The Noodle Family The Noodle Family appear in the " Elmo ' s World " segments of " Sesame Street " . A group of silent characters , Elmo frequently asks the Noodles to demonstrate how to perform a chore or answer a question ; they respond through pantomime , but invariably gets the process wrong , or fails to follow Elmo ' s instructions . Through trial and error and repeated prompting , The Noodles usually manage to figure it out . Writer Louise Gikow called the Noodles " a dynasty of mimes . . . in the tradition of great silent film comedians like Charlie Chaplin , Buster Keaton , and Harold Lloyd " . They make mistakes , but solve them with the help of " enthusiastic kid voice - overs " , which empowered children and helped them feel smarter than the adults . They are silent in order to allow Elmo to do all the talking , and to give children the opportunity to respond to what they saw on the screen . Acting similar to clowns , using slapstick and similar types of physical comedy , they physically and humorously act out their replies to Elmo ' s questions . According to writer and " Elmo ' s World " co - creator Judy Freudberg , " Mr . Noodle , who never speaks , is all about trial and error . When you throw him a hat , he acts like he ' s never seen one before . Kids feel empowered watching him because they can do what he can ' t " . According to " Sesame Street " researcher Lewis Bernstein , the characters , whom he called " bungling " , give young viewers " the opportunity to figure it out " before the adults did . Casting . Mr . Noodle was introduced along with " Elmo ' s World " in Season 30 . Mr . Noodle was played by Bill Irwin , who had previously worked with Arlene Sherman , executive producer of " Sesame Street " and co - creator of " Elmo ' s World " , on short films produced for the show . For the next season Irwin was unavailable , so Sherman asked her friend Michael Jeter to replace Irwin as Mr . Noodle ' s brother Mr . Noodle . Jeter enthusiastically accepted , later calling it his favorite role in 20 years . Irwin returned to the role of Mr . Noodle and appeared alongside Jeter in two Season 32 segments , after which the two Noodle brothers alternated , and occasionally appeared jointly . Jeter continued in the role as Mr . Noodle ' s brother until his death in 2003 ( at the end of Season 34 ) ; Jeter appeared in 23 " Elmo ' s World " episodes and two " Elmo ' s World " specials . In 2001 Actress Kristin Chenoweth was cast as Mr . Noodle ' s sister Ms . Noodle and appeared alongside her two brothers in two home - video productions . She later appeared in a Season 34 episode and two Season 37 episodes . In Season 38 , Sarah Jones appeared in the " " episode of " Elmo ' s World " as Mr . Noodle ' s other sister , Miss Noodle . Bill Irwin , the original Mr . Noodle , continued in the role throughout the entire initial run of " Elmo ' s World " ( which concluded in Season 40 ) ; Irwin appears in 42 of the original episodes plus three " Elmo ' s World " specials . Starting in Season 47 , the concept of " Elmo ' s World " was revived in a new format . Irwin returned as Mr . Noodle and the series introduced some new Noodle family members , including two new brothers , played by the Tony and Grammy Award - winning Daveed Diggs and comedian Daniel Koren . In Season 48 , Ilana Glazer was added to Elmo ' s World as another one of Mr . Noodle ' s sisters . Sources . _ _ NOWYSIWYG _ _