Count von Count Count von Count is a mysterious but friendly vampire - like Muppet on " Sesame Street " who is meant to parody Bela Lugosi ' s portrayal of Count Dracula . He first appeared on the show in the Season 4 premiere in 1972 , counting blocks in a sketch with Bert and Ernie . The Count has a compulsive love of counting ( , an affliction of legendary vampires ) ; he will count anything and everything , regardless of size , amount , or how much annoyance he causes others around him . In one song he stated that he sometimes even counts himself . When he finishes counting , The Count laughs and announces his total ( which sometimes appears on screen ) . This finale is usually accompanied by a crash of thunder and a flash of lightning , even on sunny days . ( According to " The Sesame Street Bedtime Storybook " , the Count has a personal cloud that hovers over his head and provides the thunder and lightning . ) Many of the Count ' s songs , including " Counting Is Wonderful " and " The Batty Bat , " are in the style of . The Count lives in an old , cobweb - infested castle that he shares with many bats . Sometimes he counts them . Some of the pet bats are named , including Grisha , Misha , Sasha , and Tattiana . He also has a cat , Fatatita , and an octopus named Octavia . He also plays a large pipe organ , and in some illustrations he is seen playing the violin . In recent years , the Count has appeared on each episode to announce the Number of the Day , playing notes on his organ to count up to the featured number . The Count ' s most recent girlfriend , Countess von Backwards , is known for counting backwards . The Count also shared a brief romantic tryst with Lady Two . He has a fifth cousin named Countess von Dahling who can make it rain when she counts . His grandparents have appeared on the show , as have his brother and mother in non - speaking bits . He also has an Uncle Uno . The Count ' s profile on Sesame Workshop ' s website does not use the word " vampire " but does suggest that he may be a distant relative of Count Dracula . However , the book " Sesame Street Unpaved " describes the Count as a " Numerical Vampire . " In contrast , the 2001 " Sesame Street Muppets Drawing Guide " insists " The Count is not a vampire . " Nevertheless , the Count resembles Bela Lugosi ' s portrayal of Dracula in voice ( speaking in an Eastern European accent and pronouncing his V s as W s ) , appearance , and sometimes mannerisms . For example , in early sketches , the Count waves his hands to exercise hypnotic power over other Muppets and holds his cape over the lower part of his face while moving . In addition , revealed that the Count shows no reflection in a mirror . Unlike vampires as traditionally depicted in legend and motion pictures , however , the Count often relaxes in the sunlight ( as seen in " Counting Vacation " and " Coconut Counting Man , " among others ) . Early days . The character was created by " Sesame Street " writer Norman Stiles . Performer Jerry Nelson recalled his immediate enthusiasm for the character in a 1999 interview : The Count is now a friendly , non - threatening figure on the Street , but his early appearances in 1972 had a more sinister edge . He had hypnotic powers , and was able to stun other Muppets by waving his hands . After counting , he uttered a villainous laugh as lightning flashed in moody colors . He was often accompanied by creepy organ music . As the character matured , the sinister aspect of his personality was toned down , and his laugh became a throaty , Lugosi - style chuckle . Appearances . He made cameo appearances in " The Muppet Movie " ( in the finale ) and " The Muppets Take Manhattan " ( in the wedding ) , and has also been featured in the " Sesame Street " movies " Follow That Bird " and " The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland " . He also appeared in " " and " A Muppet Family Christmas " . The Count made a special appearance on of " The Muppet Show " , emerging with his " Sesame " co - stars from the Three Bears ' cave when Ali Baba shouts , " Open Sesame ! " On November 14 , 1988 , Count co - hosted " The Today Show " with Meryl Sheep . On December 11 , 2008 , the Count was interviewed on " More or Less " , a BBC radio show about numbers . See also . _ _ NOWYSIWYG _ _