Martin P. Robinson

Martin P. Robinson (born March 9, 1954) is an American puppeteer who works for the Jim Henson Company. He is best known for his work on Sesame Street, having performed the characters of Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch's pet worm Slimey, Oscar's niece Irvine, Buster the Horse, and Shelley the Turtle for over 40 years. He also designed, built, and performed the Audrey II puppets for Little Shop of Horrors. Robinson performed the characters Riff the Cat and Clef the dad on Allegra's Window, and was an animatronic puppeteer for Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He was responsible for training the puppeteers on Sesame Tree, and performed the Cat in the Hat in the second season of The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss.
Early life
Robinson was born on March 9, 1954, in Dearborn, Michigan. His father was a hydraulics engineer and his mother was a teacher. As a child, his favorite day was Halloween as he could dress up. He grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Brookfield East High School in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1974. Robinson originally intended to become a character actor, but work was scarce. He later toured with a marionette company, eventually working under puppeteer Bil Baird.
Personal life
Robinson married Sesame Street writer Annie Evans on August 9, 2008, on the set of Sesame Street in the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York. Annie gave birth to twin daughters on February 12, 2009. Robinson also has three children from a previous marriage and two grandchildren. He and his family live in Redding, Connecticut.
Filmography
Muppet Meeting Films – Papa Luigi ("Computer!")
The Muppets Take Manhattan – The Swedish Chef (hands), Buster the Horse, Additional Muppets
Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird – Telly, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Board of Birds Member, Grouch Diner Patron, Additional Muppets
Sesame Street – Telly, Snuffy, Slimey, Monty, Buster the Horse, Dicky Tick, Vincent Twice, Old MacDonald, Additional Muppets
Allegra's Window – Clef, Riff
Little Shop of Horrors – Audrey II (puppeteer in the original 1982 off-Broadway and 2003 Broadway productions)
Elmo's World – Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Slimey, Old MacDonald
Little Muppet Monsters – Rat, Cow, Walrus, Additional Muppets
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic – Farmer, Additional Muppets
A Muppet Family Christmas – Additional Muppets
Jim Henson's Play-Along Video – Crocodile, Raccoon, Additional Muppets
The Transformers – Powermaster Optimus Prime (puppeteer in the live-action segments of season 5)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Leonardo (face)
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson – Telly, Additional Muppets
Muppet Sing-Alongs – Big Snort, Shark, Additional Muppets
Elmo Saves Christmas – Telly, Snuffy, Santa's Elf, Additional Muppets
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland – Telly, Laundromat Manager, Little Ricky
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss – The Cat in the Hat (Season 2)
Roary the Racing Car – Mr. Carburettor (US)
See also
List of Sesame Street puppeteers
References
External links
American puppeteers
Muppet performers
Sesame Street Muppeteers
Living people
People from Brookfield, Wisconsin
1954 births
Animatronic engineers