Martin P. Robinson is an American puppeteer, best known for his work on Sesame Street, having performed the characters of Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Slimey, Irvine, Buster the Horse, and Shelley the Turtle. He performed the characters Riff the Cat and Clef on Allegra's Window, and was an animatronic puppeteer for Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Early life

Robinson's father was a hydraulics engineer and his mother was a teacher. He grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Brookfield East High School in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1974.

Robinson originally intended to become a character actor, but work was scarce. He later toured with a marionette company, eventually working under puppeteer Bil Baird.[citation needed]

Personal life

Robinson married Sesame Street writer Annie Evans on August 9, 2008, on the set of Sesame Street in the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, New York. Evans gave birth to twin daughters on February 12, 2009. Robinson also has three children from a previous marriage and two grandchildren. He and his family live in Redding, Connecticut.

Filmography

Film

YearProductionRoleNotes
1984The Muppets Take ManhattanSwedish Chef (hands), Buster the Horse, additional MuppetsPerformer
1985Sesame Street Presents: Follow That BirdTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Board of Birds Member, Grouch Diner Patron, additional MuppetsPerformer
1990Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesLeonardoFacial assistant
1999The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandTelly Monster, Laundromat Manager, Little RickyPerformer
2008A Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaCrazy Harry, additional MuppetsPerformer, voice

Television

Year(s)ProductionRoleNotes
1981–presentSesame StreetTelly Monster (1984–present), Mr. Snuffleupagus (1981–present), Slimey the Worm, Buster the Horse, Irvine, Mrs. Grouch, Dicky Tick, Vincent Twice, Old MacDonald, Freddy, additional MuppetsPerformer
1983Don't Eat the PicturesMr. SnuffleupagusPerformer; television special
1985Little Muppet MonstersRat, Cow, Walrus, additional MuppetsPerformer
1986The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 YearsTelly MonsterPerformer (uncredited); television special
1986The Tale of the Bunny PicnicFarmer, additional MuppetsPerformer; television special
1987A Muppet Family ChristmasAdditional MuppetsPerformer; television special
1988The TransformersPowermaster Optimus PrimePuppeteer (season 5)
1990The Muppets Celebrate Jim HensonTelly Monster, additional MuppetsPerformer; television special
1994–1996Allegra's WindowRiff, ClefVoice, performer
1996Elmo Saves ChristmasTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Santa's Elf, additional MuppetsPerformer; television special
1998The Wubbulous World of Dr. SeussThe Cat in the HatPerformer (season 2)
2002Between the LionsGrandpa LionPerformer, episode: "Out in Outer Space"
2009, 2013Late Night with Jimmy FallonMr. Snuffleupagus, additional MuppetsPerformer; 2 episodes
2013Good Morning AmericaTelly MonsterPerformer; 1 episode
2015Saturday Night LiveMr. SnuffleupagusVoice (uncredited)
2019–2023HelpstersMr. PrimmPerformer
2020The Not-Too-Late Show with ElmoTelly Monster, FreddyPerformer
2021Law & Order: Organized CrimeOctopusPuppeteer #1; 1 episode
2026The Muppet ShowSupporting Muppet PerformerABC/Disney+ special

Video games

Year(s)TitleRoleNotes
1994Sesame Street: NumbersTelly Monster, Mr. SnuffleupagusVoice role
1996Get Set to Learn!Telly Monster, Martian
1998The Three GrouchketeersTelly Monster
2001Sesame Street: Sports
Sesame Street: LettersTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus
2011Sesame Street: Once Upon a MonsterSlimey the Worm
2012Kinect Sesame Street TVTelly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Martian

Other appearances

Year(s)ProductionRoleNotes
1981Muppet Meeting FilmsPapa LuigiShort film
1982, 2003Little Shop of HorrorsAudrey IIPuppeteer in the original 1982 off-Broadway and 2003 Broadway productions
1988Jim Henson's Play-Along VideoCrocodile, Raccoon, additional MuppetsPerformer; direct-to-video series
2003Sesame Street 4-D Movie MagicTelly MonsterPerformer, theme park film

See also

External links