David Rudman (born June 1, 1963) is an American

puppeteer A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, called a puppet, to create the illusion that the puppet is alive. The puppet is often shaped like a human, animal, or legendary creature. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden fr ...

, puppet builder, writer, director, and producer known for his involvement with

the Muppets The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, burlesque, and self-referential style of variety- sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, they are the focus of a media franchise that encompas ...

and ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000 ...

''.

Career

David Rudman has been a ''Sesame Street'' Muppet performer since 1985—currently performing

Cookie Monster Cookie Monster is a blue Muppet character on the long-running PBS/ HBO children's television show ''Sesame Street.'' In a song in 2004, and later in an interview in 2017, Cookie Monster revealed his real name as "Sid". He is best known for hi ...

(since 2001), Baby Bear and the right head of the

Two-Headed Monster The Two-Headed Monster is a comical, light purple Muppet monster on the television show ''Sesame Street'', first appearing in season 9, 1978. History The Two-Headed Monster, as the name implies, is an example of bicephaly. The right-hand hea ...

(since 1998). He has received four Emmy nominations as Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series for his work on ''Sesame Street''. Rudman has also directed several web videos for ''Sesame Street'' such as "Cookie Monster Auditions for Saturday Night Live" and "Conversations with Bert". He has performed in numerous television shows and specials including ''Saturday Night Live'', ''The Colbert Report'', ''The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon'', ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' and ''The Muppets'', where he performed characters originally portrayed by Richard Hunt, such as Scooter,

Janice Janice may refer to: * Janice (given name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) * ''Janice & Abbey'', a reality TV series * Processor codename of the Samsung Galaxy S Advance Android smartphone * Janice, Łódź Voivodes ...

, Bobby Benson and Wayne. His film credits include ''The Muppets Take Manhattan'', ''Labyrinth'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', ''A Muppet Christmas Carol'', ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'', ''The Muppets'' and ''Muppets Most Wanted''. Following the departure of

Steve Whitmire Steven Lawrence Whitmire (born September 24, 1959) is an American puppeteer, known primarily for his work on ''The Muppets'' and ''Sesame Street''. Beginning his involvement with the Muppets in 1978, Whitmire inherited the roles of Ernie and Kerm ...

in 2016, he became Beaker's new performer in 2017.

Personal life

Rudman attended Highland Park High School and graduated in 1981. He has been a speaker at the school's biennial Focus on the Arts program since 2003. He attended college at the University of Connecticut. Rudman was the speaker at the 2005 graduation ceremony for the

Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago was a for-profit art and culinary school, which briefly operated as a non-profit institution before it closed in 2018. The school was one of a number of Art Institutes, a franchise of for-profit art colle ...

Spiffy Pictures

Spiffy Pictures is a television production-channel company that started in 2003 and founded by David and Adam Rudman, located in Chicago, that consists mainly of its most famous live-action comedy-adventure-musical television shows for Noggin,

Disney Channel Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Comp ...

HBO Max HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Ne ...

, Comedy Central,

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, ...

, Nick Jr., and PBS. In addition to his work on ''Sesame Street'' and with the Muppets, Rudman is co-owner of Spiffy Pictures where he co-created, executive produced, directed and performed in ''

Jack's Big Music Show ''Jack's Big Music Show'' is an American musical children's television series produced for the Noggin channel. It was created and executive produced by David Rudman, Todd Hannert, and Adam Rudman through their company Spiffy Pictures. The main ...

'' (Noggin), '' Curious Buddies'' (Nick Jr. Baby), '' Bunnytown'' (Disney Junior), '' Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map'' (Warner Bros.), ''Frankie and Frank'' (Nick Jr.), '' Donkey Hodie'' (PBS Kids) and is the creator, executive producer, character designer, director and voice director of the animated series ''

Nature Cat ''Nature Cat'' is an educational animated children's television series that premiered on November 25, 2015 on PBS Kids and is aimed at children aged 3–8. The series follows the adventures of four main characters: Nature Cat, Hal the Dog, Squeek ...

'' on PBS Kids, voicing several characters including Leo the Mammoth, Prospector Jones, Nevin, and the Seeker.

Filmography

* ''I Love Liberty'' (ABC) * ''

The Muppets Take Manhattan ''The Muppets Take Manhattan'' is a 1984 American musical comedy drama film directed by Frank Oz. It is the third theatrical film in ''The Muppets'' franchise. In addition to the Muppet performance, the film features special appearances by Ar ...

'' (film): Additional Muppets * ''

Little Muppet Monsters ''Little Muppet Monsters'' is a Saturday morning television series featuring the Muppets that aired three episodes on CBS in 1985. The first season of '' Muppet Babies'' did so well in the ratings, that CBS decided to expand the series from ...

'' (CBS): Boo Monster * ''

Labyrinth In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth (, ) was an elaborate, confusing structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, the monster eventually killed by ...

'' (film): Goblins (puppetry only) * ''

'' (PBS): Baby Bear, Cookie Monster (2001–present), Two-Headed Monster (right head), Norman, Davey Monkey, Ernestine, Chicago the Lion, Humphrey, Freddy (Rudy's dad), Additional Muppets * '' The Tale of the Bunny Picnic'' (HBO): Snort, The Snail, Additional Muppets * ''

A Muppet Family Christmas ''A Muppet Family Christmas'' is a Christmas television special starring Jim Henson's Muppets. It first aired on December 16, 1987, on the ABC television network in the United States. Shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, its teleplay was conceived ...

'' (ABC): Miss Piggy's Photographer, Additional Muppets * ''Jim Henson's Play-Along Video'' (direct-to-video): Danny, Dino Doc, Farmer Lear, Mookie, Additional Muppets * '' Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting'' (NBC): Additional Muppets * ''

The Cosby Show ''The Cosby Show'' is an American television sitcom co-created by and starring Bill Cosby, which aired Thursday nights for eight seasons on NBC between September 20, 1984, until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on an upper middle-class Africa ...

'' (NBC): Sweetums, Boo Monster * ''

The Jim Henson Hour ''The Jim Henson Hour'' is a television series that aired on NBC in 1989. It was developed as a showcase for The Jim Henson Company's various puppet creations, including the Muppet characters. Nine of the twelve episodes produced aired on NBC bef ...

'' (NBC): ''The Song of the Cloud Forest'' * ''

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' is an American media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers (named after It ...

'' (film):

Donatello Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), better known as Donatello ( ), was a Florentine sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Florence, he studied classical sculpture and used this to develop a complete Renaissance st ...

(face) * '' Muppet*Vision 3D'' (attraction): Roy and Max * ''

The Muppets at Walt Disney World ''The Muppets at Walt Disney World'' is a television special starring Jim Henson's Muppets at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The special aired on NBC as part of ''The Magical World of Disney'' on May 6, 1990, and turned out to ...

'' (NBC): Frog, Additional Muppets * '' Muppet Sing-Alongs: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs'' (direct-to-video): Percival Bear, Gopher, Termite, Waiter Penguin, Frog * '' Sesame Street Visits the Firehouse'' (direct-to-video): Mr. Monster * ''

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson ''The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson'' is a one-hour special that aired on CBS on November 21, 1990. The program was a tribute to Muppet creator Jim Henson, who had died earlier in 1990 due to toxic shock syndrome caused by a streptococcus infect ...

'' (CBS): Penguin, Additional Muppets * ''

Dinosaurs Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is the ...

'' (ABC) * '' The Muppet Christmas Carol'' (film): Old Joe (puppetry only), Peter Cratchit, The Swedish Chef, Wander McMooch, Beggar * '' Dog City'' (Fox Kids): Bowser, Bram, Colonel Claghound, Additional Muppets * ''

CityKids ''CityKids'' is an American television series that aired late Saturday mornings on ABC from 1993 to 1994. The show consists primarily of live action performances, interspersed with Muppet segments, courtesy of Jim Henson Productions. These Muppet ...

'' (ABC): Frankie Frank, Additional Muppets, Muppet Coordinator * '' Muppet Meeting Films'' (short): Big Head, Gimley, Jones, Additional Muppets * '' A New Baby in the House'' (direct-to-video): Courtier * '' Sesame Street Stays Up Late'' (PBS): Baby Bear, MNN Logo Orange Monster * '' Muppet Time'' (Nick Jr.): Milton * '' Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree'' (CBS): Ned Mouse * '' Donkey Hodie'' (PBS): Bob Dog, Grampy Hodie * '' Muppets Sing-Alongs: It's Not Easy Being Green'' * ''

Muppets Tonight ''Muppets Tonight'' is an American live-action/puppet family-oriented television series created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring The Muppets. Much like the "MuppeTelevision" segment of ''The Jim Henson Hour'' (1989), the show was a contin ...

'' (Disney Channel): (Episode 201) * '' Elmocize'' (direct-to-video): Twister Sister * ''

Aliens in the Family ''Aliens in the Family'' is an American science fantasy sitcom that aired on ABC from March 15 to August 31, 1996, conceived as part of its '' TGIF'' lineup. Premise The show was about single dad Doug Brody (John Bedford Lloyd), who is abducted ...

'' (ABC): Bobut * ''

Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck This is a list of miscellaneous recurring segments on the children's daytime program, ''Sesame Street''. Current segments Elmo Elmo's World (seasons 30–) Elmo: The Musical (seasons 43–46) Elmo & Tango's Mysterious Mysteries (seasons 52– ...

'' (PBS): Cookie Monster, Baby Bear * '' Elmo Saves Christmas'' (PBS): Baby Bear, Humphrey, Elf #4 * '' 123 Count with Me'' (direct-to-video): Humphrey * ''

Elmo Says BOO! ''Elmo Says Boo!'' is a 1997 ''Sesame Street'' direct-to-video special celebrating Halloween. The special aired on PBS the following October as Halloween programming. Elmo visits The Count's castle to tell him funny, scary jokes. Classic ''Sesame ...

'' (direct-to-video): Baby Bear, Davey Monkey * ''

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland ''The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland'' is a 1999 American musical adventure comedy film directed by Gary Halvorson in his feature film debut. This was the second film to be based on the children's television series ''Sesame Street'', after '' ...

'' (film): Baby Bear, Alarm Clock Bird, Caterpillar, Pestie, Colander Stenchman, Grouch Ice Cream Customer, various Grouches * ''

Play with Me Sesame ''Play with Me Sesame'' is an American children's television series, created by Sesame Workshop and Nickelodeon for their former joint venture Noggin (brand), Noggin. It is a spin-off of ''Sesame Street'' hosted by Ernie (Sesame Street), Ernie, B ...

'' (Noggin): Cookie Monster, Ernestine, and Chicago the Lion * ''

Smart Cookies This is a list of miscellaneous recurring segments on the children's daytime program, '' Sesame Street''. Current segments Elmo Elmo's World (seasons 30–) Elmo: The Musical (seasons 43–46) Elmo & Tango's Mysterious Mysteries (seasons 52� ...

'' (PBS): Cookie Monster * '' Kids Favorite Songs 2'' (direct-to-video): Baby Bear, Lavender Anything Muppet boy, and Hero Guy (Hero Guy segment only) * '' Elmo's World: The Wild Wild West'' (direct-to-video): Baby Bear and Hero Guy (Hero Guy segment only) * '' Elmo's World: Happy Holidays'' (direct-to-video): Orange Gold Caroler, Cookie Monster and Baby Bear * '' The Street We Live On'' (PBS): Cookie Monster, Baby Bear and Two-Headed Monster (right head) * '' A Magical Halloween Adventure'' (direct-to-video): Pumpkin, Surprise Monster * '' Happy Healthy Monsters'' (direct-to-video): Cookie Monster * '' Cookie's Crumby Pictures'' (PBS): Cookie Monster * ''

'' (Noggin): Jack * ''

Elmo's Christmas Countdown ''Elmo's Christmas Countdown'' is a 2007 television Christmas film, featuring the characters from ''Sesame Street''. It was first aired on December 23, 2007, on ABC and starred Ben Stiller. Plot synopsis In ''Elmo's Christmas Countdown'', Stille ...

'' (ABC): Cookie Monster and Baby Bear * '' Studio DC: Almost Live'' (Disney Channel) * '' Abby in Wonderland'' (direct-to-video): Cookie Monster * '' A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa'' (NBC): Scooter, Janice and Luncheon Counter Monster * ''

The Muppets The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, burlesque, and self-referential style of variety- sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, they are the focus of a media franchise that encompas ...

'' (film): Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy and Food in the "

We Built This City "We Built This City" is a 1985 song by American rock band Starship. It was released as their debut single on their album '' Knee Deep in the Hoopla''. It was written by English musicians Martin Page and Bernie Taupin, who were both living in Lo ...

" montage * ''

Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular ''Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular'' is a Thanksgiving television special with American singer Lady Gaga and the Muppets. The 90-minute program aired on ABC on November 28, 2013, with guest stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elton John a ...

'' (ABC): Scooter, Janice, Additional Muppets * ''

Muppets Most Wanted ''Muppets Most Wanted'' is a 2014 American musical crime comedy film and the eighth theatrical film featuring the Muppets. Directed by James Bobin and written by Bobin and Nicholas Stoller, the film is a sequel to ''The Muppets'' (2011) and sta ...

'' (film): Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy, Bobby Benson, Wayne, Gulag Rat, Baby, Thingy-Thing * '' The Furchester Hotel'' (BBC):

, Sorbet Monster, Gonger, Arthur, Mr. Smellsalot * ''

'' (ABC): Scooter, Janice * '' The Muppets Take the Bowl'': Scooter, Janice, Beaker (Live show at the

Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was named one of the 10 best live music venues in America by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2018. The Hollywood Bowl is known for its distin ...

, Sept. 8–10, 2017) * '' The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo'' (

): Cookie Monster, Baby Bear, Sully, Two-Headed Monster (right head) * ''

Muppets Now ''Muppets Now'' is an American television series produced by The Muppets Studio for the streaming service Disney+. Directed by Kirk Thatcher, the series is an improvisational comedy based on ''The Muppets'' franchise by Jim Henson. It premiere ...

'' (

Disney+ Disney+ is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned and operated by the Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. The service primarily distributes films and television se ...

): Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Miss Poogy * '' Muppets Haunted Mansion'' (Disney+): Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Wayne, Squid Ghost * The Muppets Christmas Caroling Coach: Beaker (voice, theme park show at

Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney initially envisio ...

during Disney Merriest Nights in 2021)

References

External links

*
Spiffy Pictures
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rudman, David 1963 births Living people American male television writers American male voice actors American puppeteers American television directors American television producers American television writers American voice directors Muppet performers Sesame Street Muppeteers Place of birth missing (living people)