Since the premiere of the children's television program Sesame Street on November 10, 1969, it has included what writer Malcolm Gladwell has called "the essence of Sesame Street—the artful blend of fluffy monsters and earnest adults".[1] The original cast, chosen by original producer Jon Stone, consisted of four human actors—Matt Robinson, who played Gordon; Loretta Long, who played Gordon's wife, Susan; Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper; and Bob McGrath, who played Bob. Unlike most children's television programs at the time, the producers of Sesame Street decided against using a single host and cast a group of ethnically diverse, primarily African American actors/presenters,[2] with, as Sesame Street researcher Gerald S. Lesser put it, "a variety of distinctive and reliable personalities".[3]
Stone did not audition actors until spring 1969, a few weeks before five shows, designed to test the show's appeal to children and to examine their comprehension of the material, were due to be filmed. Stone videotaped the auditions, and researcher Ed Palmer took them out into the field to test children's reactions. The actors who received the "most enthusiastic thumbs up" were cast.[4] For example, when the children saw Long's audition, they stood up and sang along with her rendition of "I'm a Little Teapot".[4][5] As Stone said, casting was the only aspect of the show that was "just completely haphazard".[6] Most of the cast and crew found jobs on Sesame Street through personal relationships with Stone and the other producers.[6]
The results of the test shows, which were never intended for broadcast and shown to preschoolers in 60 homes throughout Philadelphia and in day care centers in New York City in July 1969,[6] were "generally very positive".[7] The researchers found that children learned from the shows, that the show's appeal was high, and that children's attention was sustained over the full hour.[6] However, they found that, although children's attention was high during the Muppet segments, their interest wavered when there were only humans on screen. The producers had followed the advice of child psychologists who were concerned that children would be confused, and had recommended that human actors and Muppets not be shown together. As a result of this decision, the appeal of the test episodes was lower than they would have liked,[7][8] so the show's producers knew they needed to make significant changes, including defying the recommendations of their advisers and show the human and Muppet characters together. Lesser called this decision "a turning point in the history of Sesame Street".[1] Muppet creator Jim Henson and his coworkers created Muppets for Sesame Street that could interact with the human actors, and many segments were re-shot.[1]
The human cast currently consists of Alan, Chris, Nina, Charlie, Mia, Dave and Frank. Though no longer part of the show, longtime cast members Bob, Gordon, Susan, Luis, Maria and Gina have still made special appearances on occasion, in online videos, TV specials and at live appearances. In 2019, retired characters from the series such as Linda, Miles and Leela returned for the TV special Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration.[9][10]
Characters
| Character | Actor | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alan (1998–present) | Alan Muraoka[11] | A "warm and welcoming character", who's been the proprietor of Hooper's Store since its more contemporary redesign in 1998.[12] |
| Angela (1993–1995) | Angel Jemmott | Part of the "Around-the-Corner" expansion of the 1990s, Angela was a day care worker. She was the wife of Jamal and mother of baby Kayla.[13] |
| Antonio (1971–1972) | Panchito Gómez | The son of Rafael. |
| Armando "Mando" (2013–2015) | Ismael Cruz Córdova | An energetic Puerto Rican Latino writer and "techie [who] loves his gadgets".[14] |
| Billy Tuesday (2004) | Taylor Matalon | Jane Tuesday's "wily and mischievous brother", who seems to always be at the scene of the crime.[15] |
| Bob Johnson (1969–2016)[16] | Bob McGrath | An original cast member and Sesame Street's resident music teacher.[17] |
| Buddy and Jim (1969–1970) | Brandon Maggart and Jim Catusi[18] | "Two bumblers" who appeared in the first season of Sesame Street.[18][19] |
| Buffy (1975–1981) | Buffy Sainte-Marie | Indigenous Canadian folk singer who appeared in an "understated" scene about breastfeeding with Big Bird and her infant son Cody.[20][21] Buffy helped introduce Native American culture to Sesame Street's audience.[22] |
| Carlo (1993–1998)[23] | Carlo Alban | A teenager who worked at Hooper's Store.[24] |
| Celina (1993–1998) | Annette Calud | A regular for five years who was part of the "Around the Corner" expansion. She was a dance teacher.[25] |
| Charlie (2020–present) | Violet Tinnirello | 8-year-old Charlotte, nicknamed “Charlie”, who moved to Sesame Street after her parents retired from the military. Her mother is played by Muppet performer Jennifer Barnhart. |
| Chris Robinson (2007–present) | Chris Knowings | A student who works part-time at Hooper's Store. He is the nephew of Gordon and Susan.[26][27] |
| Christy Robinson (2008, 2011) | Christy Knowings | Chris' twin sister (also in real life); appeared in 3 episodes.[28] |
| Cody (1977) | Dakota Starblanket Wolfchild | Infant son of Buffy Saint-Marie and Sheldon Wolfchild; was breast-fed by his mother on-air, and helped demonstrate sibling rivalry with Big Bird.[22] |
| David (1971–1989)[29][30] | Northern Calloway[30] | A hip and upbeat individual fond of eccentric hats who worked at Hooper's Store. He eventually took over management of the store after Mr. Hooper's death.[29] |
| Duane (1991–1993) | Donald Faison | One of Jelani's group of friends, along with Tyrone and Lamar, who formed their own after-school company, "Jelani and Company". |
| Edith Ann | Lily Tomlin | A comic, childlike character who appeared in five segments.[31] |
| Ernestine | Lily Tomlin | A nasal-voiced telephone operator.[32] |
| Gabriela "Gabi" Rodriguez (1989–2013) | Bryan Maitland (1989) Brittany and Sarah Beaudry (1989) Morgan DeSena (1989–93) Gabriela Rose Reagan (1989–93) Desiree Casado (1993–2013)[33] | Daughter of Luis and Maria Rodriguez (born 1989), her character was created as part of the show's curriculum about love, marriage, and childbirth.[34][33] |
| Dr. Gina Jefferson (1986–2015) | Alison Bartlett-O'Reilly[35] | Started on the show as a teenager who worked in Hooper's Store. She ran a daycare center, later became a veterinarian, and adopted a baby named Marco from Guatemala.[36] |
| Gordon Robinson (1969–2016, 2023 - present) | Garrett Saunders (1969)[37] Matt Robinson (1969–1972) Hal Miller (1972–1974) Roscoe Orman (1974–2016, 2023-present)[38] | Named for photographer-filmmaker Gordon Parks.[39] A science teacher who owned the brownstone "123 Sesame Street" building with his wife Susan. He was the first character introduced in the show's premiere. Davis described him as "a dutiful husband and steady provider, a well-liked and respected figure in the neighborhood."[40] |
| Grace (1976–1989) | Clarice Taylor | David's grandmother. |
| Hiroshi (1988–1991) | Gedde Watanabe | A Japanese artist.[13] |
| Mr. Harold Hooper (1969–1983) | Will Lee | The original proprietor of Hooper's Store. Lee described Mr. Hooper as "the gruff grocer with the warm heart".[41] Sesame Street dealt with Lee's 1982 death in what Davis called "a landmark broadcast"[42] that aired on Thanksgiving Day, 1983.[42] |
| Jamal (1993–1995) | Jou Jou Papailler | Introduced when Sesame Street expanded "Around-the-Corner". Jamal was a park ranger who was married to Angela and had a baby named Kayla.[13] |
| Jane Tuesday (2004) | Kyla Taub | Developed to be a strong female role model, Jane is a 7-year-old private investigator in a series of short films.[15] |
| Jason (1975) | Jason Kingsley | Child with Down syndrome who made 55 appearances on the show from the early-to-mid 1970s. Jason was the son of writer Emily Kingsley, who pushed for more inclusion of people with disabilities on the show.[43][44] |
| Jelani (1987–1991) | Eugene Byrd | Byrd was hired by producer Dulcy Singer as a part of a curriculum push about race relations.[45][46] |
| Jennie (1969) | Jada Rowland[47] | Appeared in first episode of Sesame Street.[19] |
| Joey | Joey Calvan[48] | |
| John-John | John Williams III | Best known for his count-to-20 segment with Herry Monster, Gikow said what made him stand out was his "effortless connection to the Muppets and the bold confidence of his delivery."[48] |
| Kayla (1993–1995) | Rachael McDaniel and Syvae McDaniel | Baby daughter of Angela and Jamal.[13] |
| Larry and Phyllis | Alan Arkin and Barbara Dana | Played by the real-life husband and wife, they taught cooperation during season two.[49][50] |
| Leela (2008–2015) | Nitya Vidyasagar | Indian American character who ran Sesame Street's laundromat.[51] |
| Lillian (1989–1993) | Lillias White | Ran a daycare on Sesame Street. She was portrayed by Broadway performer White.[52] |
| Linda (1971–2002)[53] | Linda Bove | The neighborhood librarian and Bob's girlfriend. Bove said that writer Emily Kingsley "wrote Linda as a person first, then worried about the other stuff", referring to Linda's deafness and use of American Sign Language.[54] |
| Luis Rodriguez (1971–2016) | Emilio Delgado | Davis calls Luis "a tenderhearted Hispanic man";[55] Luis married Maria in 1988, and his daughter Gabi was born in 1989. For more than four decades, he ran The Fix-It Shop.[56][33] |
| Marco Jefferson (2006–2014) | Matthew | Gina's adopted son from Guatemala.[57] |
| Maria Rodriguez (1971–2015)[58] | Sonia Manzano | Starting as a teenager and one of the first Latinas on television, Maria is loosely based upon her portrayer's life. Maria married Luis, became co-owner of the Fix-It Shop after working under him, and had a daughter named Gabi. She had a close relationship with Oscar the Grouch, who nicknamed her Skinny.[59] |
| Miguel (1970–1972) | Jaime Sánchez | First Latino cast member.[13] |
| Mike (1989–1991) | Ward Saxton | One of Gordon's students, always after food. A romantic relationship between him and Gina was implied.[13] |
| Mia (2021-present) | Olivia Perez[60] | Nina's niece and the daughter of Dave and Frank, the first married gay couple on Sesame Street.[61] |
| Miles Robinson (1985–2008) | Miles Orman (1985–1995)[62] Kevin Clash (1987) Imani Patterson (1995–2002),[33] Olamide Faison (2003–2008)[63] | The adopted son of Gordon and Susan Robinson (adopted 1985).[33] |
| Molly (1971–1975) | Charlotte Rae | A female mail carrier who debuted in season 3. She and Bob were very close.[13] |
| Mr. Handford (1989–1998) | Leonard Jackson (1989–1990) David Smyrl (1990–1998)[13] | A retired firefighter who took over ownership of Hooper's Store from David. Jackson played "the grumpier version" of the character, while Smyrl played the "smiling, singing" Mr. Handford.[64] |
| Mr. MacIntosh (1971) | Chester O'Brien | A fruit vendor played by Sesame Street's floor manager.[13] |
| Mr. Noodle | Bill Irwin (1998–2009, 2017–present)[65] | A mime featured in Elmo's World, whose mistakes empower viewers to, as writer Louise Gikow puts it, "call out instructions that allow them to feel smarter than the adult."[66] |
| Mr. Noodle's Brother, Mr. Noodle (2000–2003)[67] | Michael Jeter | Mr. Noodle's brother who appeared in the Elmo's World segments, often with his brother.[66] |
| Mr. Noodle's Sister, Ms. Noodle | Kristin Chenoweth | Mr. Noodle's sister who appeared in Elmo's World.[66] |
| Mr. Noodle's Other Sister, Miss Noodle | Sarah Jones | Mr. Noodle's other sister; like Irwin, Jeter, and Chenoweth, Jones is a Tony award winner.[68] |
| Mr. Noodle's Brothers 2017 | Daveed Diggs; Daniel Koren | Appeared in the retooled Elmo's World, with Irwin's Noodle and their three pet dogs, Schmoodle, Floodle, and Frank.[69] |
| Nina (2016–present) | Suki Lopez | Young bilingual Hispanic woman of Cuban descent who works at both the bike shop and the Sesame Street's laundromat. Her brother and his husband were introduced in 2021. [70] |
| The Number Painter (1972) | Paul Benedict | A bowler-capped fellow in several short films, he would randomly pop up in places and paint his surroundings with big red numbers.[71] |
| Olivia Robinson (1976–1988) | Alaina Reed | Gordon's sister and a professional photographer. Olivia was well-known for her many musical performances on the show.[72] |
| Pirate Captain (2007) | Tina Fey | A "swashbuckling captain" of the Bookaneers, a group of pirates who love to read.[73] |
| Piri (1984–1986) | Eddie Castrodad | A teenager who worked at Hooper's Store. |
| Rafael (1971–1972) | Raul Julia | A Puerto Rican man who was partnered with Luis in the L & R Fix-It Shop.[74] |
| Ruthie (1993–2001) | Ruth Buzzi | The enthusiastic proprietor of Sesame Street's thrift shop Finders Keepers; part of the "Around the Corner" expansion in the early 1990s. After her shop was removed from the set in 1998, she continued to make appearances in inserts for a few years. [13][75] |
| Sally (1969) | A young girl who appeared in the first episode of Sesame Street.[76] | |
| Savion (1989–1995)[13] | Savion Glover | Brought on Sesame Street to provide viewers with a positive teen role model, Savion was a dancer whose character was based upon his portrayer. He and Gina, when they were teenagers, battled prejudice against interracial couples.[77] |
| Sheldon | Sheldon Wolfchild | Buffy's husband and Cody's father; the family's appearance on the show was called "the first time Sesame Street has had a nuclear family."[22] |
| Susan Robinson (1969–2016) | Loretta Long | Gordon's wife and Miles' mother, one of four regular characters that appeared on the show's premiere. She "evolved from housewife to nurse to working mother" over the years.[78][76] |
| Tarah (1993–2001) | Tarah Schaeffer | The first regularly appearing character on Sesame Street who used a wheelchair; served as a positive role model for children with disabilities.[79][80] |
| Tom (1970–1972) | Larry Block | Worked at Hooper's Store.[13] |
| Trash Gordon (2004–2007) | Roscoe Orman | Spoof of the 1930s superhero Flash Gordon.[81] |
| Mrs. Mae Trump | Loretta Tupper | Played by the radio performer of the 1930s and 1940s, she played the piano on Sesame Street.[82] |
| Uncle Wally (1984–1992)[13][83] | Bill McCutcheon | Bob's eccentric uncle. A travelling salesman. The Los Angeles Times called Wally "a fun-loving, down-to-earth, endearing older gentleman."[83] |
| Wanda Falbo (Word Fairy) (1989–2000) | Andrea Martin | Played by SCTV alum who won an Emmy for her work on Sesame Street.[84][85] |
| Wally and Ralph (1971–1974) | Paul Price and Joe Ponazecki | A comedy team in the tradition of Laurel and Hardy who appeared during season 3.[86] |
| Willy | Kermit Love | Hot dog vendor. He was played by the Muppet designer who co-created Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus.[87][13] |
See also
Citations
General and cited references
- Borgenicht, David (1998). Sesame Street Unpaved. New York: Hyperion Publishing. ISBN 0-7868-6460-5
- Davis, Michael (2008). Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN 978-0-670-01996-0
- Gikow, Louise A. (2009). Sesame Street: A Celebration—Forty Years of Life on the Street. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. ISBN 978-1-57912-638-4.
- Gladwell, Malcolm (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. New York: Little, Brown, and Company. ISBN 0-316-31696-2
- Lesser, Gerald S. (1974). Children and Television: Lessons From Sesame Street. New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 0-394-71448-2
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