Martin P. Robinson is an American puppeteer, best known for his work on Sesame Street, having performed the characters of Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Slimey, Irvine, Buster the Horse, and Shelley the Turtle. He performed the characters Riff the Cat and Clef on Allegra's Window, and was an animatronic puppeteer for Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Early life Robinson's father was a hydraulics engineer and his mother was a teacher. He grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Brookfield East High School in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1974.
Robinson originally intended to become a character actor, but work was scarce. He later toured with a marionette company, eventually working under puppeteer Bil Baird.
Personal life Robinson married Sesame Street writer Annie Evans on August 9, 2008, on the set of Sesame Street in the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York. Evans gave birth to twin daughters on February 12, 2009. Robinson also has three children from a previous marriage and two grandchildren.Vows - Annie Evans and Martin Robinson, New York Times, August 16, 2008. He and his family live in Redding, Connecticut.
Filmography
Film YearProductionRoleNotes1984The Muppets Take ManhattanSwedish Chef (hands), Buster the Horse, additional MuppetsPerformer1985Sesame Street Presents: Follow That BirdTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Board of Birds Member, Grouch Diner Patron, additional MuppetsPerformer1990Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesLeonardoFacial assistant1999The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandTelly Monster, Laundromat Manager, Little RickyPerformer2008A Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaCrazy Harry, additional MuppetsPerformer, voice
Television Year(s)ProductionRoleNotes1981–presentSesame StreetTelly Monster (1984–present), Mr. Snuffleupagus (1981–present), Slimey the Worm, Buster the Horse, Irvine, Mrs. Grouch, Dicky Tick, Vincent Twice, Old MacDonald, Freddy, additional MuppetsPerformer1983Don't Eat the PicturesMr. SnuffleupagusPerformer; television special1985Little Muppet MonstersRat, Cow, Walrus, additional MuppetsPerformer1986The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 YearsTelly MonsterPerformer (uncredited); television special1986The Tale of the Bunny PicnicFarmer, additional MuppetsPerformer; television special1987A Muppet Family ChristmasAdditional MuppetsPerformer; television special1988The TransformersPowermaster Optimus PrimePuppeteer (season 5)1990The Muppets Celebrate Jim HensonTelly Monster, additional MuppetsPerformer; television special1994–1996Allegra's WindowRiff, ClefVoice, performer1996Elmo Saves ChristmasTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Santa's Elf, additional MuppetsPerformer; television special1998The Wubbulous World of Dr. SeussThe Cat in the HatPerformer (season 2)2002Between the LionsGrandpa LionPerformer, episode: "Out in Outer Space"2009, 2013Late Night with Jimmy FallonMr. Snuffleupagus, additional MuppetsPerformer; 2 episodes2013Good Morning AmericaTelly MonsterPerformer; 1 episode2015Saturday Night LiveMr. SnuffleupagusVoice (uncredited)2019–2023HelpstersMr. PrimmPerformer2020The Not-Too-Late Show with ElmoTelly Monster, FreddyPerformer2021Law & Order: Organized CrimeOctopusPuppeteer #1; 1 episode2026The Muppet ShowSupporting Muppet PerformerABC/Disney+ special
Video games Year(s)TitleRoleNotes1994Sesame Street: NumbersTelly Monster, Mr. SnuffleupagusVoice role1996Get Set to Learn!Telly Monster, Martian1998The Three GrouchketeersTelly Monster2001Sesame Street: SportsSesame Street: LettersTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus2011Sesame Street: Once Upon a MonsterSlimey the Worm2012Kinect Sesame Street TVTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Martian
Other appearances Year(s)ProductionRoleNotes1981Muppet Meeting FilmsPapa LuigiShort film1982, 2003Little Shop of Horrors Audrey IIPuppeteer in the original 1982 off-Broadway and 2003 Broadway productions1988Jim Henson's Play-Along Video Crocodile, Raccoon, additional MuppetsPerformer; direct-to-video series2003Sesame Street 4-D Movie MagicTelly MonsterPerformer, theme park film
See also List of Sesame Street puppeteers
References
External links