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Noel MacNeal

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Noel MacNeal
MacNeal atGalaxyConRaleigh in 2023
Born(1961-09-15)September 15, 1961(age 62)
Harlem,New York,U.S.
Occupations
  • Puppeteer
  • director
  • writer
  • actor
  • singer
Years active1983–present
Spouse
​
(m.1999)​
Children1

Noel MacNeal(born September 15, 1961), sometimes credited asNoel McNealorEdward Noel MacNeal,is an American puppeteer, actor, director, singer, and writer of children's television who has performed since the early 1980s. He was the voice and puppeteer of Bear onBear in the Big Blue House.He also starred as Kako onOobi,Leon MacNeal onThe Puzzle Placeand as Magellan onEureeka's Castle.He is also the resident puppeteer forLast Week Tonight with John Oliver,portraying puppet characters such as "Mr. Nutterbutter".

Career[edit]

Noel portrays the environmentally friendly characterZoZo[citation needed]a mascot for safer streets, green transportation, and useful public spaces.[1]ThisJim Hensondesigned and created walk around puppet is used byLivable Streets Educationto talk about these issues with young children and families.[2]

While Bear is his most famous character, MacNeal has also performed Mrs. (Mommy) Snuffleupagus and various Snuffleupagus relatives onSesame Street,Magellan, a childlike dragon, on the ACE Award-winning seriesEureeka's CastleonNick Jr,Leon MacNeal inThe Puzzle Place,RaphaelinTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IIIand Madame Chairbird in the Sesame Street filmFollow That Bird.His repertoire of characters also includes Kako on theNick Jr. ChannelseriesOobi,Blue on Nick Jr.'sBlue's Room,Rabbit forThe Disney Channel's Emmy Award-winning seriesThe Book of Pooh,Lionel onPBS'sBetween the Lions,and Knock-Knock onThe Great Space Coaster.In addition, he’s performed with and/or forWoody Allen,Bill Cosby,Whoopi Goldberg,Jerry Lewis,Mickey Rooney,Emma Thompson,Wayne Brady,Dave Chappelle,Donny and Marie Osmond,Tom Bergeron,Regis and Kelly,Matt LauerandKatie Couric.

Noel is also a television writer. His scripts have been featured onPBS KidsSprout'sThe Good Night Show,The Disney Channel'sBear in the Big Blue House,PBS'sThe Puzzle Place,The Magic School BusandCyberchase,TLC'sSalty's Lighthouse(in which he re-wrote an original episode of the British children's TV seriesTugsfor its own segments) andNickelodeon'sEureeka's CastleandGullah Gullah Island.He is also a script and television directorial adviser and consultant for the international versions ofSesame Streetas well having directed episodes ofBear in the Big Blue HouseandPBS KidsSprout'sThe Good Night Show.

In 2003, Noel received a Daytime Emmy Nomination as "Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series". Noel is now the resident puppeteer for theHBOseriesLast Week Tonight with John Oliver.MacNeal was noted for his portrayal of Mr. Nutterbutter,[3]and operated a seagull puppet in another episode. He also portrayed Totes McGoats, a goat-human hybrid mascot which promotes recycling, in the episode on plastics.[4]

Personal life[edit]

MacNeal was born to two African-American parents, but his father was white-passing (previously, it had been reported that his father was fully white).

On November 6, 1999, he married authorSusan Eliaat Manhattan'sUnion Theological Seminary.[5]In 2005, their son Matthew was born.[6]

Filmography[edit]

Puppeteer[edit]

Writer[edit]

Director[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Where is the Zozo?Accessed September 24, 2010
  2. ^Streets Education
  3. ^Court Finds John Oliver Has the Right to Hire a Giant Squirrel Named “Mr. Nutterbutter” to Insult Coal Barons
  4. ^"Przegląd tygodnia: Wieczór z Johnem Oliverem (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) - sezon 8, odcinek 7 - HBO GO".hbogo.pl(in Polish).Retrieved2021-03-23.
  5. ^Brady, Lois Smith."LOIS SMITH BRADY"The New York Times;November 14, 1999
  6. ^"Muppet Central News - Muppeteer Noel MacNeal writes puppet making book for young and old".

External links[edit]

Preceded by Performer of Mommy Snuffleupagus
1980s-1990s 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Performer of Sweetums
2008; 2017 		Succeeded by
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