Nikki Tilroe

Nikki Tilroe was a puppeteer, suit performer, actress, and director who was known for performing in both the US and Canada. When she worked with the Henson Company, her most well known show was on Fraggle Rock where operated Fraggles in the background and performed two guest characters. Nikki had also performed on the special The Christmas Toy as a phone named Ding-a-Ling. Tilroe has even done the Sesame Street film Follow That Bird as one of the Board of Birds. Her last known Henson project was on an episode of The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss. Outside of her work with Henson, she was known for Today's Special (as Mime Lady) while other shows include The Charlie Horse Music Pizza, Gerbert, Whirligig, and Funnybones. I read Nikki Tilroe was even one of the few puppeteers to operate Snuggle Bear in fabric softener commercials. I've also read that Muppet designer, Kermit Love, has been her professional partner. She has also served as a director for Frog Print Theater which she directed Mimi and Toto in 1974 and 1975 and directed the Dot & Dash segments of Gerbert. The last project Nikki performed on was in the web-produced puppet films for Sammy Snail and a production called Aging. Sadly, Tilroe died in 2005, but luckily, a scholarship fund was set up in her honor. Pam Arciero, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, and Heather Asch all appeared at benefits for the fund. She may not have done a lot for Henson, but she still performed her own characters. Nikki Tilroe, you were a great mime and did a great job at puppeteering in all of those projects during your life. Though I wished you would have done more characters within Fraggle Rock. You should have also done Sesame Park when you had the chance, that way you would get more characters. It's too late now, but at least you got to work with Muppet performers Nikki. Rest in peace and you will never be forgotten Tilroe!