Gabriel Velez

Gabriel Velez is a puppeteer and impressionist who has periodically worked with the Muppets since the early 1980's. He voiced and performed Kermit and Fozzie for a Disney World Muppet Test Video, but no proof exists at the moment. For Sesame Street, he mostly performed two characters, Osvaldo and his most popular character Dani. The character was mainly used in asthma-related projects. Other than those roles, Gabriel was an assistant/background puppeteer in The Muppets Take Manhattan and Elmo's Christmas Countdown. In between 1983 and 1984, Gabriel got to work with Fraggle Rock by puppeteering the 23 ft. tall Junior Gorg for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade float. I wonder if he had any difficulty operating a giant character on a float. As least the suit kept him warm from the cold weather outside the suit. I've read that Velez has never puppeteered before he joined the Jim Henson Company. He was lucky to be taught and trained in the art of puppetry by five legendary puppeteers and one legendary puppet builder in the 1980's. I'll bet nobody else has been trained by all the famous Muppet performers at the same time. Outside of the Muppets and Sesame Street, Velez's only known work was seen on a children's show called Pappyland as Turtle Lou. He also impersonated several of the main Muppet characters for many producers, at least I think he did it for them. I don't know where Gabriel Velez is right now or what he's doing. But I hope he gets back into puppetry soon or at least perform Dani on Sesame Street again. Or maybe even inherit some roles for the Muppets if anyone of them would leave, retire, or die. Velez does great impressions of some characters and should try. But if he does, I want to give their credit for inheriting the roles. Gabriel Velez, not only have you helped kids grow but you've also educated asthma to them. Keep puppeteering and do fabulous voice work!