Bob Payne with Jim and Jane Henson in the Sam & Friends days, via the Jim Henson Company Archives.
Bob Payne with Jane Henson at the Muppets and Mechanisms exhibit in 2006.
Bob Payne, also credited as Robert Payne and known as "Bobby," was a college friend of Jim and Jane Henson. Payne first worked with the Muppets as a substitute puppeteer on Sam and Friends in 1958, while Jim Henson was in Europe. He subsequently designed and built several characters on The Muppet Show and other Henson productions, and served as an occasional performer at various times.
Payne received special credit as a historian on The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years. He also appeared in four 1974 episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as a puppeteer with Bob Brown's marionette company.[1]
Puppeteer credits[]
for a complete character gallery, see Bob Payne characters
- Sam and Friends: Bernice
- Tales of the Tinkerdee: Princess Gwendolinda
- National Council of Churches PSAs: Sue
- Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall: Dancer[2]
- Mirinda commercials: Mirinda Craver (puppetry only)
- The Muppet Show: credited in episode 314 and episode 407, uncredited in others...
- Sesame Street (seasons 9-11): Georgie and others...
- The Muppet Movie
- John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together
- Muppet Meeting Films: Roll in "Meal Break"
- The Great Muppet Caper
- The Muppets Go to the Movies
- The Dark Crystal: Skeksis Historian (puppeteer)
Design credits[]
- Tales of the Tinkerdee: Palace Guard's helmet (later used for Super Grover)
- Sesame Street: built the original Telly Monster
- The Muppet Show: designed and built Mulch, Pinocchio, Punch and Judy puppets, and others
- The Dark Crystal: Podlings fabrication team
- Fraggle Rock