Like the origins of many Sesame Street characters, before Elmo became established as a regular on the show, the puppet was used as an Anything Muppet monster with a rotating ensemble of performers.
Some scripts simply call for an assortment of AMs and the end product just happened to use the Elmo puppet; other scripts specifically call for "AM Elmo", but as the AM designation dictates, the puppet is used in a more ancillary manner in these cases and shouldn't necessarily be considered authentic Elmo appearances.
AM proto-Elmo performers[]
Elmo performers[]
Elmo Street scenes in Episodes 2011 and 2018
The character definitively appeared named as Elmo in street scenes during Season 11 where he spoke only in mumbles. Brian Muehl originated the character, playing him in at least nine episodes until Season 15's last episode. Richard Hunt picked up the character for a brief stint of six episodes in Season 16, two of which were taped before Kevin Clash took on the character, but aired after. For this period, Elmo had evolved into a loud character who was obsessed with playing games with any one at any time. Clash's performance of Elmo at first emulated Muehl and Hunt's characteristics, but he soon developed his own take which became the best known version.
Brian Muehl[]
Elmo learns about the word "OPEN" in Episode 1600.
- Season 15 (1983-1984)
- Episode 1851 - referred to as "Baby Elmo"
- Episode 1865 - referred to as "Elmo, the baby monster"
- Episode 1924
- Episode 1965
Richard Hunt[]
Five of Hunt's six performances as Elmo were shot over the course of three weeks in 1984. The sixth (Episode 2037) was shot on the morning of November 26, the same day Kevin Clash took over the character. In My Life as a Furry Red Monster, Clash recalls that Hunt literally tossed him the Elmo puppet (which he caught in mid-air) saying, "Give it a voice, Clash." Clash's first taped episode in the role, Episode 2026, was shot that afternoon.
Notably, two of Hunt's episodes (Episode 2036 and Episode 2037) did not air until after Clash's debut as Elmo had already broadcast.
Kevin Clash[]
- Season 16 (1984-1985)
- Episode 2025
- Episode 2026 (first taped episode)
- Episode 2035
- Episode 2055
- Episode 2094
Clash became Elmo's regular performer after this point, taking some time to settle in to the role. His interpretation took on elements from both Muehl and Hunt's versions of the character, including repeated phrases like "yes, yes" or "play, play" as well as shifting the softness of the voice. According to a video interview in the "Behind the Street" featurette on disc one of 40 Years of Sunny Days, Clash doesn't consider his having "found Elmo's voice" yet until Episode 2215 despite having appeared in at least twenty-seven episodes earlier that season (2096, 2097, 2123, 2131, 2135, 2146, 2149, 2153, 2155, 2156, 2165, 2167, 2169, 2170, 2173, 2174, 2176, 2183, 2186, 2187, 2189, 2190, 2191, 2197, 2199, 2204, and 2210, as well as a News Flash and a lecture segment with Kermit the Frog).
Notes[]
- Despite his claims to the contrary, Caroll Spinney never performed Elmo.
- The 2001 A&E Biography special on Sesame Street mentions Kevin Clash taking over Elmo from Richard Hunt, but erroneously uses a clip from "Me Claudius" (with Jerry Nelson performing the Elmo puppet).