Joey Mazzarino

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Joey Mazzarino
Born
Joseph Mazzarino

(1968-06-04) June 4, 1968 (age 55)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other namesJoe Mazzarino
Occupations
  • Puppeteer
  • writer
  • director
  • actor
Years active1986–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1997)​
Children2

Joseph Mazzarino (/mæzəˈriːnoʊ/; born June 4, 1968) is an American puppeteer, writer, director and actor. He is best known for his roles on Sesame Street as Murray Monster, Stinky the Stinkweed and other Muppets,[1] and being Head Writer and Director on Sesame Street, winning 22 Emmy Awards for his work.

Career[edit]

Former Muppet performer Camille Bonora influenced Mazzarino when she taught an improvisation class at his university, and eventually introduced him to Jim Henson. Mazzarino later became the head writer for Sesame Street and also worked on The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Muppets from Space, and Kermit's Swamp Years.[2]

When Mazzarino auditioned for Sesame Street, he wrote a sketch called "Colambo" and soon found himself cast in the title role. Afterwards, he became a prominent member of the Sesame Street cast, performing Horatio the Elephant, Ingrid, Murray Monster, Papa Bear, Stinky the Stinkweed, and various characters until 2015, when he resigned in response to the show's format change.

Mazzarino spent the next few years as a writer/producer on the Showtime original series Kidding starring Jim Carrey. He directed all 13 episodes of the Netflix series Julie's Greenroom starring Julie Andrews, where he also served as a writer. Mazzarino spent over 20 years on Sesame Street in multiple roles: Head Writer, Director, Lyricist and Muppet performer. He received 25 Emmy Awards for his work in multiple categories (Outstanding Original Song, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series).

Mazzarino is currently a writer for the PBS series from the Fred Rogers Company entitled Donkey Hodie and is about to begin his third season as a writer for the PBS animated series Nature Cat.

Personal life[edit]

Mazzarino is married to actress Kerry Butler.[3] They have two adopted daughters, one named Segi for whom he wrote the Sesame Street song "I Love My Hair". The Muppet who sang the song was also named Segi.[4]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Television[edit]

  • 30 Rock - puppeteer ("Apollo, Apollo")
  • Aliens in the Family – Spit (voice)
  • Big Bag – Chelli, Lyle the Sock
  • Blue's Clues – Boogie Woogie, Roary ("Blue's Room" segments)
  • Blue's Room – Boogie Woogie, Roary, Sprinkles (season 2)
  • CityKids – Captain (Inside the Head)
  • Dog City – Artie Springer
  • Donkey Hodie – Game Show Gator
  • Elmo's World – Big Foot, Brown Bunny (in "Elmo Has Two! Hands, Ears & Feet"), The Cheese, Papa Bear, Ingrid, Stinky the Stinkweed, Old McDonald, The Two Headed Monster (left-head)
  • Eureeka's Castle – Fluffy
  • Jack's Big Music Show – Spunky the Alien and Henry the Monster
  • Journey to Ernie – The Mighty Joke Tree, Sammy (squirrel), Artist Walrus, Penguin (voice), Kittens 2 and 3
  • Mo Willems: Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! — The Pigeon
  • Muppet Time – Icky No-No, Kirby, one of the Frog Scouts
  • Nick Jr. – Flexy ("Little Big Room" segments), Tube, Smelly ("Play Along" segments)
  • Nature Cat – Cruiser
  • Panwapa – Bill the Bug
  • The Planet Matzah Ball – Oogie
  • Sesame Street – Murray Monster, Blögg ("Abby's Flying Fairy School" segments), Colambo, Horatio the Elephant, Ingrid, Joey Monkey, Merry Monster, Narf, Old MacDonald, Papa Bear, Stinky the Stinkweed, Two-Headed Monster (left head, 2001–2016), The Fairy Godperson, Zostic ("Super Morphin Mega Monsters" segments), Redhead Caveman (Primitive segments)
  • Sheep in the Big City – General Lee Outrageous, Buddy Somebody, Count D'Ten
  • The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss – Elwood the Jester (in "The King's Beard"), Lester McBird (in "Lester Leaps In")
  • Team Umizoomi - Brachiosaurus (voice) (Uncredited)
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Pupazza
  • Gabby's Dollhouse - Catrat, DJ Catnip, Cakey Cat (season 2)

Crew work[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Interview With Sesame Street Head Writer Joey Mazzarino". April 5, 2015. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  2. ^ Hennes, Joe (February 23, 2009). "A Chat with Joey Mazzarino, part 1". ToughPigs.com. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  3. ^ Butler, Kerry (September 24, 2007). "Kerry Butler". Broadway Buzz (Interview). Interviewed by Kathy Henderson – via Broadway.com.
  4. ^ "'I Love My Hair': A Father's Tribute To His Daughter". NPR. October 18, 2010.
  5. ^ "WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 WRITERS GUILD AWARDS | Press Room". Writers Guild of America, East. February 8, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Awards / History / 2014". www.dga.org. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Awards / History / 2015". www.dga.org. Retrieved January 14, 2021.

External links[edit]

Preceded by
None
 Performer of Papa Bear
1992 - 2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Performer of Two-Headed Monster (left head)
2001–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
None
 Performer of Murray Monster
2005 - 2015 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
None
 Performer of Horatio the Elephant
1994–2016 		Succeeded by
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