Earl Sinclair

Earl Sinclair is one of the lead characters in the television series "Dinosaurs". Identified as a megalosaurus, Earl is head of his family, consisting of wife Fran, teenage children Robbie and Charlene, mother-in-law Ethyl Phillips, and infant son Baby Sinclair. Married for over 15 years, Earl at times tends to take his more sensible wife for granted, who often brings him down to earth with a sharp "Earl Sneed Sinclair!"

Employed as a low level tree pusher for the voluminous WESAYSO Corporation, Earl is old-fashioned and resentful as his family often tries to break with dinosaur tradition, yet usually caves in. Earl's best friend is Roy Hess, and it's sometimes unclear whether work is a refuge from home or home is a refuge from work, and the tyranny of B.P. Richfield. In particular, Earl struggles with being a new fatehr again, and Baby Sinclair's continual address of "Not the Mama" over "Daddy" is a source of frustration. Though usually content to watch television and avoid serious thought, Earl could be occasionally galvanized into action, by either his family or a delayed conscience. His achievements during the series' short run included running for Chief Elder ("Episode 221: And the Winner Is..."), becoming the network's lead television programmer ("Network Genius"), and trading places with a tree ("If I Were a Tree"). Despite his occasional moments of enlightenment, the well-meaning but dense Earl ultimately, contributes to the extinction of his entire species ("Changing Nature.")

Earl was a full-bodied, realistic animatronic puppet, with the facial radio controls operated by Dave Goelz in season 1 and the first part of season 2 and by Mak Wilson for the rest of the run. The body suit was performed by Bill Barretta (in one of his earliest Henson projects) and, on occasion, Tom Fisher.

Episodes about Earl

 * Episode 101: The Mighty Megalosaurus
 * Episode 102: The Mating Dance
 * Episode 202: Family Challenge
 * Episode 206: Employee of the Month
 * Episode 319: If I Were a Tree
 * Episode 402: Earl, Don't Be a Hero