Eric Jacobson

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people with the same name, see Eric Jacobsen (disambiguation).
Eric Jacobson
Jacobson at San Diego Comic-Con in 2015
Born (1975-01-15) January 15, 1975 (age 49)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
OccupationPuppeteer
Years active1994–present
SpouseMary Jacobson
Children1

Eric Jacobson (born January 15, 1971)[1] is an American puppeteer. He is best known for his involvement with the Muppets, performing Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle for The Muppets Studio, as well as Sesame Street characters Bert, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, and Guy Smiley—all roles that he inherited from the characters' original performers, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney, and Jim Henson.[2][3]

Since 1994, Jacobson has been a regular performer for Sesame Street, where he has received Daytime Emmy Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Since 2001, Jacobson has appeared as part of the Muppets cast in several feature films and television series, including The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005), The Muppets (2011), Muppets Most Wanted (2014), the ABC primetime television series, The Muppets (2015-16), and the Disney+ series, The Muppets Mayhem (2023).

Career

Eric Jacobson, a native of Fort Worth,[1] was inspired to enter the field of puppeteering after the death of Jim Henson.[4] At the time, Jacobson was attending film school and had previously interned at the Jim Henson Company, working in the archival library.[5][4]

Jacobson began his career as a puppeteer on Sesame Street in 1994, where he worked alongside Frank Oz,[6] often performing the roles of Grover and Bert when Oz wasn't available.[7][8] After Oz retired from the roles, Jacobson became the characters' primary performer.[9] Since 2005, he has performed Guy Smiley, a role previously performed by Henson.[10] Following Caroll Spinney's retirement in 2018, Jacobson has performed Oscar the Grouch.[3]

For his work on Sesame Street, Jacobson has been nominated for both a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance in 2011 and 2019, respectively.[11][7]

For the Muppets, Jacobson began performing Miss Piggy in 2001, debuting at the "MuppetFest" fan convention.[2][12] The following year, he began performing Fozzie Bear and Animal, debuting in the roles in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. In 2005, he also began performing Sam Eagle beginning in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. The aforementioned characters were also previously performed by Oz, whom Jacobson consulted with to accurately portray the proper characterization, physicality, and voice for the characters.[8]

Other works

Jacobson performed Harry the Duck on Bear in the Big Blue House.[1] In 2007, Jacobson served as puppeteer and writer on Playhouse Disney's Bunnytown.[13][14][15]

Outside of Henson, Jacobson has also worked on The Puzzle Place, Jack's Big Music Show, and The Book of Pooh. He also has performed live puppet theater with The Puppet Company, The Cosmic Bicycle Theater, and The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in Central Park.[14][16]

In 2013, Jacobson served as puppeteer for Shaggy Rogers for the DVD movie Scooby Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map, with Matthew Lillard providing Shaggy's voice.[17]

Guest appearances

Jacobson has performed Miss Piggy during appearances on Rove Live, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Tony Danza Show, Good Morning America, This Morning, WWE Raw,[18] and WWE Tribute to the Troops.[19] He has also performed the character on Disney Channel Original Series Good Luck Charlie, So Random!, and Take Two with Phineas and Ferb.

Jacobson has performed Fozzie Bear during appearances on Saturday Night Live,[20] Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and @midnight. In 2019, he made an in-character voice cameo as Fozzie Bear in the animated series Big City Greens, voicing the character Dr. Enamel.[21]

In 2005, Jacobson performed Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal for an appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.[22]

For Sesame Street, Jacobson has performed Grover during appearances on Good Morning Australia, Jimmy Kimmel Live!,[23] and Rove Live. He also performed Bert for the character's appearance in the Between the Lions second season episode "Tweet! Tweet!".

Personal life

Jacobson is married to Mary Jacobson, who works as a production assistant on Sesame Street.[8] His daughter's godfather also works on the show.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Production Role Other notes
2002 It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Yoda Performer; Television film
2005 The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle
2008 A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle Performer
2011 The Muppets Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, Marvin Suggs Performer
2013 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map Shaggy Rogers Performer (puppetry only); Direct-to-DVD film
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Animal Performer
2021 Muppets Haunted Mansion Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Animal Performer; Halloween special for Disney+

Television

Year(s) Production Role Other notes
1994–present Sesame Street Bert (1997–present), Grover (1998–present), Guy Smiley (2005–present), Oscar the Grouch (2015–present) Performer
1996–1998 Once Upon a Tree Billy-Bob the Bobcat Performer
1998 The Puzzle Place Leon MacNeal, Blue Piece Police Puppeteer (season 3)
1997–2006 Bear in the Big Blue House Harry the Duck, Tucker Tutter Performer
2001–2003 The Book of Pooh Piglet Performer (puppetry only)
2005, 2012 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Grover, Fozzie Bear, Animal Performer; 3 episodes[23][24][25]
2005 The Tony Danza Show Miss Piggy Performer; 3 episodes
2005–2007 Jack's Big Music Show Little Bad Wolf, Phil the Coo-Coo Bird Performer
2005, 2011, 2014 Live Miss Piggy Performer, 3 episodes
2005 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition[22] Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal Performer
2006–2011 Pinky Dinky Doo Additional voices
2007–2008 Bunnytown Superbunny, Cavebunny Performer (also writer)[15]
2008 Studio DC: Almost Live Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle Performer
2011 So Random! Miss Piggy Performer, Episode: "Miss Piggy"
Take Two with Phineas and Ferb Miss Piggy Performer, Episode: "Miss Piggy"
Saturday Night Live Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear Performer, Episode: "Jason Segal/Florence + The Machine"
2011, 2012 WWE Raw Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal Performer, 2 episodes
2011, 2012 WWE Tribute to the Troops Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle Performer; Television special
2013 Good Luck Charlie Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal Performer, Episode: "Duncan Dream House"
Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle Performer; Television special
2019 Big City Greens Dr. Enamel Voice role, Episode: "Hurty Tooth"

Credited as Fozzie Bear; Jacobson credited as Fozzie Bear's "personal handyman"

Muppet Babies Play Date Miss Piggy (baby), Fozzie Bear (baby), Animal (baby) Performer (puppetry only)
2020 The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo Bert, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Two-Headed Monster (left head) Performer[26]
Muppets Now Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Sam Eagle, Animal Performer
2023 The Muppets Mayhem Animal Performer

Video games

Year(s) Title Role Notes
2001 Sesame Street Sports Grover Voice role[27][28]
2003 Muppets Party Cruise Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear

Other appearances

Year(s) Production Role Other notes
2008–2009 Muppet YouTube Shorts Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle Performer
2010 The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear Performer, web series
Disney's Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade Miss Piggy Voice, theme park parade
2013–2014 Muppisodes Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear Performer, web shorts[29]
2014 Nerdy Nummies Miss Piggy Performer
2016–2019 The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle Voice, theme park show
2017 The Muppets Take the Bowl Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, Newsman Performer, live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–10[30]
2018 The Muppets Take the O2 Performer, live show at the O2, Jul. 13–14[31]
2021 The Muppets' Christmas Caroling Coach Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Sam Eagle Voice, theme park show[31]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2011 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series Sesame Street Nominated
2019 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance When You Wish Upon a Pickle: A Sesame Street Special Nominated
2021 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program The Monster at the End of This Story Nominated
2023 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Puppeteer Performance The Muppets Mayhem Nominated [32]
Sesame Street Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c "Eric Jacobson and Muppet Trivia 2! | The Barretta Brothers". web.archive.org. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Setoodeh, Ramin (March 11, 2014). "How Kermit and the Muppets Got Their Mojo Back". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Cordero, Rosy (December 8, 2019). "Sesame Street legend Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, dies at 85". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "A Conversation with characters from Sesame Street live from NerdHQ 2014". YouTube.com. Nerd HQ. July 26, 2014. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  5. ^ Gikow, Louise; Loredo, Betsy (2009). 123 Sesame Street: a celebration: 40 years of life on the street. New York, NY: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. ISBN 978-1-57912-638-4.
  6. ^ "Muppet Central Help - Frequently Asked Questions - Muppets". web.archive.org. December 8, 2003. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Schaffstall, Katherine (August 30, 2019). "Emmys: 46 of This Year's First-Time Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d Spitznagel, Eric (September 30, 2011). "Sesame Street puppeteer Eric Jacobson reveals shocking news that Sesame Street is not a real place". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Spitznagel, Eric (September 30, 2011). "Sesame Street puppeteer Eric Jacobson reveals shocking news that Sesame Street is not a real place". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Hipes, Patrick (October 17, 2018). "Caroll Spinney, 'Sesame Street's Big Bird For 50 Years, Is Retiring". Deadline.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  11. ^ "Sesame Street's Big Bird puppeteer retires". bbc.com. October 17, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  12. ^ Lloyd, Robert (May 16, 2015). "If Harry Shearer leaves 'The Simpsons,' what will happen? Just ask Bugs Bunny". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  13. ^ 2007-11-01T08:33:07.82+00:00. "Bunnytown". Broadcast. Retrieved July 1, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b "Disney Channel MediaNet". web.archive.org. September 26, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Emily, Wicks (September 22, 2021). "Spiffy Pictures: Adventures in Television Animation | Ballard Institute and Museum". Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Wayback Machine". web.archive.org. November 16, 2007. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "ScoobyAddicts.com". ScoobyAddicts. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  18. ^ Cramer, Rob (April 19, 2015). "The 10 Most Bizarre Guest Stars In WWE History". TheRichest. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  19. ^ Hennes, Joe (November 13, 2012). "The Muppets to Celebrate Troops with Needless Violence". ToughPigs. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  20. ^ "'Saturday Night Live' recap: Jason Segel hosts with a little help from the Muppets". EW.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Video, Mashable (January 31, 2019). "Exclusive: Fozzie Bear's latest role is a cartoon dentist". Mashable. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "New Muppet Stuff -- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  23. ^ a b "New Muppet Stuff – Grover on Jimmy Kimmel Live « ToughPigs – Muppet Fans Who Grew Up". web.archive.org. October 17, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  24. ^ "New Muppet Stuff – Fozzie on Jimmy Kimmel Live « ToughPigs – Muppet Fans Who Grew Up". web.archive.org. October 16, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "Picture This: The Electric Mayhem on Jimmy Kimmel « ToughPigs – Muppet Fans Who Grew Up". web.archive.org. October 16, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "Sesame Street Sports (2001)". MobyGames. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  28. ^ "Muppet Central Articles - Reviews: Muppets Party Cruise (PlayStation2)". muppetcentral.com. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  29. ^ Graser, Marc (December 6, 2013). "Watch: The Muppets Star in New Series of 'Muppisodes'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  30. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (July 28, 2020). "It's Time to Re-Re-Re-Meet the Muppets". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  31. ^ a b Itzkoff, Dave (July 28, 2020). "It's Time to Re-Re-Re-Meet the Muppets". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  32. ^ Coates, Tyler (November 2, 2023). "Children's & Family Emmy Awards: Disney Dominates Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 7, 2023.

External links

Preceded by Performer of Bert
1997 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Grover
1998 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Miss Piggy
2001 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Fozzie Bear
2002 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Animal
2002 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Sam Eagle
2005 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
Don Reardon
 Performer of Guy Smiley
2005 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Marvin Suggs
2011 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Two-Headed Monster (left head)
2016 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Oscar the Grouch
2015 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of The Muppet Newsman
2017 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Harvey Kneeslapper
2019 – present 		Succeeded by
None
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