Bill Barretta

Bill Barretta is a puppeteer, suit performer, director, and producer best known for performing various characters for the Muppets, most notably Pepe the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, and Bobo the Bear. He is also the current performer of Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Swedish Chef, and Mahna Mahna when Jim Henson passed away. Bill started out as a suit performer for Earl Sinclair on Dinosaurs (Mak Wilson did his face). Barretta soon began puppetry by performing on The Animal Show and two specials. Soon he was performing with the Muppets since 1994 on various projects. On Sesame Street, he performed on The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland and several years later performed Elmo's dad Louie. Louie was the only main Sesame Street character Bill Barretta did until 2009 when Tyler Bunch took over. He also wrote, produced, and directed several projects involving the Muppets as well as perform such as The Muppets, Muppets Haunted Mansion, and recently, The Muppets Mayhem. His recent film work was with Henson Alternative on The Happytime Murders. Bill performed them all, from Sesame Workshop to Henson Alternative; not to mention a puppet captain for the Muppets. Barretta sure knows how to make people laugh with his Pepe the King Prawn character. His friends Eric Jacobson, Steve Whitmire, and Matt Vogel, as well as others, should be very proud of him for all he's done. He even has his own podcast called The Barretta Brothers, with Gene Barretta. Bill Barretta, you're a real master at Muppet performing as well as writing, producing, and directing their projects. Keep working with the Muppets and giving everyone in the world laughter. You're no shrimp Bill. You're totally awesome Barretta!

Comments

  1. Reid TaubMay 4, 2025 at 12:48 PM

    Muppet Wiki feel free to use this. In an episode of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show with Bill Baretta, he mentioned that the song "A Professional Pirate" from Muppet Treasure Island was performed live rather than pre-recorded. This was at the 33:31 mark.

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