Gabriel Velez

 Gabriel   Velez  is a Muppeteer  & actor who has worked periodically on  Muppet  projects since the early  1 9 8 0 s. He is probably most famous for providing the voice of Osvaldo, el Gruñón  , the Puerto Rican counterpart of  OSCAR THE GROUCH  of  SESAME STREET . Velez also Muppeteer ed Junior Gorg  in the  Macy ' s   Thanks giving Day   Parade  route.

Velez had never actually puppeteer e d before joining t he  Jim Henson  Company. In Henson   puppeteer  work s hop s starting in the  1 9 8 0 s , he was both taught & trained in the art of  Muppetry  by  CaroLL Spinney  ,  Richard Hunt  ,  FRANK OZ  ,  JIm Henson  ,  Jane Henson  &  Kermit Love.

In - house company training & Velez ' s ability to mimic voices has led him to audition for opportunities to back up the established Muppet   characters.

Muppeteer Credits

 *  SESAME STREET  :  Os valdo, el Gruñón 
 *  Muppet Meeting Films 
 *  The Muppets Take Manhattan 
 *  A is for Asthma  : Dani
 *  Elmo  ’ s Christ mas  Count  down 

Non - Henson  Credit s

 *  Pappy land  : Turtle Lou

Note s

 * Velez, Ron Mueck  &  Shari Weiser  were placed in an acting class by  Jim Henson  , & taught by  Cheryl ' Gates ' McFadden

External Link s

 * Official site
 * Gabriel Velez on I M D B
 * The Muppet   Mindset  interview