Richard Hunt (August 17, 1951 – January 7, 1992) was 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 from ...
, best known as a
Muppet performer on ''
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) and ...
'', ''
The Muppet Show
''The Muppet Show'' is a sketch comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring the Muppets. The series originated as two television pilot, pilot episodes produced by Henson for American Broadcasting Company, ABC in 1974 and 1975. ...
'', ''
Fraggle Rock
''Fraggle Rock'' (also known as ''Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock'' or ''Fraggle Rock with Jim Henson's Muppets'') is a children's musical fantasy comedy puppet television series about interconnected societies of Muppet creatures, created by Jim He ...
'', and other projects for
The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company (formerly known as Muppets, Inc., Henson Associates, Inc., and Jim Henson Productions, Inc.; commonly referred to as Henson) is an American entertainment company located in Los Angeles, California. The company is known for ...
.
His roles on ''The Muppet Show'' included
Scooter,
Statler,
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 Voiv ...
,
Beaker, and
Sweetums and characters on ''Sesame Street'' include
Gladys the Cow,
Don Music
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson, many for the purpose of appearing on the children's television program ''Sesame Street''. Some of the best known Muppets on ''Sesame Street'' include Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch ...
, and Forgetful Jones.
Early life
Hunt was born in
The Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New ...
, New York City.
[ The family eventually moved to Closter, New Jersey some years later.]
Hunt came from a family of performers.[ As a student in middle school and high school, he put on puppet shows for local children, and was a fan of the then-fledgling Muppets.][ After high school graduation, and a four-month stint of doing weather reports at a local radio station, Hunt pursued a meeting with ]Jim Henson
James Maury Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was an American puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, and filmmaker who achieved worldwide notice as the creator of The Muppets and '' Fraggle Rock'' (1983–1987) an ...
. He cold-called from a payphone
A payphone (alternative spelling: pay phone) is typically a coin-operated public telephone, often located in a telephone booth or in high-traffic outdoor areas, with prepayment by inserting money (usually coins) or by billing a credit or deb ...
and was invited to audition.
Career
After being hired to work on ''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) and ...
'', Hunt mostly performed background characters.[ One of his first major performances was as Taminella Grinderfall in '' The Frog Prince'', physically performing the character while Jerry Juhl portrayed the voice.] Hunt performed Scooter and shared Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is one of the Muppet characters known for her breakout role in Jim Henson's '' The Muppet Show''. Since her debut in 1976, Miss Piggy has been notable for her temperamental diva superstar personality, tendency to use French phrases i ...
with Frank Oz
Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz; May 25, 1944) is an American actor, puppeteer, and filmmaker.
He began his career as a puppeteer, performing the Muppet characters of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle in ''The Muppet Show ...
until the final quarter of the first season of ''The Muppet Show
''The Muppet Show'' is a sketch comedy television series created by Jim Henson and featuring the Muppets. The series originated as two television pilot, pilot episodes produced by Henson for American Broadcasting Company, ABC in 1974 and 1975. ...
''.
His characters on ''Sesame Street'' included Forgetful Jones, Placido Flamingo, Don Music
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson, many for the purpose of appearing on the children's television program ''Sesame Street''. Some of the best known Muppets on ''Sesame Street'' include Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch ...
, Gladys the Cow, and Sully; Hunt also briefly performed Elmo
Elmo is a red Muppet monster character on the long-running PBS/ HBO children's television show ''Sesame Street''. A furry red monster who has a falsetto voice and illeism, he hosts the last full five-minute segment (fifteen minutes prior ...
before Kevin Clash was cast in that role.[ On '']Fraggle Rock
''Fraggle Rock'' (also known as ''Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock'' or ''Fraggle Rock with Jim Henson's Muppets'') is a children's musical fantasy comedy puppet television series about interconnected societies of Muppet creatures, created by Jim He ...
'', Hunt's main role was the performing the facial expressions and voice of Junior Gorg; he also performed Gunge (one of the Trash Heap's barkers) as well as several one-shot or minor characters.
Hunt also worked as a director of several home video
Home video is prerecorded media sold or rented for home viewing. The term originates from the VHS and Betamax era, when the predominant medium was videotapes, but has carried over to optical disc formats such as DVD, Blu-ray and streaming m ...
releases such as ''Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along'' and ''Elmo's Sing-Along Guessing Game'', as well as an episode of ''Fraggle Rock''.[ Hunt was close friends with fellow puppeteer ]Jerry Nelson
Jerry L. Nelson (July 10, 1934 – August 23, 2012) was an American puppeteer, best known for his work with The Muppets. Renowned for his wide range of characters and singing abilities, he performed Muppet characters on ''Sesame Street'', ...
. Several of their characters were paired, such as Nelson's Floyd Pepper with Hunt's 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 Voiv ...
; the Two-Headed Monster; and Nelson's Pa Gorg to Hunt's Junior Gorg on ''Fraggle Rock''.[
]
Personal life
Hunt was gay.[ When ]Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev ( ; Tatar/ Bashkir: Рудольф Хәмит улы Нуриев; rus, Рудо́льф Хаме́тович Нуре́ев, p=rʊˈdolʲf xɐˈmʲetəvʲɪtɕ nʊˈrʲejɪf; 17 March 19386 January 1993) was a Soviet ...
, also openly gay, made a guest appearance on ''The Muppet Show'', Nureyev bluntly flirted with Hunt backstage. Hunt was in a relationship with Nelson Bird, a painter from Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = " Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...
, until his death in 1985.
Because he was too ill with AIDS to do so, Hunt was the only ''Muppet Show'' puppeteer who did not return for '' The Muppet Christmas Carol'', which is dedicated to his memory as well as that of Jim Henson. Hunt died in January 1992, ahead of the film's release that December.
Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards ...
told the ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper. It is also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely distributed. It is currently ...
'' during a chat in November 2003 that he became friends with Hunt during his ''Muppet Show'' appearance, and that " untbecame one of the best friends my family has ever had."
Death and legacy
On January 7, 1992, Hunt died of HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...
related complications at Cabrini Hospice in Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...
, aged 40.[ He was ]cremated
Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning.
Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre i ...
, and some of his ashes were sprinkled over the flower beds at the Hunt Family home in Closter, New Jersey. '' The Muppet Christmas Carol'' was dedicated to his memory.
Following Hunt's death, the roles of Scooter and 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 Voiv ...
were reassigned to David Rudman in 2008. The roles of Beaker and Statler, likewise, were reassigned to Steve Whitmire and Jerry Nelson, respectively, with Whitmire performing Statler fulltime later in 2002. As of 2017, Beaker is now performed by Rudman, and Statler by Peter Linz. John Henson was cast as Sweetums shortly prior to Hunt's death, having initially been trained by Hunt for physical performances in the attraction Muppet*Vision 3D, before Matt Vogel was cast in the role in 2009.
On ''Sesame Street'', Hunt's roles of Sully, Sonny Friendly, and the right head of the Two-Headed Monster were also reassigned to Rudman until the former two were eventually retired, while the role of Gladys the Cow is now performed by Jennifer Barnhart. The role of Don Music
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson, many for the purpose of appearing on the children's television program ''Sesame Street''. Some of the best known Muppets on ''Sesame Street'' include Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch ...
has been performed by Ryan Dillon since 2019.
Filmography
References
External links
*
*
Muppet Central's Tribute to Richard Hunt
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Richard
1951 births
1992 deaths
20th-century American male actors
AIDS-related deaths in New York (state)
American male film actors
American television directors
American male voice actors
American puppeteers
Fraggle Rock performers
American gay actors
LGBT people from New York (state)
Muppet performers
People from Closter, New Jersey
People from the Bronx
Sesame Street Muppeteers
Primetime Emmy Award winners
Film directors from New Jersey
Film directors from New York (state)