Bill Barretta

Last updated

Bill Barretta
BillBarrettaEmmyWin.jpg
Barretta in 2023
Born
Yardley, Pennsylvania, U.S. [1]
Occupations
  • Puppeteer
  • producer
  • writer
  • director
  • actor
Years active1991–present
Relatives Gene Barretta (brother) [1]

Bill Barretta is an American puppeteer, producer, writer, director, and actor, best known for his involvement with the Muppets. Barretta performs the Muppet characters Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear and Johnny Fiama, as well as inheriting the roles of Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, and Dr. Teeth from Jim Henson. He originated the role of Louie, Elmo's dad, on Sesame Street .

Contents

Career

Barretta began performing with The Jim Henson Company in 1991, as the body performer of 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]

Barretta has taken over several of Jim Henson's roles, such as Dr. Teeth, Rowlf the Dog, and Swedish Chef. [3] [4] His Muppet film debut was in the 1996 Muppet Treasure Island as Clueless Morgan. [5] He had several roles in Muppets from Space (1999) [6] and served as Muppet captain on The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted . [4] [7] He 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] in 2006. At first, Louie only appeared in a few direct-to-video specials, becoming a regular character later on. Barretta based Louie's voice on Louis Prima's. [11] In 2010, Tyler Bunch took over the role after consulting 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 served as a producer on various Muppet projects, including It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005). In 2014, he served as a co-producer on Muppets Most Wanted. [12] He also served as an executive producer on the ABC series, The Muppets . [13] For Disney+, Barretta produced Muppets Haunted Mansion [14] and co-created The Muppets Mayhem, which won a Children's and Family Emmy Award in 2023. [15] [16]

Filmography

Film

Film credits
YearFilmRoleNotes
1995 Murder in the First Man on the StreetLive-action role
1995 Born to Be Wild Gorilla TeamLive-action role
1995 Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree BearPuppeteer/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 #2Puppeteer/voice
1999 The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Additional Muppet performerPuppeteer
2002 Kermit's Swamp Years Croaker, Horace D'Fly, Roy the Frog, Turtle #2Puppeteer/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 charactersPuppeteer/voice; TV movie
2005 The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Pepe the Prawn, Dr. Teeth, Johnny Fiama, Swedish Chef, Lew Zealand, Bubba the Rat, additional charactersPuppeteer/voice; TV movie
2010When Families GrieveLouiePuppeteer/voice; TV movie
2011 The Muppets Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the Prawn, Bobo, Swedish ChefPuppeteer/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 BossPuppeteer/voice
2018 The Happytime Murders [17] [ failed verification ]Phil Phillips, Junkyard, BoarPuppeteer/voice

Television

Television credits
Year(s)TelevisionRoleNotes
1991–1994 Dinosaurs Earl Sinclair (in-suit performer), Nick (in-suit performer), Rabid Caveman, various charactersPerformer
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 Grizzly7 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 charactersPuppeteer/voice
1996 The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss Uncle Berklummer1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2001 Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story ThunderdellTV-mini series; live-action role, 2 episodes
Also writer
2002–2007 Kim Possible Jackie the Jackal, Jilly from Jersey, Motor Ed's 'Main Bro'Voice role
2006Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen KingSavage CommandoTV mini-series; Live-action role
2006–2010 Sesame Street Louie (Elmo's dad)Puppeteer/voice in Episode 4160 and direct-to-video specials
2007TinseltownBobbyTV series short; Puppeteer/voice
Also director
2011 Saturday Night Live Rowlf the Dog1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2012 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Dr. Teeth1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2014Piper's Picks TVSwedish Chef1 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 charactersPuppeteer/voice
Also director; 1 episode
2015Muppet MomentsRowlf the Dog, Bobo the Bear, Pepe the King PrawnTV series short; Puppeteer/voice
Also director
2017–2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Lonny DuFrane/Mr. Frumpus3 episodes; Actor/Puppeteer
2018 Muppet Babies Dr. Teeth1 episode; Puppeteer/voice
2019 Drop the Mic Pepe the King Prawn2 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 RatAlso 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 TomatoAlso teleplay and story by, and executive producer
2023 The Muppets Mayhem Dr. TeethAlso co-creator and executive producer

Video games

Video games
Year(s)TitleRoleNotes
2000 Muppet Race Mania Pepe the King Prawn, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Swedish ChefVoice role
2000 Muppet Monster Adventure Pepe the King Prawn, Swedish ChefVoice role
2003 Muppets Party Cruise Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Bobo the Bear, Johnny Fiama, Swedish ChefVoice role

Events

Event credits
YearEventRoleNotes
2017The Muppets Take the BowlPepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Bobo, Mahna MahnaPuppeteer/voice, live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–10
2018The Muppets Take the O2Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Bobo, Mahna MahnaPuppeteer/voice, live show at the O2, July 13–14
2021The Muppets Christmas Caroling Coach [18] [ failed verification ]Pepe the King PrawnVoice, theme park show at Disneyland during Disney Merriest Nights

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. ↑ 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.
  4. 1 2 Stamberg, Susan (November 21, 2011). "For Muppeteers, It Isn't Easy Being Invisible". NPR . Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ Radenhausen, Jim (May 18, 2023). "Muppets mania coming to Mahoning | Times News Online". Times News . Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  6. ↑ Van Gelder, Lawrence (July 14, 1999). "FILM REVIEW; Close Encounters of a Gonzo Kind". The New York Times . Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  7. ↑ "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.
  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. 1 2 "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.
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 [ broken anchor ]
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 [ broken anchor ]
1996 – present		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Lew Zealand
2002 – 2005		Succeeded by
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