Gladys the Cow



Gladys the Cow is the most famous of Sesame Street's many cows. One of her most notable early appearances was with Prince Charming in a Sesame Street News Flash sketch, where Cinderella's slipper fit her hoof.

Gladys gradually emerged as a character in her own right, a vain bovine with aspirations as an actress and singer. She loves to sing, and occasionally wears a wig. Her signature song is "I'm Proud to Be a Cow." She was featured in several Sesame Street Pageants, occasionally appeared with Buster the Horse, and had a cameo in Follow That Bird. Gladys retired from the show in 1992, following performer Richard Hunt's death. She also played the role of one of the thieves in the "Monsterpiece Theater" production of "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves".

Gladys returned to the ensemble supporting cast in Season 34 (2003), performed by Jennifer Barnhart. In the season premiere, episode 4031, Gladys tried to steal the show at the Hooper's Store karaoke night. This episode was released on video as Sesame Sings Karaoke.

In Season 36, which focused on "Healthy Habits for Life", Gladys appeared with Old MacDonald to encourage a healthy diet, including milk.

Filmography

 * Sesame Street
 * Follow That Bird
 * The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
 * Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting
 * Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street Animals
 * What's the Name of That Song? (video)

Trivia

 * On The Muppet Show, whenever Richard Hunt performed a cow on The Muppet Show, he would use the same voice as Gladys.
 * Occassionally, the Gladys puppet would be used for cows with different names. In the "Here is Your Life" sketch that focused on a loaf of bread, she was called Cora Cow. In a Sesame Street News Flash segment in which Old MacDonald spots a flying saucer, Old MacDonald referred to her as Bessie.

Book appearances

 * Big Bird Says... A Game to Read and Play (1985)