William Barretta is an American puppeteer, producer, writer, director, and actor, best known for his involvement with the Muppets. He performs the Muppet characters Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, and Dr. Teeth. He originated the role of Louie, Elmo's dad, on Sesame Street.
Career Barretta began performing with The Jim Henson Company in 1991, as the body performer of Earl Sinclair on Dinosaurs. He later developed several new characters for Muppets Tonight, including Pepe the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, and Bobo the Bear.
Barretta has succeeded several of Jim Henson's roles, such as Dr. Teeth, Rowlf the Dog, and Swedish Chef. He performed Clueless Morgan in Muppet Treasure Island (1996). He additionally served as Muppet captain on The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted. He played the main puppet character Phil Phillips in The Happytime Murders (2018).
For Sesame Street, Bill Barretta originated the role of Elmo's dad, Louie, originally appearing in direct-to-video specials. He based Louie's voice on Louis Prima's.
Barretta has served as a producer on various Muppet projects, including It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005). In 2014, he served as a co-producer on Muppets Most Wanted. He also served as an executive producer on the ABC series, The Muppets. For Disney+, he produced Muppets Haunted Mansion and co-created The Muppets Mayhem, winning a Children's and Family Emmy Award in 2023.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1995Murder in the FirstMan on the StreetBorn to Be WildGorilla Team1996Muppet Treasure IslandClueless Morgan, Blind Pew, Swedish Chef, Jacques Roach, Mudwell the Mudbunny (singing)Performer1999Muppets from SpacePepe the Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Bubba the Rat, The Swedish Chef, Rowlf the Dog, Cosmic Fish #2PerformerThe Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandAdditional MuppetsPerformer2002Kermit's Swamp YearsCroaker, Horace D'Fly, Roy the Frog, Turtle #2Performer; Direct-to-video filmIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas MoviePepe the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, Bobo the Bear, Rowlf the Dog, Swedish Chef, Lew Zealand, Howard Tubman, Additional MuppetsPerformer (also producer); Television film2005The Muppets' Wizard of OzPepe the Prawn, Dr. Teeth, Johnny Fiama, Swedish Chef, Lew Zealand, Bubba the Rat, Additional MuppetsPerformer (also producer); Television film2011The MuppetsRowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the Prawn, Bobo, Swedish ChefPerformer 2014Muppets Most WantedRowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the King Prawn, The Swedish Chef, Big Mean Carl, Bobo the Bear, Carlo Flamingo, Leprechaun Security Guard, Baby BossPerformer2018The Happytime MurdersPhil Phillips, Junkyard, BoarPerformer
Television Year(s)TitleRoleNotes1991–1994DinosaursEarl Sinclair (in-suit performer), Nick (in-suit performer), Rabid Caveman, VariousPerformer1994Jim Henson's Animal ShowArmstrong the Chicken Hawk, Vernon the Grizzly, Baby Bear, Dullard the Aardvark, Jared the Tiger, Lazlo the Hyena, Randall the Zebra, Timothy the Owl, Vernon the GrizzlyPerformer1995Mr. Willowby's Christmas TreeBearPerformer; CBS special1996–1998Muppets TonightBobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Pepe the Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Big Mean Carl, Clueless Morgan, Howard Tubman, David Hoggselhoff, Zippity Zap, Snookie Blyer, Ernst Stavros Gropuer, additional charactersPerformer1996The Wubbulous World of Dr. SeussUncle BerklummerPerformer2001Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real StoryThunderdellAlso writer2002–2007Kim PossibleJackie the Jackal, Jilly from Jersey, Motor Ed's 'Main Bro'Voice role2006Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen KingSavage CommandoUncredited2006–2010Sesame StreetLouiePerformer2007TinseltownBobbyPerformer (also director)2008Studio DC: Almost LivePepe the King Prawn, Dr. Teeth, Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, Bobo the BearPerformerA Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaPepe the King Prawn, Dr. Teeth, Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, Bobo the Bear, Pigeon DadPerformer; NBC Television film2011Saturday Night LiveRowlf the DogPerformer, Episode: "Jason Segal/Florence + The Machine"2012Jimmy Kimmel Live!Dr. TeethPerformer2015–2016The MuppetsRowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the King Prawn, Swedish Chef, Bobo the Bear, Big Mean Carl, Mahna Mahna, Howard TubmanPerformer, Director: "Dave Caplan & Jordan Reddout & Gus Hickey"2015Muppet MomentsRowlf the Dog, Bobo the Bear, Pepe the King PrawnPerformer (also director)2017–2020Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtLonny DuFrane/Mr. Frumpus3 episodes; Actor/Puppeteer2018Muppet BabiesDr. TeethPerformer2019Drop the MicPepe the King Prawn2 episodes; Puppeteer/voice2020Muppets NowPepe the King Prawn, The Swedish Chef, Howard Tubman, Big Mean Carl, Dr. Teeth, Bobo the Bear, Bubba the RatPerformer; director and executive producer2021Muppets Haunted MansionPepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Johnny Fiama, Howard Tubman, Bobo the Bear, Big Mean Carl, Andy Pig, Bubba the Rat, Beautiful Day Monster, Clean Gene the Behemoth, Party TomatoPerformer; teleplay and story by, executive producer2023The Muppets MayhemDr. TeethPerformer; co-creator and executive producer2026The Muppet ShowRowlf the Dog, Pepe the King Prawn, Dr. Teeth, Bobo the Bear (uncredited)Performer
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes2000Muppet Race ManiaPepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Swedish ChefVoice role2000Muppet Monster AdventurePepe the King Prawn, Swedish ChefVoice role2003Muppets Party CruisePepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Swedish ChefVoice role
Other appearances YearTitleRoleNotes2014Piper's Picks TVSwedish ChefPerformer2017The Muppets Take the BowlPepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Bobo, Mahna MahnaPuppeteer/voice, live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–102018The Muppets Take the O2Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Bobo, Mahna MahnaPuppeteer/voice, live show at the O2, July 13–142021The Muppets Christmas Caroling CoachPepe the King PrawnVoice; theme park show at Disneyland2025World of Color Happiness! Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the King Prawn, The Swedish ChefPerformer (prerecorded footage); theme park show2026Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The MuppetsDr. Teeth, Rowlf, Pepe the King Prawn, The Swedish Chef, Bobo the Bear, Johnny FiamaPerformer (prerecorded footage); theme park attraction
References
External links
Bill Barretta explains how playing a Muppet is more than a funny voice, it's a state of mind, 2017 video MuppetZine Interview