David Rudman
Encyclopedia
David Rudman is a puppeteer, voice actor and producer, best known as a performer of many of Sesame Street
's Muppets
. He originated the role of Baby Bear, and has been nominated for two Emmy Award
s for his work replacing Frank Oz
in the role of Cookie Monster
. However, Oz still comes in to record new material with Cookie Monster occasionally.
Rudman also took over as Richard Hunt
's half of "The Two Headed Monster" after his death. He has also taken over two roles once held by Richard Hunt: Scooter
and Janice of Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
.
His first production was Rankin/Bass
productions such as Rudolph's Shiny New Year
.
He is currently the executive producer of Jack's Big Music Show
on cable TV's Nick Jr. channel, and performs the voice of Jack, the lead character. He is also the executive producer, co-creator, and director of Bunnytown
on cable TV's Playhouse Disney
.
Rudman was the speaker at the 2005 graduation ceremony for the Illinois Institute of Art—Chicago. http://www.ilic.artinstitutes.edu/news_detail.asp?nid=3513
He attended Highland Park High School
and graduated in 1981. He has been a speaker at the school's biennial Focus on the Arts program since 2003. He attended college at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. He continues to reside in Highland Park with his wife and three children.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
's Muppets
The Muppets
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
. He originated the role of Baby Bear, and has been nominated for two Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s for his work replacing Frank Oz
Frank Oz
Frank Oz is a British-born American film director, actor, voice actor and puppeteer who is known for creating and performing the characters Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show, Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover in Sesame Street, and for directing films, including the 1986 Little Shop of...
in the role of Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating phrases: "Me want cookie!", "Me eat cookie!", and "Om nom nom nom" . He often eats anything and everything, including danishes, donuts, lettuce, apples,...
. However, Oz still comes in to record new material with Cookie Monster occasionally.
Rudman also took over as Richard Hunt
Richard Hunt (puppeteer)
Richard Hunt was an American puppeteer best known as a Muppet performer. Hunt's Muppet roles included Scooter, Beaker, Janice, Statler, and Sweetums.-Early years:...
's half of "The Two Headed Monster" after his death. He has also taken over two roles once held by Richard Hunt: Scooter
Scooter (Muppet)
Scooter is a bespectacled character from The Muppets. In The Muppet Show he was the troupe's backstage "gofer". He was originally performed by Richard Hunt.-Characteristics:...
and Janice of Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem is the name of a Muppet rock band of The Muppet Show. Following The Muppet Show, they appeared in various Muppet movies and television specials, and have also recorded album tracks. Dr. Teeth and Animal were designed by Jim Henson, while the rest of the original...
.
His first production was Rankin/Bass
Rankin/Bass
Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. , also known as Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment, was an American production company, known for its seasonal television specials, particularly its work in stop-motion animation. The pre-1974 library is currently owned by Classic Media,while the post-1974 library is...
productions such as Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Rudolph's Shiny New Year is the 1976 stop-motion animated sequel to the 1964 television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, produced by Rankin/Bass.-Plot:...
.
He is currently the executive producer of Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show is a children's television program currently airing on the Nick Jr. television network. The show premiered on the same network on September 12, 2005...
on cable TV's Nick Jr. channel, and performs the voice of Jack, the lead character. He is also the executive producer, co-creator, and director of Bunnytown
Bunnytown
Bunnytown is a children's television series that airs on Playhouse Disney's block in the United States and Canada, as well as more than seventy other countries...
on cable TV's Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney
Playhouse Disney was Disney Channel's television block for programs aimed at entertaining preschool aged children, often airing as its own channel outside the United States. It was introduced in 1997 after Disney Channel's move to basic cable from premium cable, with a target audience of children...
.
Rudman was the speaker at the 2005 graduation ceremony for the Illinois Institute of Art—Chicago. http://www.ilic.artinstitutes.edu/news_detail.asp?nid=3513
He attended Highland Park High School
Highland Park High School (Highland Park, Illinois)
Highland Park High School, or HPHS, is a public four-year high school located in Highland Park, Illinois, a North Shore suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 113, which also includes Deerfield High School.Prior to the 1949–50 school year, the...
and graduated in 1981. He has been a speaker at the school's biennial Focus on the Arts program since 2003. He attended college at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. He continues to reside in Highland Park with his wife and three children.