Bill Barretta

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Bill Barretta
Barretta in 2013
Born
Yardley, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
Occupations
  • Puppeteer
  • producer
  • writer
  • director
  • actor
Years active1991–present
FamilyGene Barretta (brother)[1]

Bill Barretta is an American puppeteer, producer, writer, director and actor, who is best known for providing the puppetry and voice of The Muppets characters such as Pepe the King Prawn and Johnny Fiama. He originated the role of Louie, Elmo's dad, on Sesame Street. Barretta also inherited the roles of Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, and Dr. Teeth after the death of The Muppets creator Jim Henson.

Career[edit]

Barretta has been performing with The Muppets since 1991, when he puppeteered the Sinclair family patriarch, Earl Sinclair, on Dinosaurs.[2] He later developed several new characters on Muppets Tonight, including Pepe the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, and Bobo the Bear.[2] He has been referred to as "muppet captain".[3][4]

Barretta has taken over several of Jim Henson's roles, such as Dr. Teeth, Rowlf the Dog, and Swedish Chef.[5][3] His muppet film debut was in the 1996 Muppet Treasure Island as Clueless Morgan.[6] He had several roles in Muppets from Space (1999)[7] and played the main puppet character Phil Phillips in The Happytime Murders (2018),[8] which won a Houston Film Critics Society best worst film award.[9]

For Sesame Street, Bill Barretta originated the role of Elmo's dad, Louie,[10] who was introduced in 2006. At first, Louie only appeared in a few direct-to-video specials, but he became a more regular character later on. Barretta based Louie's voice on Louis Prima's.[11] In 2010, Tyler Bunch took over the role after talking with Barretta. In an interview, Barretta explained that he had to fly to New York for every appearance on Sesame Street, so once Louie started to appear more often, it was much more practical for a New York-based puppeteer to take over the role.[11]

Barretta has produced two of the Muppets' television films, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005). Barretta also provided additional voices on Kim Possible. He performed in Muppets Most Wanted, where he also served as a co-producer.[12] Barretta also served as an executive producer on the ABC series, The Muppets.[13] In 2021, Barretta produced the special Muppets Haunted Mansion.[14] He co-created the 2023 The Muppets Mayhem,[15] which won an Emmy.[16]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Film credits
Year Film Role Notes
1995 Murder in the First Man on the Street Live-action role
1995 Born to Be Wild Gorilla Team Live-action role
1995 Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree Bear Puppeteer/voice
1996 Muppet Treasure Island Clueless Morgan, Blind Pew (puppetry; hands), Swedish Chef, Jacques Roach, Mudwell the Mudbunny (singing) Puppeteer/voice
1999 Muppets from Space Pepe the Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Bubba the Rat, The Swedish Chef, Rowlf the Dog, Cosmic Fish #2 Puppeteer/voice
1999 The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Additional Muppet performer Puppeteer
2002 Kermit's Swamp Years Croaker, Horace D'Fly, Roy the Frog, Turtle #2 Puppeteer/voice; Direct-to-video
2002 It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Pepe the King Prawn, Johnny Fiama, Bobo the Bear, Rowlf the Dog, Swedish Chef, Lew Zealand, Howard Tubman, additional characters Puppeteer/voice; TV movie
2005 The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Pepe the Prawn, Dr. Teeth, Johnny Fiama, Swedish Chef, Lew Zealand, Bubba the Rat, additional characters Puppeteer/voice; TV movie
2010 When Families Grieve Louie Puppeteer/voice; TV movie
2011 The Muppets Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the Prawn, Bobo, Swedish Chef Puppeteer/voice
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the King Prawn, The Swedish Chef, Big Mean Carl, Bobo the Bear, Carlo Flamingo, Leprechaun Security Guard, Baby Boss Puppeteer/voice
2018 The Happytime Murders[17][failed verification] Phil Phillips, Junkyard, Boar Puppeteer/voice

Television[edit]

Television credits
Year(s) Television Role Notes
1991–1994 Dinosaurs Earl Sinclair (in-suit performer), Nick (in-suit performer), Rabid Caveman, various characters Performer
1994 Jim Henson's Animal Show Armstrong the Chicken Hawk, Vernon the Grizzly, Baby Bear, Dullard the Aardvark, Jared the Tiger, Lazlo the Hyena, Randall the Zebra, Timothy the Owl, Vernon the Grizzly 7 episodes; Puppeteer/voice
1996–1998 Muppets Tonight Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Pepe the Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Big Mean Carl, Clueless Morgan, Howard Tubman, David Hoggselhoff, Zippity Zap, Snookie Blyer, Ernst Stavros Gropuer, additional characters Puppeteer/voice
1996 The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss Uncle Berklummer 1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2001 Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story Thunderdell TV-mini series; live-action role, 2 episodes
2002–2007 Kim Possible Jackie the Jackal, Jilly from Jersey, Motor Ed's 'Main Bro' Voice role
2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King Savage Commando TV mini-series; Live-action role
2006–2010 Sesame Street Louie (Elmo's dad) Puppeteer/voice in Episode 4160 and direct-to-video specials
2007 Tinseltown Bobby TV series short; Puppeteer/voice
Also director
2011 Saturday Night Live Rowlf the Dog 1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2012 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Dr. Teeth 1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2014 Piper's Picks TV Swedish Chef 1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2015–2016 The Muppets Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the King Prawn, Swedish Chef, Bobo the Bear, Big Mean Carl, Mahna Mahna, Howard Tubman, additional characters Puppeteer/voice
Also director; 1 episode
2015 Muppet Moments Rowlf the Dog, Bobo the Bear, Pepe the King Prawn TV series short; Puppeteer/voice
Also director
2017–2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Lonny DuFrane/Mr. Frumpus 3 episodes; Actor/Puppeteer
2018 Muppet Babies Dr. Teeth 1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2019 Drop the Mic Pepe the King Prawn 2 episodes; Puppeteer/voice
2020 Muppets Now Pepe the King Prawn, The Swedish Chef, Howard Tubman, Big Mean Carl, Dr. Teeth, Bobo the Bear, Bubba the Rat Also director and executive producer
2021 Muppets Haunted Mansion Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Johnny Fiama, Howard Tubman, Bobo the Bear, Big Mean Carl, Andy Pig, Bubba the Rat, Beautiful Day Monster, Clean Gene the Behemoth, Party Tomato Also teleplay and story by, and executive producer
2023 The Muppets Mayhem Dr. Teeth Also co-creator and executive producer

Video games[edit]

Barretta and Pepe in 2015
Video games
Year(s) Title Role Notes
2000 Muppet Race Mania Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Swedish Chef Voice role
2000 Muppet Monster Adventure Pepe the King Prawn, Swedish Chef Voice role
2003 Muppets Party Cruise Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Swedish Chef Voice role

Events[edit]

Event credits
Year Event Role Notes
2017 The Muppets Take the Bowl Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Bobo, Mahna Mahna Puppeteer/voice, live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–10
2018 The Muppets Take the O2 Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Bobo, Mahna Mahna Puppeteer/voice, live show at the O2, July 13–14
2021 The Muppets Christmas Caroling Coach[18][failed verification] Pepe the King Prawn Voice, theme park show at Disneyland during Disney Merriest Nights

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Hunt, Kristin (May 10, 2023). "Yardley native brings Dr. Teeth, the Swedish Chef and other Muppet characters to life". PhillyVoice. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Shane, Kryss (May 10, 2021). Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive Workplace: The Practical Resource Guide for Business Leaders. Routledge. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-000-38862-6.
  3. ^ a b Stamberg, Susan (November 21, 2011). "For Muppeteers, It Isn't Easy Being Invisible". NPR. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Bill Barretta explains how playing a Muppet is more than a funny voice, it's a state of mind". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Garlen, Jennifer C.; Graham, Anissa M. (January 10, 2014). Kermit Culture: Critical Perspectives on Jim Henson's Muppets. McFarland. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-7864-5375-7.
  6. ^ Radenhausen, Jim (May 18, 2023). "Muppets mania coming to Mahoning | Times News Online". Times News. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (July 14, 1999). "FILM REVIEW; Close Encounters of a Gonzo Kind". The New York Times. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Travers, Peter (August 24, 2018). "'The Happytime Murders' Review: Puppet Raunchfest Is Dead on Arrival". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Darling, Cary (January 4, 2019). "'The Favourite,' 'Roma' tie as Houston Film Critics' favorite films". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Tucci, Joseph (November 9, 2022). "CT puppeteer has ties with Elmo, Coldplay and stars in classic show on Disney+". CT Insider.
  11. ^ a b "Muppet Performer Bill Barretta on Pepe The King Prawn, Rowlf The Dog & His Epic Career!" – via www.youtube.com.
  12. ^ "Muppets Most Wanted: Press Kit" (PDF). The Walt Disney Studios. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 15, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  13. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 7, 2015). "ABC Orders Shondaland and Jenna Bans Dramas, 'Muppets' Revival, More". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  14. ^ "Muppets Haunted Mansion". Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  15. ^ Lee Lenker, Maureen (March 27, 2023). "'The Muppets Mayhem' is ready to jam in first look at new Disney + series". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 18, 2023). "'Sesame Street,' 'Muppets Mayhem,' Jack Black Among Winners at Children's and Family Emmy Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Hipes, Patrick (September 13, 2017). "Elizabeth Banks Joins Gang for 'The Happytime Murders'". Deadline. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  18. ^ "Video: The Muppet Christmas Caroling Coach Debuts at Disney Merriest Nites". laughingplace.com. November 11, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.

External links[edit]

Preceded by Performer of Rowlf the Dog
1996 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of The Swedish Chef
1996 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Dr. Teeth
2005 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Mahna Mahna
2005 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
None
 Pepe the King Prawn
1996 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
None
 Bobo the Bear
1996 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
None
 Carl the Big Mean
1996 – present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Lew Zealand
2002 – 2005 		Succeeded by
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