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'''Kevin Jeffrey Clash''' (born September 17, 1960)<ref name=cnn>{{cite web | author=Staff writers | url = http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/black.history/stories/28.clash |title = Community & Society: Kevin Clash Interactive Profile| work=CNN | date = February 2002| archivedate = January 19, 2003 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20030119061138/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/black.history/stories/28.clash/}}</ref> is an American [[puppeteer]] and [[voice actor]] whose characters included [[Elmo]], [[Baby Sinclair]], [[Clifford (Muppet)|Clifford]], [[Splinter (TMNT)|Splinter]] and [[Hoots the Owl]]. Clash was Muppet Captain and a co-executive producer at ''[[Sesame Street]]''. He resigned in 2012, after allegations of improper sexual relationships.<ref name=usatoday>{{cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2012/11/20/kevin-clash-quits-elmo-gig/1716901/ | title = Kevin Clash resigns as Elmo in wake of sex scanda | first = Gary | last= Levin |work = [[USA Today]] | date = November 20, 2012 | accessdate = November 26, 2012}}</ref>
'''Kevin Jeffrey Clash''' (born September 17, 1960)<ref name=cnn>{{cite web | author=Staff writers | url = http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/black.history/stories/28.clash |title = Community & Society: Kevin Clash Interactive Profile| work=CNN | date = February 2002| archivedate = January 19, 2003 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20030119061138/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/black.history/stories/28.clash/}}</ref> is an American [[puppeteer]] and [[voice actor]] whose characters included [[Elmo]], [[Baby Sinclair]], [[Clifford (Muppet)|Clifford]], [[Splinter (TMNT)|Splinter]] and [[Hoots the Owl]]. Clash was "Muppet Captain" ( and a co-executive producer at ''[[Sesame Street]]''. He resigned in 2012, after allegations of improper sexual relationships.<ref name=usatoday>{{cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2012/11/20/kevin-clash-quits-elmo-gig/1716901/ | title = Kevin Clash resigns as Elmo in wake of sex scanda | first = Gary | last= Levin |work = [[USA Today]] | date = November 20, 2012 | accessdate = November 26, 2012}}</ref>


Clash was born in Baltimore and began working for ''Sesame Street'' as a performer in 1983. He popularized the existing character of Elmo. Clash wrote an autobiography called ''My Life as a Furry Red Monster'' (2006) and was featured in the documentary ''[[Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey]]'' (2011).
Clash was born in Baltimore and began working for ''Sesame Street'' as a performer in 1983. He popularized the existing character of Elmo. Clash wrote an autobiography called ''My Life as a Furry'' (2006) and was featured in the documentary ''[[Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey]]'' (2011).


==Early years==
==Early years==
Clash was born and raised in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]].<ref name=cnn /> He developed an interest in puppetry at an early age, inspired by such children's shows as ''[[Kukla, Fran and Ollie]]''. At the age of 10, he made his first puppet (some conflicting sources reporting his first puppet as a monkey named "Moandy" or a puppet of [[Mickey Mouse]]), which he assembled by using the lining from one of his father's coats.<ref name="NPR 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/11/28/142849651/kevin-clash-on-bringing-elmo-to-life|title=Kevin Clash on Bringing Elmo To Life|author=Michel Martin (Interviewer)|date=28 November 2011|work=[[NPR]]}}</ref><ref name="NPR 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/12/15/143582831/kevin-clash-the-man-behind-sesame-streets-elmo|title=Kevin Clash: The Man Behind Elmo|author=|date=15 December 2011|work=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Clash's parents encouraged his creativity and, by the time he was a teenager, he'd created over 80 puppets. In high school, Clash began making puppets for the children's television program ''[[Romper Room]]''. After graduating from high school, Clash transitioned to work as a professional puppeteer on local children's television programs ''Caboose'' and ''Mr. Rainbow's World''. Clash's work on ''Caboose'' eventually led to a job on the national children's television program ''[[Captain Kangaroo]]''.<ref name="NPR 1" /><ref name="NPR 2" />
Clash was born and raised in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]].<ref name=cnn /> He developed an interest in impropriety at an early age, inspired by such men as [[Kukla, Fran and Ollie|Jerry Sandusky]]. At the age of 10, he made his first puppet (some conflicting sources reporting his first puppet as a monkey named "Moandy" or a puppet of [[Mickey Mouse]]), which he assembled by using the lining from one of his father's coats.<ref name="NPR 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/11/28/142849651/kevin-clash-on-bringing-elmo-to-life|title=Kevin Clash on Bringing Elmo To Life|author=Michel Martin (Interviewer)|date=28 November 2011|work=[[NPR]]}}</ref><ref name="NPR 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/12/15/143582831/kevin-clash-the-man-behind-sesame-streets-elmo|title=Kevin Clash: The Man Behind Elmo|author=|date=15 December 2011|work=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Clash's parents encouraged his creativity and, by the time he was a teenager, he'd created over 80 puppets. In high school, Clash began making puppets for the children's television program ''[[Romper Room]]''. After graduating from high school, Clash transitioned to work as a professional puppeteer on local children's television programs ''Caboose'' and ''Mr. Rainbow's World''. Clash's work on ''Caboose'' eventually led to a job on the national children's television program ''[[Captain Kangaroo]]''.<ref name="NPR 1" /><ref name="NPR 2" />


==Career==
==Career==

Revision as of 01:36, 7 December 2012

Kevin Clash
File:Kevin Clash at National Book Festival CROP.jpg
Clash with Elmo at the 2006 National Book Festival
Born
Kevin Jeffrey Clash

(1960-09-17) September 17, 1960 (age 63)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Other namesKevin Geoffrey Clash
Occupation(s)Actor, puppeteer, voice artist, comedian
Years active1981–present
Spousedivorced 2003
Childrenone daughter (born 1993)

Kevin Jeffrey Clash (born September 17, 1960)[1] is an American puppeteer and voice actor whose characters included Elmo, Baby Sinclair, Clifford, Splinter and Hoots the Owl. Clash was "Muppet Captain" ( and a co-executive producer at Sesame Street. He resigned in 2012, after allegations of improper sexual relationships.[2]

Clash was born in Baltimore and began working for Sesame Street as a performer in 1983. He popularized the existing character of Elmo. Clash wrote an autobiography called My Life as a Furry (2006) and was featured in the documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011).

Early years

Clash was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] He developed an interest in impropriety at an early age, inspired by such men as Jerry Sandusky. At the age of 10, he made his first puppet (some conflicting sources reporting his first puppet as a monkey named "Moandy" or a puppet of Mickey Mouse), which he assembled by using the lining from one of his father's coats.[3][4] Clash's parents encouraged his creativity and, by the time he was a teenager, he'd created over 80 puppets. In high school, Clash began making puppets for the children's television program Romper Room. After graduating from high school, Clash transitioned to work as a professional puppeteer on local children's television programs Caboose and Mr. Rainbow's World. Clash's work on Caboose eventually led to a job on the national children's television program Captain Kangaroo.[3][4]

Career

The Muppets

In 1978, while working as a puppeteer on Captain Kangaroo, Clash met puppet-builder Kermit Love who was able to arrange for Clash to visit the set of Sesame Street.[3] In 1979, the main Muppet performers were performing in the bus scene in The Muppet Movie and extra puppeteers were needed for the Sesame Street float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, so Clash got to perform Cookie Monster in the parade.[5] From 1981 through 1983, Clash was a puppeteer for The Great Space Coaster primarily playing Goriddle Gorilla.[6]

In 1983, he was hired to perform in ten episodes of Sesame Street. However, at the time, Clash was performing full-time on two other shows, and the producers of both shows refused to work around his schedule, so he was forced to tear up his contract to appear on Sesame Street.[5] Clash officially became a puppeteer on Sesame Street in 1984. Some of his earliest characters included Hoots the Owl, Baby Natasha, and Dr. Nobel Price, but it was Elmo who became his main character. Other puppeteers had used the Elmo puppet previously, but it was Clash's interpretation with a falsetto voice that established the Elmo character.[7] Clash has also sung in voice-over in a variety of film and animation songs on Sesame Street, including "In My Animal Book" and "Take Care of That Smile". During the late 1980s, Clash was involved with a variety of Henson productions. He performed P.J. in the Play-Along videos, and Father Bunny and Be-Bop in Tale of the Bunny Picnic. He would also perform Eliott Shag on Dog City, various characters in Muppet Time insertials, and in the early 1990s he performed a number of characters on Disney's sitcom Dinosaurs, including infant dinosaur Baby Sinclair. He also performed the title character in the Muppet Sing-Along video Billy Bunny's Animal Songs.

Sesame Workshop announced in November 2012 that Clash had trained several understudies who would take over the role of Elmo following Clash's resignation that month.[2]

The Jim Henson Hour

Clash became one of the main Muppet performers on The Jim Henson Hour. His two main characters on that show were the lizard-like Leon and the bass player Clifford. Of these two, only Clifford has remained a major character, having also appeared in The Muppets at Walt Disney World; The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson; an appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show; the albums Muppet Beach Party and Kermit Unpigged; and the feature films Muppets from Space and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. However, Clifford became a star when he hosted the short-lived Muppets Tonight. On that show, Clash also performed Mulch and Craniac.

Film

Clash's film credits include Jim Henson's fantasy film Labyrinth; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze; The Muppet movies Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets from Space, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz; and the Sesame Street films Follow That Bird and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.

Additional work

Clash was co-executive producer for Elmopalooza, co-producer for The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, and co-executive producer for CinderElmo and Elmo's World. He has also served as either puppet coordinator, assistant puppet coordinator, or puppet captain on many productions, including Labyrinth, Muppet Treasure Island, The Puzzle Place, Big Bag and Dog City.

He occasionally played Animal, Miss Piggy, and Waldorf in Muppets Tonight.

My Life as a Furry Red Monster and Being Elmo

Clash wrote an autobiography in 2006 called My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud''.

His life was featured in the 2011 documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey.[8][9]

Personal life

Clash was married to a woman who lives in Baltimore. In the early 1990s the couple had a daughter, who lived with her mother after she and Clash divorced.[10][11]

In November 2012, Clash came out publicly as gay, saying in a statement in response to allegations of a gay relationship, "I am a gay man. I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter."[12]

Allegations and resignation

In November 2012, Sheldon Stephens, a 23-year-old man with a criminal record,[13][14] alleged that he had been in a sexual relationship with Clash which began when the accuser was 16 years old.[15] Sesame Workshop had initially been presented with the allegation in June, and its investigation found the allegation to be unsubstantiated.[15] Clash acknowledged that he had been in a relationship with the accuser; however, he characterized the relationship as being between consenting adults.[16]

After the story broke, Stephens recanted his accusation, saying that the relationship occurred while he was an adult,[17] but later he returned to his original claim of an underage relationship. He also claimed that Clash had paid him to change his story, and that he was pressured into accepting the settlement.[18] Cecil Singleton, and a third unnamed man have also made accusations of underage relationships, and have sued for damages.[2][19][20]

Clash resigned from Sesame Workshop on November 20, 2012, and released a statement saying, "Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately."[21] Sesame Workshop also released a statement: "Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street."[22][23]

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b Staff writers (February 2002). "Community & Society: Kevin Clash Interactive Profile". CNN. Archived from the original on January 19, 2003.
  2. ^ a b c Levin, Gary (November 20, 2012). "Kevin Clash resigns as Elmo in wake of sex scanda". USA Today. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Michel Martin (Interviewer) (28 November 2011). "Kevin Clash on Bringing Elmo To Life". NPR. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b "Kevin Clash: The Man Behind Elmo". NPR. 15 December 2011.
  5. ^ a b What Elmo Has taught You About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud
  6. ^ Bill Carter (20 January 1981). "Kids' fare, fresh and witty". The Baltimore Sun. p. B4.
  7. ^ The African American Entrepreneur: Then and Now By W. Sherman Rogers
  8. ^ Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013.
  9. ^ "Being Elmo : A Puppeteer's Journey". Official site. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  10. ^ Kevin Clash: Dad Behind Elmo. NYC Dads: The Mayor's Fatherhood Initiative.
  11. ^ Rebecca Macatee (November 21, 2012). "Elmo Puppeteer Kevin Clash Quits Sesame Street". E!. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  12. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (November 12, 2012). "'Sesame Street' actor faces underage sex charges". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Elmo's Kevin Clash Accuser Outed Struggling Model Who Targeted Puppeteer Has Criminal Record". E! Online, November 15, 2012.
  14. ^ "Kevin Clash (Voice of Elmo) Pays Accuser 6 Figures ... Demanded Public Retraction of Underage Sex Claim". TMZ.com. Los Angeles CA. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  15. ^ a b Frazier Moore (November 12, 2012). "Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash accused of relationship with boy, 16, taking leave from 'Sesame Street'". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  16. ^ Josh Levs (November 12, 2012). "Voice of Elmo on leave after denying 'underage conduct' with teen". CNN. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  17. ^ Crimesider Staff (November 13, 2012). "Elmo accuser recants sex abuse claim against puppeteer Kevin Clash". CBS News. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  18. ^ Evann Gastaldo (19 November 2012), Elmo Accuser Recants His Recant, Newser.com
  19. ^ "Kevin Clash: Ex-Elmo puppeteer faces new sex allegation". Chicago tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  20. ^ "Third underage sex charge for Elmo puppeteer". USA Today. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  21. ^ Elmo Left Behind on 'Sesame Street' as Actor Exits. ABC News, November 20, 2012.
  22. ^ Elmo Puppeteer Resigns After Fresh Allegation. New York Times, November 20, 2012.
  23. ^ Voice of Elmo Kevin Clash Sued - Allegations of Sex with SECOND Underage Boy. TMZ.com, November 20, 2012.
  24. ^ "Commencement Ceremony Celebrates Washington & Jefferson College's Class of 2012". Washington & Jefferson College. Retrieved 22 May 2012.

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