Joe Ponazecki (b. 1934) is an actor who appeared on Sesame Street, initially in the "Numerosity" segments as the man who opens a door or hatch to reveal animals.[1] He became a cast member in Season 3 as Wally, part of the duo Wally and Ralph. He received credit with the main cast as late as Season 5, when it was just for reused inserts.
A New York-based actor, Ponazecki is a stage veteran who played Fyedka during the original Broadway run of Fiddler on the Roof (opposite Zero Mostel and Austin Pendleton). In television, he spent much of his pre and post Sesame career on soap operas, beginning with Dr. David Thornton on Another World in the 1960s, Reilly on The Secret Storm (1973), an off-and-on run as Lt. Wyatt on The Guiding Light from 1977 until 1994, and two appearances on As the World Turns, playing a minister. Other TV credits include a guest spot on Law & Order and a recurring role on Ed as a judge.
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- ↑ Playbill.com The Trial of the Catonsville Nine. 1971 original playbill. "...numbers commercials on Sesame Street"