Matt Vogel

 Matthew   J ames   " Matt "   Vogel II ( b . October 6 t h, 19 70 ) is an accomplished puppeteer in his own right. How ever, eve r since joining  SESAME STREET  in 1996 , 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 & CGI character s o n "  Elmo  ' s Wor l d " & play s BIG BIRD ' s infant self, BABY BIG BIRD in the  SESAME  Beginnings DVD series. Also, apparently , it has been decided that , when  CAROLL SPINNEY  retire s o r passes a way , Vogel is to be the new BIG BIRD. However, whether or not Vogel will be taking over for  CAROLL SPINNEY  ' s role of  OSCAR THE GROUCH  as well , is still un known. Most recen tly, 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 23 rd , 2012. 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 Spam alot 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 pigeons 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 Lions.

In theater, Vogel has acted in regional productions of various plays including  The Foreigner  & Six Degrees of Sparation  , & was involved in the 2003 - 2004 Broadway run of Little Shop of Horrors , manipulating Audrey 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 CD o f song s " f or k i d s - - & grow n - up 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, with Joey Mazzarino  , co - owns Pratfall Productions , which produced the film - noir puppet spoof  Murder , He Squeaked  & various inserts for  SESAME STREET  ,  SESAME STREET  videos & [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Nickelodeon Nick Jr. ] '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 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  up  &  down .
 * A segment where Big Bird & Snuffy present the Spanish Word of the Day : teléfono ( tele phone ).
 * 3790 : 1 of the earliest instances 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.
 * 3831 : For the times where Oscar  & Big Bird appear together, Vogel is actually doing Big Bird ' s  Muppetry  , at 1 point lip - syncing it to a vocal track by  Spinney.
 * 3851 : For the scene where Elmo & Big Bird are practicing the tango, Vogel performs Big Bird ' s Muppetry  to a vocal track by  Spinney.
 * 3877
 * 3907
 * 3958 ( 3790 repeat )
 * 3987
 * 3997 : 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 ey share a scene ,  Spinney  is  Oscar  , & Vogel performs Big Bird ' s  Muppetry  , to a vocal track by  Spinney.
 * 4028 : Big Bird & Bob sing Rub Your Tummy with a group o f ki ds.
 * 4074
 * 4075 ( with Cookie Monster performed, once again , by original performer ,  Muppeteer  Veteran  Frank Oz  )
 * 4107 & 4108 : The Adventures of Little Big Bird ( mini Big Bird only )
 * 4109 : Vogel Muppeteer s Big Bird during the song " Everyone Needs a Friend " to Spinney  ' s vocal s.
 * 4155 : Vogel performs  Big Bird ( voice &  Muppetry  ) for his cameo at the beginning.
 * 4187 : Vogel operated Big Bird during the green - screen scene s to a vocal track by Spinney.
 * 4203 : Vogel played Big Bird to a vocal track by Caroll Spinney.
 * 4206 : In the fairly brief moment where we see Big Bird ' s actual crash when he is wedged inside the little wall in front of 123 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 ", and "  Elmo  ' s Go t the Move s " , Vogel performs Big Bird ' s Muppetry  t o  Spinney  ' s voice.
 *  The Adventures 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 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  Scram  a lot   Grou ches 
 * Floyd Pepper / Janice
 * Floyd Pepper / Scooter
 * Robin the Frog / Sweetums ( soon )
 * Robin the Frog / Scooter ( soon )
 * Lew Zealand / Scooter ( soon )
 * Crazy Harry / Scooter ( soon )
 * Crazy Harry / Wayne ( soon )
 * Uncle Deadly / Bobby Benson ( s oo n )

Muppeteer Credit s

 * Vogel ' s main Muppet character s :
 * Count von Count :  Count  ing the " You " s in YouTube ( 2013 ) - present
 * Jerry Nelson :  SESAME STREET  Episode 0406 ( Sea son 4 pre miere ) ( 1972 ) - 20 12
 * Floyd Pepper : Studio DC : Almost Live hosted by Selena Gomez ( 2 008 ) - present )
 * Jerry Nelson : The Muppet Show : Sex & Violence ( 1 9 75 ) - Muppets Party Cruise ( 2003 )
 * Lew Zealand : A Muppets Christ mas : Letter s t o San ta ( 2008 ) - present
 * Jerry Nelson : The Muppet Show Season 3 ( 1978 ) - Muppets Party Cruise ( 2003 )
 * Robin the Frog : A Muppets Chris t mas : Letter s to San ta ( 2008 ) - present
 * Jerry Nelson : The Frog Prince ( 1971 ) - Jim Henson : Creator of Dreams ( 2003 )
 * Crazy Harry : Stars & Stripes For ever ( 2 00 8 ) - present
 * Jerry Nelson : The Muppet Show Season 2 ( 1977 ) - Muppets Party Cruise ( 2003 )
 * Camilla the Chicken : Classical Chicken ( 2 00 8 ) - present
 * Jerry Nelson : The Muppet Show Season 3 ( 1978 ) - Muppets Party Cruise ( 2003 )
 * Sweetums : Give a Day . Ge t a Disney Day . ( 2 00 9 ) - present
 * Richard Hunt : T he Muppet Show ( 19 7 6 ) - Muppet* Vision 3D ( 1 99 1 ) ; 1992
 * John Henson : Muppet Treasure Is la nd ( 1996 ) - The Muppets ' Wizard of Oz ( 2005 )
 * Uncle Deadly : 20 11 - present
 * Jerry Nelson : 1976 - 1979
 * Pops : 2011 - present
 * Jerry Nelson : 1980 - 2002
 * BIG BIRD ( un der study ) ( ca . 199 8 - present )
 *  Carol l Spinney  :  SESAME STREET  Episode 1 ( 1 9 6 9 ) - present
 *  SE SAME STREET  : Count von Count ( assistant & puppeteer only, through 20 1 2 ; 20 13 - pre s ent ) , BIG BIRD ( under study ; 1 9 9 8 - p r e s en t ) , GRANNY BIRD ( Episode 3979 & Episode 3980 ; puppeteer only ) , Harvey Kneeslapper , Tig er The Dragon , Yellow Ball ( Episode 3714 ) Anderson Cucumber Letter of the Day Announcer , Maurice Pig ( episode 4095 ) , Gas sy ( Dwarf #3 ) ( episode 4 1 1 4 ) , Baby Bear ( assistant ) , Ernie ( assistant ) ( 2000 - 2003 ) , Darth Chicken , " Elmo ' s World " CGI Furniture , Humpty Dumpty ,  Herb , David Letterguy ( episode 41 25 ) , Rapunzel ' s Prince ( episode 4 1 27 ) , Gardener , Groucho Marx Muppet , Howie Eatswell ( episode 4138 ) , Ant ( episode 4 1 47 ) , Megan ( A r e You S mart e r Than a n Egg L ay er ? ) , Mr . Pogosticker , Pino , Professor Gary Gill ,  SCRAM  a l ot   Grouch  , Wyoming Walt , M<r . Yak , the guinea pig ( Pre - School Musical ) , T h e Sup er Food s banana , e tc . , Hubert the Human Cannonball , T h e Cube ( character )
 * Don't Forget to Watch the Movie
 * Big Bag
 *  BIG   BIRD  Get s Lost
 * Telling the Truth
 *  Elmo  Save s Christ mas
 * Telling the Truth : Additional Muppeteer
 *  Elmo  palooza
 * Bear in the Big Blue House
 * Sesame Street Goes to the Doctor : Hoarse Horse
 * A Brief History of Motion Pictures
 *  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  Beginnings : BABY BIG BIRD
 * The Producers : Pigeons
 * Ki ds ' Favorite Country Songs : Elmer
 *  Elmo  ' s Christ mas  Count  down : Stiller the Elf ( Muppetry  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
 * Christ mas in Rockefeller Center : Floyd Pepper
 * Give a Day . G et a Disney Day . : Sweetums
 * T he Muppet Show Theme Music Video : Floyd Pepper, Lew Zealand , Crazy Harry , Robin the Frog , Camilla the Chicken , Dr . Julius Strangepork , Uncle Deadly , Sweetums
 * The Muppets : Floyd Pepper, Lew Zealand , Crazy Harry , Robin the Frog , Camilla the Chicken , D r . Julius Strangepork , Uncle Deadly , Sweetums , Rowlf the Dog Moopet , Janice Moopet , Wanda ( Muppet r y  ) Singing Food in " M e P a rt y " , ' 80s Robot
 * Late Night with Jimmy Fallon : Robin the Frog ( " When the River Meet s t h e Sea " )
 * Monstruos Supersanos : Dr . Ruster
 * Little Chil dren, Big Challenges : Incarceration : Alex
 * Muppets Most Wanted : Robin the Frog, Floyd Pepper , Lew Zealand , Crazy Harry , Camilla the Chicken , Dr . Julius Strangepork , Uncle Deadly , Pop s , Sweetums , Constantine , ' 80 s Robot
 * Lady Gaga & the Muppets ' Holiday Spectacular : Floyd Pepper, Lew Zealand , Crazy Harry , Camilla the Chicken
 * The Muppets : Opera tion S T S ( Save the Swamp ) : Robin the Frog, Floyd Pepper , Lew Zealand , Crazy Harry , Camilla the Chicken , Dr . Julius Strangepork , Uncle Deadly , Pops ( v oice on l y ) , Droop ( voice on l y ) , Aunt Googles , ' 80s Robot

Non - Henson Credit s

 *  Oz  : Pecky
 * Between the Lions : Rumplestiltskin, Derek Cheetah , Monkey Ad Executive ( Jeff Kidding ) , various characters
 *  Jack ' s Big Music Show  : 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 1 st audition for the part of BIG BIRD, the  latter  remarked , " Vogel is German for BIRD . T hat ' s a g o o d sign . "
 * The word " Vogel " is Dutch for BIRD as well.
 * The protect ive 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 s e " mean i n g BIRD & " f e et " , or r e a d together " 'BIRD ' s f e e t ".
 * Matt Vogel is left - hand ed, but still performs  the b od ie 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 le ft - hand e d.
 * Character s of  Jerry Nelson  ' s  Matt   Vogel  has performed once or consistently are :


 * Count von Count : 2000 s - 2012 ( Assistant ; Muppetry  only )  Muppetry  & voice together :  Count  ing t he " You " s in You Tube ( 2 0 1 3 ) - present
 * Floyd Pepper : Studio DC : Almost Live hosted by Selena Gomez ( 2 008 ) - present
 * Lew Zealand : A Muppets Christ mas : Letters t o San t a ( 2008 ) - present
 * Robin t he Frog : A Muppets Christ mas : Letters to San ta ( 2008 ) - present
 * Crazy Harry : Stars & Stripes For ever ( 2 0 0 8 ) - present
 * Camilla the Chicken : Classic a l Chicken ( 2 008 ) - present
 * Dr . Julius Strangepork : Bohemian Rhapsody ( 2009 ), The Muppets ( 2 011 )
 * Uncle Deadly : The Muppets ( 2011 ) - present
 * Pops : Behind - the - scenes video ( 2 0 1 1 ) - present
 * The Big Bad Wolf :  SESAME STREET  Episode 4319 ( 20 1 3 )

External l ink s

 * MATT VOGEL on IMDb