steve Whitmire | |||||||||
Jill (frog) | Kathryn Mullen | |||||||||
Ernie | Jim Henson | |||||||||
Bert | Frank Oz | |||||||||
Cookie Monster | Frank Oz | |||||||||
Oscar the Grouch | Caroll Spinney | |||||||||
Big Bird | Caroll Spinney |
Images for kids
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Muppet*Vision 3D has operated at Disney's Hollywood Studios since 1991.
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The Muppets performing with CeeLo Green at Rockefeller Center in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: The Muppets para niños