Muppet Wiki

Kermiteye Welcome to Muppet Wiki!


Please visit Special:Community to learn how you can collaborate with the editing community.

READ MORE

Muppet Wiki
Muppet Wiki
44,519
pages
No edit summary
No edit summary
(39 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Michael earl.wt.jpg|thumb|300px]]
+
[[File:Michael earl.wt.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[File:EmmyHeadshot.jpg|thumb|300px]]
'''Michael Earl''' (b. September 10, 1959) is a puppeteer who has performed in many Muppet and non-Muppet productions, most notably as [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]] on ''[[Sesame Street]]''.
 
 
[[File:MuppetsManhattanGroupShot.jpg|thumb|300px|Filming ''[[Muppets Take Manhattan]]''. (L-R) [[Peter Baird]], [[Bill Myer]], [[Michael Earl]], [[Richard Hunt]].]]
  +
[[File:BrainMichael-GilberSullivan.jpg|thumb|300px|Earl and [[Brian Muehl]] performing [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] on ''Sesame Street'']]
   
 
'''Michael Earl''' (September 10, 1959 - December 23, 2015) was a puppeteer who performed in many Muppet and non-Muppet productions, most notably as [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]] on ''[[Sesame Street]]''.
Earl joined the Muppets in 1978 at the age of 19. After three years under contract, he freelanced with the Muppets for the next twelve years on several projects. After leaving the Muppets, Earl went on to become a four-time [[Emmy]] Award-winning puppeteer and writer/lyricist.
 
  +
 
Earl joined the Muppets in 1978 at the age of 19. After three years under contract, he freelanced with the Muppets for the next twelve years on several projects. After leaving the Muppets, Earl went on to become a four-time [[Emmy Awards|Emmy]] Award-winning puppeteer and writer/lyricist.
   
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
 
Michael Earl (Davis) grew up in San Leandro and Livermore, CA. He began his professional career at age five acting in a Curad bandage TV commercial. Two years later he was tapped to be the original "Is It Soup Yet?" kid for Lipton. He performed original puppet shows from ages 10-17 and once a year attended [[Puppeteers of America]] festivals. On weekends during his high school years, Earl was an apprentice at [[Fairyland|Children's Fairyland]] Puppet Theater in Oakland, CA, where [[Frank Oz]] once worked and his father, Mike Oznowicz, sometimes visited. At 17, Earl attended a puppetry festival where he met [[Kermit Love]], who talked to [[Jim Henson]] about the earnest young puppeteer (as did Oznowicz). At 18, he moved to [[New York City]] and acted in some TV commercials, as well as landing a puppeteering job working for his childhood idol, [[Bil Baird]].
[[Image:EmmyHeadshot.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 
[[Image:MuppetsManhattanGroupShot.jpg|thumb|300px|Filming ''[[Muppets Take Manhattan]]''. (L-R) [[Peter Baird]], [[Bill Myer]], [[Michael Earl]], [[Richard Hunt]].]]
 
Michael Earl (Davis) grew up in San Leandro and Livermore, CA. He began his professional career at age five acting in a Curad bandage TV commercial. Two years later he was tapped to be the original "Is It Soup Yet?" kid for Lipton. He performed original puppet shows from ages 10-17 and once a year attended [[Puppeteers of America]] festivals. On weekends during his high school years, Earl was an apprentice at Children's Fairyland Puppet Theater in Oakland, CA, where [[Frank Oz]] once worked [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Fairyland]] and his father, Mike Oznowicz, sometimes visited. At 17, Earl attended a puppetry festival where he met [[Kermit Love]], who talked to [[Jim Henson]] about the earnest young puppeteer (as did Oznowicz). At 18, he moved to [[New York City]] and acted in some TV commercials, as well as landing a puppeteering job working for his childhood idol, [[Bil Baird]].
 
   
At 19, Michael was hired sight-unseen by Jim Henson for ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' and subsequently won the role of [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]] on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', replacing the original performer, [[Jerry Nelson]]. During the [[1978]] season, Earl lip-synced as Nelson sat in the director's booth and read the lines live. [[Sesame Workshop|CTW]] producers later awarded Michael the voice part of the job as well, and Snuffy was officially his character for the next two seasons (see [[Talk:Michael Earl#Entry|Talk:Michael Earl]].) Bringing up the "rear" during those years were [[Brian Muehl]], [[Frank Kane]] and [[Bryant Young]].
+
At 19, Michael was hired sight-unseen by Jim Henson for ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' and subsequently won the role of [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]] on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', replacing the original performer, [[Jerry Nelson]]. During the [[1978]] season, Earl lip-synced as Nelson sat in the director's booth and read the lines live. [[Sesame Workshop|CTW]] producers later awarded Michael the voice part of the job as well, and Snuffy was officially his character for the next two seasons.<ref>See [[Talk:Michael Earl#Entry|Talk:Michael Earl]]</ref> Bringing up the "rear" during those years were [[Brian Muehl]], [[Frank Kane]] and [[Bryant Young]].
   
20-year-old [[Karen Prell]] came on board as [[Deena]] Monster, as did a new 19-year-old puppeteer Kermit Love met from Maryland named [[Kevin Clash]], who debuted as [[Forgetful Jones|Forgetful Jones']] horse, [[Buster]]. During the 1978-79 seasons of ''Sesame Street'', Earl, Brian Muehl and [[Caroll Spinney]] performed most of the day-to-day puppetry while the other Henson Muppeteers were working in [[London]] on ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. [[Olga Felgemacher]] was another puppeteer who occasionally performed on Sesame Street at that time. Earl met Olga and [[Bruce Schwartz]] on the set of ''The Muppet Movie''.
+
20-year-old [[Karen Prell]] came on board as [[Deena]] Monster, as did a new 19-year-old puppeteer Kermit Love met from Maryland named [[Kevin Clash]], who debuted as [[Forgetful Jones|Forgetful Jones']] horse, [[Buster]]. During the 1978-79 seasons of ''Sesame Street'', Earl, Brian Muehl and [[Caroll Spinney]] performed most of the day-to-day puppetry while the other Henson Muppeteers were working in [[London]] on ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. [[Olga Felgemacher]] was another puppeteer who occasionally performed on Sesame Street at that time. Earl met Felgemacher and [[Bruce Schwartz]] on the set of ''The Muppet Movie''.
   
 
During his time on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', Earl was an understudy for [[Caroll Spinney]] as [[Big Bird]], but never actually performed the character on ''Sesame Street''. However, he did puppeteer Big Bird in the finale of ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' but did not perform Big Bird's voice.
 
During his time on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', Earl was an understudy for [[Caroll Spinney]] as [[Big Bird]], but never actually performed the character on ''Sesame Street''. However, he did puppeteer Big Bird in the finale of ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' but did not perform Big Bird's voice.
   
Earl took over the roles of [[Slimey]], [[Poco Loco]] and Snuffy from Jerry Nelson, and created the roles of [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Polly Darton]], [[Leslie Mostly]] and dozens of [[Anything Muppets]].
+
Earl took over the roles of [[Slimey]] (his personal favorite), [[Poco Loco]] and Snuffy from Jerry Nelson, and created the roles of [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Polly Darton]], [[Leslie Mostly]] and dozens of incidental [[Anything Muppets]].
   
 
In 1979, Earl and [[Brian Muehl]] were invited by Jim Henson to workshop body combinations (along with two dancers) for ''[[The Dark Crystal]]'', with [[Brian Froud]] observing their many workshop sessions and sketching "skins" over the dancer/puppeteer movements and forms as part of the development process for the film.
 
In 1979, Earl and [[Brian Muehl]] were invited by Jim Henson to workshop body combinations (along with two dancers) for ''[[The Dark Crystal]]'', with [[Brian Froud]] observing their many workshop sessions and sketching "skins" over the dancer/puppeteer movements and forms as part of the development process for the film.
   
Earl's other Muppet credits include ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'', ''[[A Christmas Together|John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together]]'', ''[[Little Muppet Monsters]]'', ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'', ''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]'', ''[[National Wildlife Federation]] PSA's'' and ''[[Dinosaurs]]''.
+
Earl's other Muppet credits include ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'', ''[[John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together]]'', ''[[Little Muppet Monsters]]'', ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'', ''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]'', the [[National Wildlife Federation]] PSA's and ''[[Dinosaurs]]''.
   
Earl dropped the "Davis" from his name when AFTRA and SAG informed him they already had a "Mike Davis" on file. Only one was allowed.
+
Originally Michael Earl Davis, he dropped the "Davis" from his name when AFTRA and SAG informed him they already had a "Mike Davis" on file and only one was allowed in the union.
   
A New York-trained actor/singer/dancer, Earl has appeared in and/or sung on numerous television commercials, movies, stage and TV shows. He has acted with [[Whoopi Goldberg]], danced with [[Gregory Hines]], and clowned with [[Victor Borge]]. For the stage, Michael created the role of Noel Petard in Sid and Marty Krofft's critically acclaimed "A Broadway Baby." His other stage work includes Audrey II in ''[[Little Shop of Horrors]]'' and his 1998 biographical musical one-man show ''Pure Imagination!'', which he wrote and performed in [[Los Angeles]] and New York.
+
A New York-trained actor/singer/dancer, Earl has appeared in and/or sung on numerous television commercials, movies, stage and TV shows. He has acted with [[Whoopi Goldberg]], danced with [[Gregory Hines]], and clowned with [[Victor Borge]]. For the stage, Michael created the role of Noel Petard in [[Sid and Marty Krofft]]'s critically acclaimed "A Broadway Baby." His other stage work includes Audrey II in ''[[Little Shop of Horrors]]'' and his 1998 biographical musical one-man show ''Pure Imagination!'', which he wrote and performed in [[Los Angeles]] and New York.
   
Earl is a seven-time Emmy nominee and in 1995, won his first Emmy Award for his performance as Dr. Ticktock in ''Ticktock Minutes'', produced by [[Mississippi]] Educational Television. In subsequent years he was awarded three more Southern Regional Emmys for his lyric writing (in collaboration with composer Randy Klein) on the [[PBS]] interstitials, which are currently distributed on CD and DVD by BMG Music.
+
Earl is a seven-time Emmy nominee and in 1995, won his first Emmy Award for his performance as Dr. Ticktock in ''Ticktock Minutes'', produced by [[Mississippi]] Educational Television. In subsequent years he was awarded three more Southern Regional Emmys for his lyric writing (in collaboration with composer Randy Klein) on a series of [[PBS]] interstitials.
   
Earl met [[Drew Massey]] (a fellow Livermore native) when Drew was 7 years old, teaching him puppet making at his school. Years later, after reconnecting through Massey's mother in a local supermarket, Earl recognized Massey's innate talent and mentored him while Massey was in college, giving him his first few puppeteering jobs and introducing him to the Muppets.
+
Earl met [[Drew Massey]] (a fellow Livermore native) when Massey was seven years old, teaching him puppet making at his school. Years later, after reconnecting through Massey's mother in a local supermarket, Earl recognized Massey's innate talent and mentored him while Massey was in college, giving him his first few puppeteering jobs and introducing him to the Muppets.
Earl has coached many TV and film puppeteers, including [[Camille Bonora]], [[Brian Muehl]], [[Kevin Carlson]], [[James Murray]], [[Betsy Baytos]] and [[Sean Johnson]].
 
   
 
Earl has coached many TV and film puppeteers, including [[Camille Bonora]], [[Brian Muehl]], [[Kevin Carlson]], [[James Murray]], [[Betsy Baytos]] and [[Sean Johnson]].
Michael Earl lives in Los Angeles, California, where he founded Puppet School (www.puppetschool.com)with Roberto Ferreira. There he teaches TV puppetry to actors and others interested in adding to their skill set.
 
   
 
Michael Earl lived in Los Angeles, California, where he founded "Puppet School" with Roberto Ferreira. There he taught TV puppetry to actors and others interested in adding to their skill set.
==Muppeteer Credits==
 
  +
  +
On December 23, 2015, Michael lost his three-year battle with colon cancer at the age of 56.
  +
 
==Muppeteer Credits==
 
[[Image:Muppet Insert Band.jpg|thumb|300px|Filming "[[My Polliwog Ways]]."]]
 
[[Image:Muppet Insert Band.jpg|thumb|300px|Filming "[[My Polliwog Ways]]."]]
* ''[[Sesame Street]]'' - Puppeteer and voice of [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]], [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Poco Loco]], [[Leslie Mostly]], and many other [[Anything Muppets]]. Also puppeteered [[Slimey|Slimey the Worm]], [[Honkers]], [[Polly Darton]] for three seasons (1978-81, Seasons 10, 11 & 12) credited as Mike Davis.
+
* ''[[Sesame Street]]'' - Puppeteer and voice of [[Mr. Snuffleupagus]], [[Forgetful Jones]], [[Poco Loco]], [[Leslie Mostly]], [[Polly Darton]], [[Irvine]], [[Gilbert and Sullivan|Sullivan]], Lefty ([[At the Bus Stop Sign]]), Frog Guitarist, [[Cowboy X]], [[Sally Sanchez]], [[Lavender]] AM boy in "[[Big Kids Cry]]" and many other [[Anything Muppets]]. Also puppeteered [[Slimey|Slimey the Worm]] and [[Honkers]], for three seasons (1978-81, Seasons 10, 11 & 12) credited as Mike Davis.
* ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' - Additional Muppet Performer, operating [[Fozzie Bear]] in the "High Noon" ghost town scene, [[Dr. Teeth]] in the 2-D moving bus set piece during "[[The Magic Store]]" song, [[Scooter]] on the Muppet bus at the beginning of the ghost town scene, [[Animal]] and [[Zoot]] during "The Magic Store", [[Janice]], [[Beaker]] and others when a lead Muppeteer was performing another one of their characters in the same scene, or as assigned by [[Frank Oz]] or [[Jim Henson]]. Perfomed Big Bird in the Finale.
+
* ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'' - Additional Muppet Performer, operating [[Fozzie Bear]] in the "High Noon" ghost town scene, [[Dr. Teeth]] in the 2-D moving bus set piece during "[[The Magic Store]]" song, [[Scooter]] on the Muppet bus at the beginning of the ghost town scene, [[Animal]] and [[Zoot]] during "The Magic Store", [[Janice]], [[Beaker]] and others when a lead Muppeteer was performing another one of their characters in the same scene, or as assigned by [[Frank Oz]] or [[Jim Henson]]. Perfomed Big Bird in the Finale.
* ''[[John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together]]'' - Muppet Performer
+
* ''[[John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together]]'' - Muppet Performer
* ''[[The Dark Crystal]]'' - Additional Muppet Performer (Puppet Test and development puppeteer)
+
* ''[[The Dark Crystal]]'' - Additional Muppet Performer (Puppet Test and development puppeteer)
  +
* ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'' - Additional Muppet Performer, puppeteered [[Cookie Monster]] in the finale
* ''[[Sing Yourself Silly|Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly]]'' - Various Muppets
 
* ''[[Rock & Roll!|Sesame Songs: Rock & Roll]]'' - Various Muppets
 
* ''[[Learning About Numbers|Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers]]'' - Various Muppets
 
* ''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]'' - Muppet Performer
 
* ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'' - (Pilot) Additional Muppet Performer
 
* [[National Wildlife Federation]] PSAs - Muppet Penguin
 
 
* ''[[Little Muppet Monsters]]'' - Muppet Penguin
 
* ''[[Little Muppet Monsters]]'' - Muppet Penguin
* ''[[The Muppets Take Manhattan]]'' - Additional Muppet Performer
+
* ''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]'' - Muppet Performer
 
* [[National Wildlife Federation]] PSAs - Muppet Penguin
 
* ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'' - (Pilot) Additional Muppet Performer
 
* ''[[Dinosaurs]]'' - "[[Episode 202: Family Challenge|Family Challenge]]", "[[Episode 207: When Food Goes Bad|When Food Goes Bad]]"
 
* ''[[Dinosaurs]]'' - "[[Episode 202: Family Challenge|Family Challenge]]", "[[Episode 207: When Food Goes Bad|When Food Goes Bad]]"
 
* ''[[Sing Yourself Silly|Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly]]'' - Various Muppets
 
* ''[[Rock & Roll!|Sesame Songs: Rock &amp; Roll]]'' - Various Muppets
 
* [[Target]] commercial - Additional Muppet Performer
 
* [[Target]] commercial - Additional Muppet Performer
 
* [[Toronto Santa Claus Parade|Eaton's Santa Claus Parade]] - Sesame Street Muppets Float, Toronto, Canada
 
* [[Toronto Santa Claus Parade|Eaton's Santa Claus Parade]] - Sesame Street Muppets Float, Toronto, Canada
 
* [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] - Sesame Street Muppets Float, NYC
 
* [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] - Sesame Street Muppets Float, NYC
* ''[[Kermit: A Frog's Life]]'' - Muppet Performer
+
* ''[[Pepe's Profiles|Kermit: A Frog's Life]]'' - Muppet Performer
   
==Other Puppetry Credits==
+
==Other Puppetry Credits==
[[Image:Boy shark photo.jpg|frame]]
+
[[Image:Boy shark photo.jpg|thumb|300px]]
* ''Team America: World Police'' - Various Lead Characters
+
* ''Team America: World Police'' - Various Lead Characters
* ''Men in Black II'' - Puppet Alien
+
* ''Men in Black II'' - Puppet Alien
* ''The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth'' - Ms. Flossy, and others
+
* ''The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth'' - Ms. Flossy, and others
 
* ''Ticktock Minutes'' - Dr. Ticktock
 
* ''Ticktock Minutes'' - Dr. Ticktock
 
* ''[[Little Shop of Horrors]]'' - Audrey II
 
* ''[[Little Shop of Horrors]]'' - Audrey II
Line 65: Line 69:
 
* ''Sid & Marty Kroftt's A Broadway Baby'' - Norma Terris Theatre at Goodspeed Opera House, CT - Noel Petard, Lead
 
* ''Sid & Marty Kroftt's A Broadway Baby'' - Norma Terris Theatre at Goodspeed Opera House, CT - Noel Petard, Lead
   
==Acting Credits==
+
==Acting Credits==
 
* ''Shrek'' - Motion capture Shrek body suit
 
* ''Shrek'' - Motion capture Shrek body suit
 
* ''Simon'' - Actor, Commune Member, opposite [[Alan Arkin]]
 
* ''Simon'' - Actor, Commune Member, opposite [[Alan Arkin]]
 
* ''The Phantom Toll Booth'' - Actor, Milo's Friend, Day Player, Warner Bros.
 
* ''The Phantom Toll Booth'' - Actor, Milo's Friend, Day Player, Warner Bros.
* ''Fame'' - Actor, Rocky Horor Picture Show fan, MGM
+
* ''Fame'' - Actor, Rocky Horror Picture Show fan, MGM
   
==Voice Over Credits==
+
==Voice Over Credits==
* ''Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?'' - Guest Star as Ira Gation, and 4 other voices, DIC Entertainment
+
* ''Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?'' - Guest Star as Ira Gation, and 4 other voices, DIC Entertainment
 
* ''Digimon Tamers'' - Mr. Akiyama - Voice
 
* ''Digimon Tamers'' - Mr. Akiyama - Voice
* ''M&M TV Commercial'' - singing voice of animated M&M. [[Marty Robinson]] played one of the other 4 singing candies. Spot ran for 3 years in the late 80s.
+
* ''M&M TV Commercial'' - singing voice of animated M&M. [[Martin P. Robinson]] played one of the other 4 singing candies. Spot ran for 3 years in the late 80s.
  +
  +
==Sources==
  +
<references/>
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* [http://www.myspace.com/tvpuppetry MySpace]
 
* [http://www.myspace.com/tvpuppetry MySpace]
 
* [http://imdb.com/name/nm0205174/ IMDb]
 
* [http://imdb.com/name/nm0205174/ IMDb]
* [http://www.michaelearl.org Michael Earl.org]
 
 
* [http://www.centerartseaglerock.org/LATIMESPUPPET.htm ''LA Times'' article on Michael Earl]
 
* [http://www.centerartseaglerock.org/LATIMESPUPPET.htm ''LA Times'' article on Michael Earl]
* [http://www.teachingtour.com/ Michael Earl's Teaching Tour]
+
* [http://www.toughpigs.com/michael-earl/ Tough Pigs interview with Michael Earl]
  +
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/21/BAKA1MSNPG.DTL San Francisco Chronicle - Muppeteer teaches art of making puppets]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLA53ORKlMA Michael Earl - Live at the Ivar]
 
  +
* [http://www.downtownexpress.com/?p=7222 Downtown Express - Earl explores mind of Muppets maker]
  +
* [http://www.puppetschool.com/ Puppet School]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLA53ORKlMA Michael Earl - Live at the Ivar]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzkJ24F1t9o Michael Earl - Live at The Gardenia, LA]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzkJ24F1t9o Michael Earl - Live at The Gardenia, LA]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcVK7vL08PY Ticktock Minutes]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcVK7vL08PY Ticktock Minutes]
  +
[[Category:Muppet Performers|Earl, Michael]]
 
  +
__NOWYSIWYG__
[[Category:Creature Shop Puppeteers|Earl, Michael]]
 
  +
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earl, Michael}}
 
[[Category:Muppet Performers]]
 
[[Category:Creature Shop Puppeteers]]

Revision as of 21:09, 3 June 2019

Michael earl
EmmyHeadshot
MuppetsManhattanGroupShot

Filming Muppets Take Manhattan. (L-R) Peter Baird, Bill Myer, Michael Earl, Richard Hunt.

BrainMichael-GilberSullivan

Earl and Brian Muehl performing Gilbert and Sullivan on Sesame Street

Michael Earl (September 10, 1959 - December 23, 2015) was a puppeteer who performed in many Muppet and non-Muppet productions, most notably as Mr. Snuffleupagus on Sesame Street.

Earl joined the Muppets in 1978 at the age of 19. After three years under contract, he freelanced with the Muppets for the next twelve years on several projects. After leaving the Muppets, Earl went on to become a four-time Emmy Award-winning puppeteer and writer/lyricist.

Biography

Michael Earl (Davis) grew up in San Leandro and Livermore, CA. He began his professional career at age five acting in a Curad bandage TV commercial. Two years later he was tapped to be the original "Is It Soup Yet?" kid for Lipton. He performed original puppet shows from ages 10-17 and once a year attended Puppeteers of America festivals. On weekends during his high school years, Earl was an apprentice at Children's Fairyland Puppet Theater in Oakland, CA, where Frank Oz once worked and his father, Mike Oznowicz, sometimes visited. At 17, Earl attended a puppetry festival where he met Kermit Love, who talked to Jim Henson about the earnest young puppeteer (as did Oznowicz). At 18, he moved to New York City and acted in some TV commercials, as well as landing a puppeteering job working for his childhood idol, Bil Baird.

At 19, Michael was hired sight-unseen by Jim Henson for The Muppet Movie and subsequently won the role of Mr. Snuffleupagus on Sesame Street, replacing the original performer, Jerry Nelson. During the 1978 season, Earl lip-synced as Nelson sat in the director's booth and read the lines live. CTW producers later awarded Michael the voice part of the job as well, and Snuffy was officially his character for the next two seasons.[1] Bringing up the "rear" during those years were Brian Muehl, Frank Kane and Bryant Young.

20-year-old Karen Prell came on board as Deena Monster, as did a new 19-year-old puppeteer Kermit Love met from Maryland named Kevin Clash, who debuted as Forgetful Jones' horse, Buster. During the 1978-79 seasons of Sesame Street, Earl, Brian Muehl and Caroll Spinney performed most of the day-to-day puppetry while the other Henson Muppeteers were working in London on The Muppet Show. Olga Felgemacher was another puppeteer who occasionally performed on Sesame Street at that time. Earl met Felgemacher and Bruce Schwartz on the set of The Muppet Movie.

During his time on Sesame Street, Earl was an understudy for Caroll Spinney as Big Bird, but never actually performed the character on Sesame Street. However, he did puppeteer Big Bird in the finale of The Muppet Movie but did not perform Big Bird's voice.

Earl took over the roles of Slimey (his personal favorite), Poco Loco and Snuffy from Jerry Nelson, and created the roles of Forgetful Jones, Polly Darton, Leslie Mostly and dozens of incidental Anything Muppets.

In 1979, Earl and Brian Muehl were invited by Jim Henson to workshop body combinations (along with two dancers) for The Dark Crystal, with Brian Froud observing their many workshop sessions and sketching "skins" over the dancer/puppeteer movements and forms as part of the development process for the film.

Earl's other Muppet credits include The Muppets Take Manhattan, John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together, Little Muppet Monsters, The Jim Henson Hour, The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, the National Wildlife Federation PSA's and Dinosaurs.

Originally Michael Earl Davis, he dropped the "Davis" from his name when AFTRA and SAG informed him they already had a "Mike Davis" on file and only one was allowed in the union.

A New York-trained actor/singer/dancer, Earl has appeared in and/or sung on numerous television commercials, movies, stage and TV shows. He has acted with Whoopi Goldberg, danced with Gregory Hines, and clowned with Victor Borge. For the stage, Michael created the role of Noel Petard in Sid and Marty Krofft's critically acclaimed "A Broadway Baby." His other stage work includes Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors and his 1998 biographical musical one-man show Pure Imagination!, which he wrote and performed in Los Angeles and New York.

Earl is a seven-time Emmy nominee and in 1995, won his first Emmy Award for his performance as Dr. Ticktock in Ticktock Minutes, produced by Mississippi Educational Television. In subsequent years he was awarded three more Southern Regional Emmys for his lyric writing (in collaboration with composer Randy Klein) on a series of PBS interstitials.

Earl met Drew Massey (a fellow Livermore native) when Massey was seven years old, teaching him puppet making at his school. Years later, after reconnecting through Massey's mother in a local supermarket, Earl recognized Massey's innate talent and mentored him while Massey was in college, giving him his first few puppeteering jobs and introducing him to the Muppets.

Earl has coached many TV and film puppeteers, including Camille Bonora, Brian Muehl, Kevin Carlson, James Murray, Betsy Baytos and Sean Johnson.

Michael Earl lived in Los Angeles, California, where he founded "Puppet School" with Roberto Ferreira. There he taught TV puppetry to actors and others interested in adding to their skill set.

On December 23, 2015, Michael lost his three-year battle with colon cancer at the age of 56.

Muppeteer Credits

Muppet Insert Band

Filming "My Polliwog Ways."

Other Puppetry Credits

Boy shark photo
  • Team America: World Police - Various Lead Characters
  • Men in Black II - Puppet Alien
  • The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth - Ms. Flossy, and others
  • Ticktock Minutes - Dr. Ticktock
  • Little Shop of Horrors - Audrey II
  • Michael Earl & Friends - Ivar Theatre, Hollywood
  • An Evening With Michael Earl - Singer/Songwriter/Puppeteer, Steve MacGraw's, NYC
  • Bob Baker Marionette Theater - Director, Lead Puppeteer
  • Bil Baird's Marionettes - Various Characters
  • Sid & Marty Kroftt's A Broadway Baby - Norma Terris Theatre at Goodspeed Opera House, CT - Noel Petard, Lead

Acting Credits

  • Shrek - Motion capture Shrek body suit
  • Simon - Actor, Commune Member, opposite Alan Arkin
  • The Phantom Toll Booth - Actor, Milo's Friend, Day Player, Warner Bros.
  • Fame - Actor, Rocky Horror Picture Show fan, MGM

Voice Over Credits

  • Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? - Guest Star as Ira Gation, and 4 other voices, DIC Entertainment
  • Digimon Tamers - Mr. Akiyama - Voice
  • M&M TV Commercial - singing voice of animated M&M. Martin P. Robinson played one of the other 4 singing candies. Spot ran for 3 years in the late 80s.

Sources

External links