Matt Vogel (puppeteer) (original) (raw)

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American puppeteer and director (b. 1970)

Matthew James Vogel (born October 6, 1970)[1] is an American puppeteer, actor and director known for his work with Sesame Workshop and the Muppets. He has performed Kermit the Frog since 2017, and has been the full-time performer of Big Bird since 2018 and Count Von Count since 2013.

Vogel was born in Kansas City, Kansas. As a child, he was a fan of both Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.[2] He interned at Mesner Puppet Theater where he played his first role of Victor Frankenstein in Paul Mesner Puppets’ production of “Frankenstein” in 1993.[3] After 1993, he moved from Kansas City to New York.[4] He received a BFA in Theatre from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University of St. Louis, Missouri.[5]

Vogel began his career with the Jim Henson Company in 1996, joining Sesame Street as an ensemble puppeteer and understudy performer for Big Bird. In 2018, he became the full-time performer for Big Bird following Caroll Spinney's retirement.[6][7][8] Since 2008, he has additionally served as a director on the program and was appointed puppet captain in 2012.[9] Following Jerry Nelson's death the same year, he inherited the role of Count von Count.[7] He has additionally performed Mr. Johnson, Forgetful Jones, Sherlock Hemlock, and the Yip-Yip Martians. Since 2013, he has performed Alex, a Muppet addressing parental incarceration, for the Sesame Street in Communities initiative.[10]

Since 2008, Vogel has been a principal performer with the Muppets, inheriting many of Nelson's character roles. He has performed the characters Floyd Pepper, Uncle Deadly, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Sweetums, Camilla the Chicken, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Pops, '80s Robot, and Constantine. In July 2017, he was officially announced as the new performer for Kermit the Frog,[11] succeeding Whitmire in the role. His first performance as Kermit was in a "Muppets Thought of the Week" segment on YouTube.[12] He performed Robin the Frog until 2017 with Peter Linz subsequently taking the role to allow Kermit and Robin to appear in scenes together.[9][11][4]

In 2016, Vogel voiced Wilkins in Alice Through the Looking Glass.[13]

Vogel married Kelly C. McDonnell on August 31, 1997. They have five children.[3][14]

• List of Sesame Street puppeteers
• List of Muppets

1. ^ "What You Need to Know About Matt Vogel: The New Kermit". July 13, 2017. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
2. ^ "Kansas City, Kansas, native Matt Vogel, thriving in prominent puppeteering roles". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. November 22, 2021. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
3. ^ a b Gish, Sarah. "KCK native Matt Vogel is the new voice of Kermit the Frog". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
4. ^ a b Gish, Sarah (July 2017). "KCK native Matt Vogel is the new voice of Kermit the Frog". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
5. ^ "Bio". Matt Vogel. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
6. ^ a b Cordero, Rosy (December 8, 2019). "Sesame Street legend Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, dies at 85". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
7. ^ a b Vogel, Matt (October 13, 2016). "Matt Vogel is Big Bird". BBC. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
8. ^ "'Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration' HBO Review: Stream It or Skip It?". November 9, 2019. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
9. ^ a b "Matt Vogel, Muppet Performer Behind Iconic Characters Kermit the Frog and Big Bird, Named Webster University's 2023 Commencement Speaker". news.webster.edu. February 6, 2023. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
10. ^ The Associated Press (July 11, 2017). "Kermit the Frog gets a new voice after 27 years". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
11. ^ a b Petski, Denise (July 10, 2017). "Kermit the Frog Voice Actor Exiting After 27 Years". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
12. ^ Parker, Ryan (July 10, 2017). "Longtime Kermit the Frog Voice Actor Replaced After 27 Years". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
13. ^ "Meet the Seconds: See exclusive images of Time's critters from 'Alice Through the Looking Glass'". EW.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
14. ^ "Ten Minutes With Matt Vogel". Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
15. ^ "Matt Vogel". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
16. ^ Staff (January 31, 2013). "So long, 30 Rock: We bid Liz Lemon adieu with some of our favourite show moments". National Post. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
17. ^ 30 Rock: Season 3 (Bonus Features — Behind-The-Scenes With The Muppets CD). Universal Studios Home Entertainment. 2009.
18. ^ "Watch Big Bird On Lip Sync Battle - ToughPigs". June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2024.{{[cite web](/wiki/Template:Cite%5Fweb "Template:Cite web")}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
19. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (June 23, 2020). "Disney Channel Renews 'Amphibia' For Season 3; Kermit The Frog, Jenifer Lewis, George Takei And More To Guest Star On Season 2". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
20. ^ Matt Vogel [@welcomemattv] (March 11, 2021). "This is so sweet, dear Stephanie! Thanks, friend" (Tweet). Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Twitter.
21. ^ Vogel, Matt [@welcomemattv] (March 11, 2021). "This is so sweet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
22. ^ Seemeyer, Zach (October 26, 2022). "'The Masked Singer' Brings On The Muppets for a Wild Night With Two Big Unmaskings! (Recap)". Entertainment Tonight Online. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
23. ^ Schneider, Michael (March 15, 2023). "'The Masked Singer' Reveals Identities of the Squirrel and Jackalope: Here's Who They Are". Variety. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
24. ^ "Images | Disney Plus Press". March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2024.{{[cite web](/wiki/Template:Cite%5Fweb "Template:Cite web")}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
25. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (July 28, 2020). "It's Time to Re-Re-Re-Meet the Muppets". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
26. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (July 28, 2020). "It's Time to Re-Re-Re-Meet the Muppets". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
27. ^ "Video: The Muppet Christmas Caroling Coach Debuts at Disney Merriest Nites". laughingplace.com. November 11, 2021. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
28. ^ "PHOTOS, VIDEO:'Disney Holidays in Hollywood' Brings The Muppets to Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios". wdwnt.com. November 13, 2023. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.

• Official site Archived April 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
• Matt Vogel at IMDb