Joe Kovacs with Bear
Joe Kovacs (b. 1967) is a puppeteer and actor who has worked for The Jim Henson Company in different capacities.
Kovacs performed Bear of Bear in the Big Blue House for promotional appearances in 1998 and 1999, and then for the Bear in the Big Blue House Live stage show (syncing to Noel MacNeal's prerecorded vocals). He was also one of the full-bodied Muppet performers on the 2009 film Old Dogs, and was a puppet builder on Henson projects such as The Furchester Hotel, Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas, Sesame Street Season 47, and The Happytime Murders.
Outside of Henson, Kovacs has performed Madame (the creation of the late Wayland Flowers), including in a guest appearance on VH1's I Love the 70s: Volume 2. His other work includes creating puppets and costumes for the Center for Puppetry Arts, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, and The Cincinnati Children's Theatre.