Mark Ritts

Mark Ritts was a puppeteer, actor, TV producer and director, and author who is yet another person who hasn't worked on any Muppet or Sesame Street projects. However he has worked with Alice Dinnean and Noel MacNeal (with The Puzzle Place characters) in a video called Kids for Character. I have read that Mark has produced and directed many independent videos and TV spots as president for Mark Ritts Productions around the world. Ritts mainly worked throughout the 1990s on Storytime and Beakman's World. He was the performer of Kino on Storytime and performed on-screen alongside Paul Zaloom as an actor in a rat costume named Lester. He also puppeteered a penguin on the latter show. I don't know why Mark Ritts didn't even guest star on assist on Sesame Street during the 1990s. He could have had the chance to work with other Muppet performers as well as the two who've done Kids for Character, like Caroll Spinney or Jerry Nelson. Some of his other puppetry work was on The Pink Panther Show and Starstuff. I also read that Mark served as the co-author of a parenting book released in April 2003 called Mom, I Hate You. There are many different works that Ritts produced and directed, yet in a short lifetime. He sadly died in 2009 which meant his company ended as well. What a shame that such a guy like him would pass away without working on any Sesame Street or Muppet projects, yet appeared with Muppet performers. Mark Ritts, you've lived a good life and got to work with many famous people and kid characters such as Shari Lewis with Lamb Chop, filmmaker Ted Field, and even Barney. I hope you will be remembered for all of what you've done from actor to author to puppeteer. You should also be remembered for acting as Lester and puppeteering Kino throughout the 1990s. You may not have been a Muppet performer, but you were still a television star Mark. Until then, rest in peace Ritts!