Matt Vogel

 Matthew   J ames   " Matt "   Vogel  2| II  ( b . October 6 t h, 1 9 7 0  ) is an accomplished puppeteer in his own right. How ever, eve r since joining  SESAME STREET  in 1 99 6  , he has become most familiar for his work as  CAROLL SPINNEY  ’ s  SESAME STREET  understudy for  BIG BIRD  for the "  Journey to   Ernie  " segments , several street scenes & other appearances whenever  CAROLL SPINNEY  is un available. He has also per formed various Any thing Muppet s  & C| C G| G I| I   character s  o n "  Elmo  ’ s W or l d  " & play s  BIG BIRD  ’ s infant self,  BABY BIG BIRD  in the  SESAME  Beginnings  D| D V| V D| D  series. Most recent ly, he ' s also served as assistant puppet captain on  SESAME STREET .

Vogel has also taken over for most of  JERRY NELSON  ’ s character s  several year s before  NELSON  ’ s death, by the suggestion of  JERRY NELSON   himself  , personally. Vogel i s, as of 2 00 8  , the new permanent  performer  of  Floyd Pepper  ,  Lew Zealand  ,  Crazy Harry  ,  Robin t he Frog  &  Camilla the Chicken  following  Nelson  ' s retirement. He had also taken over the Muppetry  of  Jerry  ' s great est, most famous  character  ever ,  Count von Count  , but  Jerry  kept performing the voice. Jerry continued performing the voice till  his  very tragic death on Thursday, August 2 3 rd ,  2 0 1 2. Vogel has now assumed both voice & Muppetry  duties of the  character , starting w / a YouTube video. Vogel also performed the gray   Grouch  in the  Grouch  spoof of  S pam a lot  called  "  SCRAM  a lot  ".

 Vogel  ’ s other Muppet  credits include work, assisting or in supporting roles , on  Big  Bag  ,  Bear in the Big Blue House  ,  SESAME  English  , &  The Adventures of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land  , as well as various  pigeon s  in the  Creature Shop  film  The Producers . Works outside of the Henson  fold include the video series  MATHmatazz ,  Jack ' s Big Music Show  ,  The Puzzle Place  , the  H BO  drama  Oz  ,  Oobi  ,  Blue ' s Room  , &  Between t he Lion s .

In theater,  Vogel  has acted in regional productions o f various play s including  The   Foreigner  & 6| Six Degrees of   Sparation  , & was involved in the  2 00 3  -  2 00 4  Broad way run of  Little Shop of Horrors  , manipulating Audrey 2| I I  & playing various bums & Skid Row residents ( alongside  Martin P . Robinson  &  Anthony Asbury  ). In addition to Muppeteer ing, Vogel ' s interest in music i s made evident by his n on -  SESAME  role as front man for t he band , The Mighty Weaklings release d a C| C D| D o f song s " f o r k i d s -- & grow n - u p s " called  You   Can ' t   Rock   Sittin '   Down  in June of  2008  after appear ing in the video f or their song " Rocket Ship " on  Jack ' s Big Music Show. Vogel, w it h Joey Mazzarino  , co - owns Pratfall Productions , which produced the film - noir puppet spoof  Murder , He Squeaked  & various inserts for  SESAME STREET  ,  SESAME STREET  videos &  Nick J r .  's  Curious Buddies . Vogel also serves as director for  SESAME STREET  beginning with Season 39  & the recurring segment, "  Murray Has a Little Lamb  ".

Matt & his wife  Kelly live in the  Big App l e  with their 5| 5  children.

Episode s Where VOGEL  Played  BIG BIRD
In addition to the  Journey to   Ernie  segment s & insert ed clip s,  MATT  has also played  BIG BIRD  in many scene s including :
 * A sketch  where  BIG BIRD  explains to  Elmo  that plants can ' t play catch.
 * A sketch  where  BIG BIRD  show s  u p  &  down .
 * A segment where  BIG BIRD  &  Snuffy  present the Spanish Word o f the Day  : teléfono ( tele phone ).
 * 3 7 9 0 : 1| 1  of the earliest instance s of  VOGEL  inside of the  BIG BIRD   puppet , operating  it  to a vocal track by  CAROLL SPINNEY  , beginning when  OSCAR  appears partway into the  episode.
 * 3 8 3 1 : For the time s where  OSCAR  &  BIG BIRD  appear together,  VOGEL  i s actually doing  BIG BIRD  ’ s  Muppet r y  , at 1| 1  point lip - syncing  it  to a vocal track by  SPINNEY .
 *  3 8 3 8  : W hen  OSCAR  is i n side Hooper  ’ s  Store ,  VOGEL  is operating  BIG BIRD .
 * 3 8 4 5 : In the 1| 1  st f lash back where  FLUFFY  is tap dancing in  OSCAR  ’ s  TRASH CAN ,  VOGEL  briefly perform s  BIG BIRD  . After  FLUFFY  return s in side  OSCAR  ’ s  TRASH CAN  ,  SPINNEY  take s over .  MATT  late r perform s t he  BIRD  during "  Great  BIG  Beautiful World  ".
 * 3 8 5 1 : For the scene where  Elmo  &  BIG BIRD  are practicing t he tango,  VOGEL  performs  BIG BITD  ’ s  Muppetry  to a vocal track by  SPINNEY .
 * 3 8 6 3 : During the 3| 3  rd scene, when  OSCAR  decline s attending  BIG BIRD  ' s show - & - tell ,  VOGEL  perform s the  BIRD  to  SPINNEY  ’ s voice.
 * 3 8 77
 * 3 9 0 7
 * 3 9 5 8 (  3 7 9 0   re peat  ) In scene 7| 7  while  SPINNEY  puppeteer s  OSCAR 
 * 3 9 8 7
 *  EPISODE 3 99 7  : For all the part s of this episode  where  OSCAR  &  BIG BIRD  don ' t share a scene,  BIG BIRD  is completely played by  SPINNEY  , however , since the  episode  is mainly about  OSCAR  ; but for the part s when  t h  e y  share a scene ,  SPINNEY  is  OSCAR  , &  VOGEL  performs  BIG BIRD  ' s  Muppet r y  , t o a vocal track by  SPINNEY .
 * 4 0 2 8 :  BIG BIRD  &  Bob  sing  Rub Your Tummy  with a group o f  ki ds.
 * 4 0 7 4
 * 4 0 7 5 ( with  Cookie Monster  performed, once again , by original performer ,  Muppeteer   Veteran   FRANK OZ  )
 * 4 1 0 7 &  4 1 0 8  : The Adventure s of  Little   BIG BIRD  (  mini   BIG BIRD  only )
 * 4 1 0 9 : VOGEL Muppeteer s  BIG BIRD  during the song "  Everyone Needs a Friend  " to  Spinney  ' s vocal s.
 * 41 55 : VOGEL  performs   BIG BIRD  ( voice &  Muppetry  ) for  his  cameo at the beginning.
 * 4 1 8 7 : VOGEL operate d  BIG BIRD  during the green - screen scene s to a vocal track by  SPINNEY .
 *  4 2 0 3  : VOGEL played  BIG BIRD  to a vocal track by  CAROLL SPINNEY .
 * 4 2 0 6 : In the fairly brief moment where we see  BIG BIRD  ' s actual crash when  he  is wedged inside the little wall in front of  1 2 3   SESAME STREET ,  VOGEL  is  BIG BIRD .
 * The  Street ' We Live On : in the intro t o "  Journey to   Ernie  "
 *  The Sunny Side Up Show 
 * In " What I A m  ", & "  Elmo  ’ s Go t the Move s  " ,  Vogel  performs  BIG BIRD  ' s  Muppetry  t o  SPINNEY  ’ s voice.
 *  The Adventure s of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land  : In many scene s throughout the movie ,  MATT   VOGEL  Muppeteer ed the  BIG BIRD   suit  to a vocal track by  CAROLL SPINNEY  as the  latter  performed  OSCAR THE GROUCH  , a protagonist in the  film.
 * All 4| 4  Christ mas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir  live concert s

Matt  Vogel  /  David Rudman  Muppet  Pairings

 * Howie Eatswell /  Cookie Monster 
 * Gary Gill /  Baby Bear 
 * 2| 2  Scram  a lot   Grou ches 
 *  Floyd Pepper  /  Janice 
 *  Floyd Pepper  /  Scooter 
 *  Uncle Deadly  /  Scooter 
 *  Robin the Frog  /  Sweetums  ( soon )
 *  Robin the Frog  /  Scooter  ( soon )
 *  Lew Zea land  /  Scooter  ( soon )
 *  Crazy Har ry  /  Scooter  ( soon )
 *  Crazy Harry  /  Wayne  ( soon )
 *  Uncle Deadly  /  Bobby Benson  ( s o o n )

Muppet ee r Credit s

 *  VOGEL  ’ s main Muppet   character s  :
 *  Count von Count  :  Count  ing t h e " You " s in You Tube  ( 2 0 1 3  ) - present
 *  Jerry Nelson  :  SESAME STREET  Epi sode 0 4 0 6  (  Sea son 4  premiere ) (  1 9 7 2  ) -  2 0 1 2
 *  Floyd Pepper  :  Studio DC : Almost Live  hosted by Selena Gomez  (  2 00 8  ) - present )
 *  Jerry Nelson  :  The Muppet Show : Sex & Violence  ( 1 9 7 5  ) -  Muppet s Party Cruise  (  2 00 3  )
 *  Lew Zealand  :  A Muppets Chris t mas : Letter s to San ta  ( 2 00 8  ) - present
 *  Jerry Nelson  :  The Muppet Show  Season 3| 3 (  1 9 7 8  ) -  Muppet s Party Cruise  (  2 00 3  )
 *  Robin the Frog  :  A Muppets Chris t mas : Letter s to San ta  ( 2008  ) - present
 *  Jerry Nelson  :  T he  Frog  Prince  ( 1 9 7 1  ) -  Jim   Henson  : Creator of Dream s  (  2 00 3  )
 *  Crazy Harry  :  Star s & Stripes For ever  ( 2 00 8  ) - present
 *  Jerry Nelson  :  T he Muppet Show  Season 2| 2 (  1 9 77  ) -  Muppets Party Cruise  (  2 00 3  )
 *  Camilla the Chicken  :  Classical Chicken  ( 2 0 0 8  ) - present
 *  Jerry Nelson  :  T he Muppet Show  Season 3| 3 (  1 9 7 8  ) -  Muppets Party Cruise  (  2 00 3  )
 *  Sweetums  :  Give a Day . Ge t a Disney Day .  (  2 00 9  ) - present
 *  Richard Hunt  :  T he Muppet Show  ( 1 9 7 6  ) -  Muppet* Vision 3D  (  1 99 1  ) ;  1 99 2
 *  John Henson  :  Muppet Treasure Is la n d  ( 1996  ) -  The Muppets ' Wizard of Oz  (  2 00 5  )
 *  Uncle Deadly  : 2 0 11  - present
 *  Jerry Nelson  : 1 9 7 6  -  1 9 7 9
 *  Pops  : 2 0 11  - present
 *  Jerry Nelson  : 1 9 8 0  -  2 00 2
 *  BIG BIRD  ( un der study ) ( ca . 1 99 8  - present )
 *  CAROLL SPINNEY  :  SESAME STREET  Episode 1  (  1 9 6 9  ) - present
 *  SESAME STREET  :  Count von Count  ( assistant & puppeteer only, through 2 0 1 2  ;  2 0 1 3  - pre s ent ) ,  BIG BIRD  ( under study ;  1 99 8  - p r e sen t ) ,  GRANNY BIRD  (  Episode 3 9 7 9  &  Epi sode 3 9 8 0  ; puppeteer only ) ,   Harvey Knee slapper  ,  Tig er   The Dragon  ,  Yellow Ball  (  Episode 3714  )  Anderson Cucumber   Letter of the Day  Announcer , Maurice Pig (  epi sode 4 0 9 5  ) ,  Gas sy  (  Dwarf  3| #3  ) (  e p i sode 4 1 1 4  ) ,  Baby Bear  ( assist ant ) ,  Ernie  ( assist ant ) (  2 000  -  2 00 3  ) ,  Darth Chicken  , "  Elmo  ’ s World  " C G I Furniture ,  Humpty Dumpty  ,  Herb  ,  David Letter guy  (  epi s ode 4 1 2 5  ) , Rapunzel ' s Prince (  EPISODE 4 1 2 7  ) ,  Gardener  ,  Grouch o Marx Muppet  ,  Howie Eat s well  (  epi sode 4 1 3 8  ) ,  Ant  (  epi sode 4 1 4 7  ) , Megan (  A r e You S mart e r Than a n Egg L ayer ?  ) ,  Mr . Pogosticker  ,  Pino  ,  Professor Gary Gill  ,  SCRAM  a l o t   Grouch  ,  Wyoming Walt  ,  Mr . Yak  , the guinea pig (  Pre - School Musical  ) ,  T h e Sup er Food s  banana , etc . ,  Anderson Cucumber  ,  Hubert the Human Cannonball  ,  T he Cube ( character )  ,  Mr . Johnson  (  2 0 1 6  - pre s ent )
 *  Don ’ t Forget to Watch the Movie 
 *  Big Bag 
 *  BIG   BIRD  Get s Lost 
 *  Telling the Truth  : Additional Muppeteer
 *  Elmo  Save s Christ mas 
 *  Elmo  palooza 
 *  Bear in the Big Blue House 
 *  SESAME   STREET  Goes to the Doctor  : Hoarse Horse
 *  A Brief History of Motion Picture s 
 *  The Adventure s of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land 
 *  Play With Me  SESAME  :  Ernie  ( assistant )
 *  Muppet Race Mania  :  Scooter  &  Janice  ( voices )
 *  Elmo  ’ s Magic Cook book  : Glass of Water
 *  Music Work s Wonder s 
 *  SESAME   STREET  4 - D Movie Magic 
 *  A Celebration of  Me ,  Grover 
 *  SESAME  Beginning s  :  BABY BIG BIRD 
 *  The Producers  : Pigeons
 *  Ki ds ' Favorite Country Songs  : Elmer  (  Muppet ry  only )
 *  Elmo  ’ s Christ mas  Count  down  : Stiller the Elf  (  Muppet ry  only )
 *  Studio DC : Almost Live !  :  Floyd Pepper 
 *  Studio DC : Almost Live !  :  Floyd Pepper ,  Camilla the Chicken 
 *  Abby  in Wonderland 
 *  A Muppets A Muppets Christ mas : Letters to San ta  :  Floyd Pepper ,  Lew Zealand  ,  Crazy Harry  ,  Robin the Frog  ,  Camilla the Chicken 
 *  Her e for You  : Chester  ' s  Dad
 *  Coming Home 
 *  Food for Thought 
 *  Fami lies Stand Together 
 * Muppet viral videos
 *  Bohemian Rhapsody  :  Floyd Pepper ,  Lew Zealand  ,  Crazy Harry  ,  Camilla the Chicken 
 *  Chris t mas in Rockefeller Center  :  Floyd Pepper 
 *  Give a Day . G et a Disney Da y .  :  Sweetums 
 *  T he Muppet Show  Theme  Music Video :  Robin the Frog ,  Floyd Pepper  ,  Lew Zealand  ,  Crazy Harry  ,  Camilla the Chicken  ,  Uncle Deadly  ,  D r . Julius Strange pork  ,  Sweetums 
 *  The Muppets  :  Robin the Frog ,  Floyd Pepper  ,  Lew Zealand  ,  Crazy Harry  ,  Camilla the Chicken  ,  Uncle Deadly  ,  D r . Julius Strange pork  ,  Sweetums  ,  Rowlf t he Dog  Moopet  ,  Janice   Moopet  ,  Wand a  (  Muppet r y  )  Singing Food  in "  M e P a r t y  " ,  ' 8 0 s Robot
 *  Late Night with   Jimmy Fallon  :  Robin the Frog  ( " When the River M ee t s t h e Sea  " )
 *  Monstruos Super s an o s  : Dr . Ruster
 *  Little C h i l d r e n, Big Challenge s : Incarceration  :  Alex
 *  Muppets Most Wanted  :  Robin the Frog ,  Floyd Pepper  ,  Lew Zealand  ,  Crazy Harry  ,  Camilla the Chicken  ,  Uncle Deadly  ,  Pops  ,  Sweetums  ,  Constantine  , ' 8 0 s Robot
 *  Lady Gaga & the Muppet s ' Holiday Spectacular  :  Floyd Pepper ,  Lew Zealand  ,  Crazy Harry  ,  Camilla the Chicken 

Non - HENSON  Credit s

 *  Oz  : Pecky
 *  Between t he Lions  : Rumplestiltskin, Derek Cheetah , Monkey Ad Executive ( Jeff Kidding ) , various characters
 *  Jack ' s   Big   Music   S how  : Leonard the Squirrel, MC Turtle , The Squirrel s , etc.
 *  Scooby - Doo ! Adventures : The Mystery Map  - Fred Jones  (  Frank Welker  served as  Fred  ' s voice )

Trivia

 * The day  MATT   VOGEL  was introduced to  CAROLL SPINNEY  at his fir st audition for the part of  BIG BIRD , the latter  remark ed , "  VOGEL  is  German  for  BIRD  . T hat ' s a g o o d sign . "
 * T he word "  VOGEL  " is Dutch for  BIRD  as well.
 * T he protective slip pers  VOGEL  wear s over  BIG BIRD  ’ s fe e t when he ' s not on set are l a b e l ed, r e s p e ct i v e ly , "  V O G E L  " & " F ü s se " mean i n g  BIRD  & " fe et " , or r e a d together "  BIRD  ’ s fe et ".
 *  MATT   VOGEL  is left - hand ed, but still performs  the  b o  d i  e s  of  Crazy Harry  ,  Robin the Frog  &  Floyd Pepper  , apparently with his right hand like  JERRY NELSON  did , making  Crazy Harry  ,  Robin the Frog  &  Floyd Pepper   l  e f  t  -  h  an  d  e d.
 * Character s of  JERRY NELSON  ’ s  MATT   VOGEL  has performed once or consistently are :


 *  Count von Count  ( 2 000 s  -  2 0 1 2  ; assistant (  Muppetry  only ;  Muppetry  & voice together :  Count  in g the " You " s in You Tube  (  2 0 1 3  ) - present )
 *  Robin the Frog  :  A Muppet s Chris t m as : Letter s to San ta  ( 2 00 8  ) - present
 *  Floyd Pepper  :  Studio DC : Almost Live  hosted by Selena Gomez  (  2 00 8  ) - present
 *  Crazy Harry  :  Star s &amp; Stripes For ever  ( 2 00 8  ) - present
 *  Lew Zealand  :  A Muppet s Christ mas : Letter s t o San ta  ( 2 00 8  ) - present
 *  Camilla the Chicken  :  Classical Chicken  ( 2 0 0 8  ) - present
 * Dr . Julius Strangepork (  Bohemian Rhapsody  (  2 0 11  ),  The Muppets  (  2 0 11  )
 * Uncle Deadly :  T he Muppet s  (  2 0 11  ) - present
 * Pops : behind - the - scenes video (  2 0 11  ) - present
 * The Big Bad Wolf :  Sesame Street   Episode 4 31 9  (  2 0 1 3  )

External l ink s

 * MATT VOGEL o n I M D b