Matt Vogel

Matt Vogel is a puppeteer, musician, director, and producer who is best known for performing various characters for Sesame Street and The Muppets. He serves as the current performer of Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, and Count von Count, not to mention characters performed by Jerry Nelson. Matt's very first work with The Jim Henson Company was in 1994 as John Henson's understudy for the Coca-Cola Polar Bear. Vogel later joined Sesame Street in 1996 assisting and becoming Caroll Spinney's understudy for Big Bird when he wasn't available. After years of understudying, he became the Big Bird we all know today following Spinney's retirement and later death. He also took over Jerry Nelson's main characters in 2008 recommended by Nelson himself. Outside of Sesame Street and Muppets, Matt Vogel has done numerous projects such as The Puzzle Place, MATHmatazz, Oobi, Between the Lions, Jack's Big Music Show, and Blue's Room. As for the Henson Company, he had assisting or supporting roles on Big Bag, Bear in the Big Blue House, and Sesame English. He was often paired with others like Lisa Buckley, Eric Jacobson, and Martin P. Robinson, to name a couple. Not only is Matt a current Muppet performer, but he's also the current Muppet captain and director on Sesame Street. Vogel ought to be called "The King of Recasting" because of how many puppets he took over when the old performers left. Like when Steve Whitmire got fired, he took over as Kermit. He's still working on both projects today as well as outside stuff like Donkey Hodie. Matt Vogel, you're a master at both puppeteering and directing as well as owning Pratfall Productions with Joey Mazzarino. I hope that you keep on performing with both the Muppets and Sesame Street by both directing and performing too. There's nobody else in the world who can do a great job like you can. You're a stupendous man Matt. Be proud of being in charge Vogel!