Noel MacNeal, sometimes credited as Edward Noel MacNeal, is an American puppeteer, actor, director and writer. He is best known as the performer of Bear on Bear in the Big Blue House. He also starred as Kako on Oobi, Leon MacNeal on The Puzzle Place and as Magellan on Eureeka's Castle. Since 2014, MacNeal has served as resident puppeteer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, portraying puppet characters such as Mr. Nutterbutter.
Career MacNeal began his career in puppetry in 1982 as a puppet wrangler on Sesame Street. In 1983, he succeeded John Lovelady as the performer of Knock-Knock the Woodpecker on The Great Space Coaster.
In 1997, MacNeal gained widespread recognition for his role as Bear in the Disney Channel preschool series Bear in the Big Blue House. In 2003, he received a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series.
In addition to puppeteering, MacNeal has written for a variety of children's programs including Eureeka's Castle, and The Puzzle Place. MacNeal has also directed several programs, including episodes of Between the Lions. In 2023, he directed an episode for season 53 of Sesame Street.
Since 2014, MacNeal has served as resident puppeteer and performed various characters on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
In 2022, MacNeal became the vacation/swing puppeteer and vocalist of Audrey II in the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors.
In March 2025, MacNeal made his solo Cabaret debut at 54 Below in an evening directed by Michael Kirk Lane, with musical direction by John Bronston and featuring Jennifer Barnhart and Fergie Phillipehttps://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Lillias-White-Noel-MacNeal-and-More-to-Perform-at-54-Below-Next-Week-20250321
On November 6, 2025, MacNeal made his Broadway debut as a puppeteer and Ensemble member of the limited time show, Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets.
Personal life On November 6, 1999, he married author Susan Elia at Manhattan's Union Theological Seminary.Brady, Lois Smith. "LOIS SMITH BRADY" The New York Times; November 14, 1999 In 2005, their son was born.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1985Follow That BirdMadame ChairbirdPerformer1993Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IIIRaphaelFacial assistant2008A Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaSweetumsPerformer; television film2009Old DogsPuppeteer
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1983–1986The Great Space CoasterKnock-KnockPerformer1983–presentSesame StreetMommy Snuffleupagus, Gretel, Additional Muppets1985Little Muppet MonstersRat, Cow, Magic Book1989–1995Eureeka's CastleMagellan, WebsterPerformer, writer1990The Cosby ShowCheesePuppeteer; Episode: "Cliff's Nightmare"1991DinosaursAdditional charactersPuppeteer1992Dog CityOfficer Fuzzy, DoctorPerformer1993CityKidsKoozebanians1995–1996The Puzzle PlaceLeon MacNeal, Blue Piece PolicePerformer, writer1997–2006Bear in the Big Blue HouseBear, Moss, BillyPerformer, writer, director (one episode)1997Salty's LighthouseWriter1998Gullah Gullah IslandWriter; Episode: "Magic Show"1999CosbyPuppeteer; Episode: "My Spy"2000–2005OobiKakoPerformer2006Breakfast with BearBearPerformer, writer2001–2003The Book of PoohRabbitPerformer2004Chappelle's ShowPuppeteer; Episode: "Knee High Park"2004LazytownPixelVoice; Episode: "Defeeted"2006–2007Blue's RoomBluePuppeteer (season 2)2006The Good Night ShowLeoHost (26 episodes)2009–2010Between the LionsLionel Lion (seasons 9-10), Monkey, Squeaky the WheelPerformer2014–2026Last Week Tonight with John OliverPuppeteer2015Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtPuppeteer; Episode: "Kimmy's in a Love Triangle!"2017Julie's GreenroomAdditional charactersPerformer2022Pause with Sam JayPuppeteer; Episode: "Dead Momma Episode"
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