Eric Engelhardt

Eric Engelhardt was a puppeteer and puppet builder who worked in the Muppet Workshop during the mid/late-1990s. He mainly built puppets for various Muppet productions like Muppets Tonight (where he built the first Pepe the King Prawn), The Animal Show, Bear in the Big Blue House, and in the film The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. How come Eric never built puppets for other Sesame Street projects besides that film nor puppeteer in any Muppet project? Engelhardt must have been way more interested in building puppets for the Henson Company. It's a pity he never got the chance to puppeteer with the Henson Company when he had the chance. He puppeteered outside, so he should have stayed with the Henson Company until 2007. Outside, Eric Engelhardt has built and performed many puppets for various other shows like The Book of Pooh, Crank Yankers, It's a Big Big World, and Sheira & Loli's Dittydoodle Works. He seems to be one of those puppeteers who can perform and build at the same time like Rollie Krewson and Ed Christie. I just wish he stayed with the Muppets until the year 2007. In 2007, Eric passed away so one of the projects above must have been his last one, either It's a Big Big World or Dittydoodle Works. At least Engelhardt was not forgotten by anybody, especially the O'Neill Puppetry Conference. After his death, the conference has set up the Eric Engelhardt Memorial Scholarship for him to be honored for years to come. He must be pretty lucky in heaven to witness an honor being made for him by his own friends. Eric Engelhardt, you may not have been another one of the Muppet performers, but you still got a chance to make Muppets before your time came. Rest in peace, and remember how much you enjoyed working with puppets in your life. Your friends such as Daniel Weissbrodt, James Godwin, and Tyler Bunch, probably still remember you today. Until then, keep watching from above Eric. Farewell Engelhardt!