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David Rudman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the American puppeteer. For the wrestler and judoka, see David Rudman (wrestler).
David Rudman
Rudman at SXSW in 2015
Born
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupations
  • Puppeteer
  • puppet builder
  • writer
  • director
  • producer
Years active1981–present

David Rudman is an American puppeteer, puppet builder, writer, director, and producer. He performs the roles of Scooter, Janice, and Beaker for The Muppets, as well as Cookie Monster and Baby Bear on Sesame Street.

Career

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Rudman has been a performer on Sesame Street since 1985. He currently performs Cookie Monster (since 2001), Baby Bear, and the right head of the Two-Headed Monster (since 1998). For his work on the series, he has received four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series. He has directed several Sesame Street web videos.[citation needed]

In addition to his work on Sesame Street, Rudman is a performer with the Muppets, where he succeeded many roles originally portrayed by Richard Hunt, including Scooter, Janice, Bobby Benson, and Wayne. Following the departure of Steve Whitmire in 2016, Rudman became the performer for Beaker the following year.

Spiffy Pictures

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Spiffy Pictures
Company typePrivate
IndustryTelevision production
Founded2003; 23 years ago (2003)
Founders
  • David Rudman
  • Adam Rudman
Headquarters
Chicago
,
Illinois
ProductsTelevision programs
Websitehttps://spiffypictures.com/

Spiffy Pictures is a Chicago-based production company that was founded by David Rudman and his brother Adam Rudman in 2003. The studio consists mainly of live-action television shows developed for children's television networks.

Rudman is co-owner of Spiffy Pictures where he has co-created, executive produced, directed and performed in Jack's Big Music Show (Noggin), Curious Buddies (Nick Jr.), Bunnytown (Playhouse Disney), Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map (Warner Bros.), Frankie and Frank (Nick Jr.), and Donkey Hodie (PBS Kids). He is also the creator and executive producer of the animated series Nature Cat (PBS Kids), on which he voices several characters, including Leo the Mammoth, Prospector Jones, Nevin, and the Seeker.

Personal life

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Rudman attended Highland Park High School and graduated in 1981. He has been a speaker at the school's biennial Focus on the Arts program since 2003. He attended college at the University of Connecticut.[1]

In 2005, Rudman spoke at the graduation ceremony for the Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Production Role Other notes
1984 The Muppets Take Manhattan Additional Muppets Performer
1986 Labyrinth Goblins Puppeteer
1992 The Muppet Christmas Carol Swedish Chef, Wander McMooch Performer
1993 Billy Bunny's Animal Songs Frog, Gopher, Penguin, Percival Bear, Termite
1995 Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree Ned Mouse Performer; television film
1999 The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Baby Bear, Caterpillar, Pestie, Collander Stenchman, Ice Cream Customer, Alarm Clock Bird, Fat Blue Customer, Gassy Grouch, Grouch Prisoner Performer
2008 Abby in Wonderland Cookie Monster Performer; direct-to-DVD film
2011 The Muppets Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy, Wayne, Bobby Benson, Singing Food Performer
2013 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map Scooby-Doo Puppeteer; direct-to-DVD film
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy, Wayne, Bobby Benson Performer

Television

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Year Production Role Other notes
1985–present Sesame Street Cookie Monster, Baby Bear, Sully, Sonny Friendly, Humphrey, Flo Bear Performer
1985 Little Muppet Monsters Boo Monster Performer
1986 The Tale of the Bunny Picnic Snort, Snail, Additional Muppets Performer; television special
1987 A Muppet Family Christmas Additional Muppets, Miss Piggy's Photographer (voice) Performer; television special
1987–1989 The Jim Henson Hour Additional Muppets Performer
1989 The Ghost of Faffner Hall Earl the Dragon
1990 The Cosby Show Sweetums, Boo Monster
The Earth Day Special Lizard Performer; television special
The Magical World of Disney Dog, Frog, Performer
1991 Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake Athena, Chicago the Lion Performer; television special
1991–1992 Dinosaurs Additional Dinosaurs Performer; 2 episodes
1993 Sesame Street Stays Up Late! Baby Bear, MNN Logo Orange Monster, Grouches, AM Monsters Performer; television special
1993–1994 CityKids Dread, Frankie Frank, Lieutenant, Koozbanians, Toya Performer
1994 Dog City Bowser Voice; 1 episode
1996 Aliens in the Family Bobut, Orange and Purple Yukkles Performer
1997 Muppets Tonight Additional Muppets
2002–2007 Play with Me Sesame Cookie Monster, Chicago the Lion, Ernestine
2004–2005 Curious Buddies Co-creator, executive producer
2005–2007 Jack's Big Music Show Jack Performer, co-creator, executive producer
2007–2008 Bunnytown Yellow Cave Bunny, Hoppy Funtooth, Blue Bunny Musician
2008 Studio DC: Almost Live Janice, Scooter Performer
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa Performer; television special
2009 Dinner: Impossible Cookie Monster Performer; 1 episode
2009–2010 Where is Warehouse Mouse? Director
2012 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Janice Performer; 1 episode
2013 Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular Janice, Scooter Performer; television special
2014–2016 The Furchester Hotel Cookie Monster, Gonger, Sorbet Performer
2015–2016 The Muppets Scooter, Janice, Satay
2015–2025 Nature Cat Leo the Mammoth, Additional voices Voice, co-creator, executive producer
2019 Drop the Mic Beaker Performer; 1 episode
Lip Sync Battle Cookie Monster
2020 The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo Performer[3]
Muppets Now Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Miss Poogy
2021 Muppets Haunted Mansion Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Wayne, Squid Ghost Performer; television special
2021–present Donkey Hodie Bob Dog, Grampy Hodie, Stanley the Dragon Performer, co-creator, executive producer
2022 Mecha Builders Mecha Cookie Monster Voice
2023 The Muppets Mayhem Janice Performer
2026 The Muppet Show Scooter, Janice, Beaker, Miss Poogy Performer

Other appearances

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Year(s) Production Role Other notes
1991 Muppet*Vision 3D Roy, Max Performer, theme park show
2003 Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic Cookie Monster, Two-Headed Monster Performer, theme park film
2021 The Muppets' Christmas Caroling Coach Beaker Voice, theme park show[4]
2025 "World of Color Happiness!" preshow Scooter, Janice, Beaker Performer (prerecorded footage), theme park show[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Folder Contents".
  2. ^ www.ilic.artinstitutes.edu Archived September 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Adams, Erik (May 19, 2020). "The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo is the next best thing to a streaming Muppet Show". The AV Club. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "Video: The Muppet Christmas Caroling Coach Debuts at Disney Merriest Nites". laughingplace.com. November 11, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Ace, Shannen (May 14, 2024). "PHOTOS, VIDEO: New 'World of Color Happiness!' with Muppets Pre-Show at Disney California Adventure". wdwnt.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
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