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| Mary (center) with Alan and Charlie | |
| PERFORMER | Jennifer Barnhart |
| DEBUT | 2020 |
Mary is the mother of Charlie on Sesame Street, introduced in season 50.
She was first seen in Episode 5013, where her family first moves to Sesame Street. She then made appearances in Episode 5034, 5102, 5132 (where she is named for the first time and her husband, Victor, is shown for the first time), and 5414. Her full name, Meredith, was revealed in Episode 5425. According to press statements, Mary and Victor are retirees from the military.[1]
Prior to Charlie's debut on the show, Violet Tinnirello was cast in a non-speaking role in The Magical Wand Chase and Barnhart was assigned to play her parental guardian in their scene. When Tinnirello was on the shortlist for potential actors for Charlie, Barnhart hinted to the creative team that she could audition to play her mother if needed, citing the special and the relationship the two formed on-set when Tinnirello appeared as a child extra. When the time came to tape the episode, Barnhart was given the role of Charlie's mother without an audition.[2]
Barnhart's 2021 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Children's Program bills the character as "Charlie's Mom."