Martin P. Robinson
American puppeteer
Martin P. Robinson (born March 9, 1954) is an American puppeteer who works for the Jim Henson Company . He is best known for his work on Sesame Street , having performed the characters of Telly Monster , Mr. Snuffleupagus , Oscar the Grouch 's pet worm Slimey, Oscar's niece Irvine, Buster the Horse, and Shelley the Turtle for over 40 years.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] He performed the characters Riff the Cat and Clef the dad on Allegra's Window , and was an animatronic puppeteer for Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles .[ 4]
Early life
Robinson grew up in Brookfield, Wisconsin . His father was a hydraulics engineer and his mother was a teacher. He graduated from Brookfield East High School in Brookfield , Wisconsin , a suburb of Milwaukee .[ 5] He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1974. Robinson originally intended to become a character actor, but work was scarce. He later toured with a marionette company, eventually working under puppeteer Bil Baird .[citation needed ]
Personal life
Robinson married Sesame Street writer Annie Evans on August 9, 2008, on the set of Sesame Street in the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens , New York. Evans gave birth to twin daughters on February 12, 2009. Robinson also has three children from a previous marriage and two grandchildren.[ 6] He and his family live in Redding, Connecticut .[ 7]
Filmography
Film
Year
Production
Role
Notes
1984
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Swedish Chef (hands), Buster the Horse, Additional Muppets
Performer
1985
Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird
Telly Monster , Mr. Snuffleupagus , Board of Birds Member, Grouch Diner Patron, Additional Muppets
Performer
1990
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Leonardo
Facial assistant[ 8]
1999
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Telly Monster, Laundromat Manager, Little Ricky
Performer
2008
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Crazy Harry, Additional Muppets
Performer, voice
Television
Year(s)
Production
Role
Notes
1981–present
Sesame Street
Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Slimey the Worm, Buster the Horse, Irvine, Mrs. Grouch, Dicky Tick, Vincent Twice, Old MacDonald, Freddy, Additional Muppets
Performer[ 9]
1983
Don't Eat the Pictures
Mr. Snuffleupagus
Performer; Television special[ 10]
1985
Little Muppet Monsters
Rat, Cow, Walrus, Additional Muppets
Performer
1986
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Telly Monster
Performer (uncredited); Television special
1986
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Farmer, Additional Muppets
Performer; Television special
1987
A Muppet Family Christmas
Additional Muppets
Performer; Television special
1988
The Transformers
Powermaster Optimus Prime
Puppeteer (season 5)
1990
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Telly Monster, Additional Muppets
Performer; Television special
1994–1996
Allegra's Window
Riff, Clef
Voice, performer
1996
Elmo Saves Christmas
Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Santa's Elf, Additional Muppets
Performer; Television special
1998
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat
Performer (season 2)[ 8]
2002
Between the Lions
Grandpa Lion
Performer, Episode: "Out in Outer Space"
2009, 2013
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Mr. Snuffleupagus, Additional Muppets
Performer; 2 episodes
2013
Good Morning America
Telly Monster
Performer; 1 episode
2015
Saturday Night Live
Mr. Snuffleupagus
Voice (uncredited)
2019–2023
Helpsters
Mr. Primm
Performer[ 8]
2020
The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo
Telly Monster, Freddy
Performer
2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Octopus
Puppeteer #1; 1 episode
Video games
Other appearances
See also
References
^ "A Brief History of Sesame Street's Snuffleupagus Identity Crisis" .
^ "Mr. Snuffleupagus shocked 'Sesame Street' 30 years ago — and generations of kids should be thankful – Zap2It" . Zap2it . Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2015 .
^ "Snuffleupagus Speaks! It's Master Puppeteer Martin P. Robinson" . Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015 .
^ Martin P. Robinson at IMDb
^ "A Hot, Sweaty Job in a Plant, Eating People" .
^ Vows - Annie Evans and Martin Robinson , New York Times , August 16, 2008.
^ "This Brookfield native has played some of your favorite 'Sesame Street' characters for almost 40 years" .
^ a b c d "Martin Robinson (Aloysius Snuffleupagus, Slimey the Worm, Telly) - Sesame Workshop" . November 1, 2023. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2024 .
^ "Sesame Street: Brookfield native plays Snuffleupagus, Telly Monster" . November 9, 2019. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2024 .
^ "DON'T EAT THE PICTURES: SESAME STREET AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (TV)" . www.paleycenter.org . Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "Muppet Central News - Marty Robinson and "Little Shop of Horrors" arrive on Broadway" . October 17, 2003. Archived from the original on October 17, 2003. Retrieved July 7, 2024 .
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