Kevin Clash

Puppeteer Kevin Clash, best-known to millions of children as the voice of Elmo on "Sesame Street," made his television debut performing Goriddle Gorilla on the 1981 children's show "The Great Space Coaster." Within four years, he was hired as a "muppeteer" on "Sesame Street." His early work for the show featured characters like Hoots the Owl and Dr. Nobel Price, but it was Elmo who made him famous. The little red monster puppet had actually been around since the early '70s, but until Clash picked him up, none of the "Sesame Street" crew had succeeded in finding a personality for him.

Elmo became hugely popular, one of a whole new generation of Muppet characters to capture children's hearts. Clash's performances as Elmo have been featured on a slew of videos and "Sesame Street" episodes, as well as cameos on shows ranging from "Scrubs" to "The Cosby Show." Clash's other puppet-work includes Master Splinter in the three big-screen "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movies, and the canine animator Eliot Shag on "Dog City."