Elmo | Sesame Street

Elmo is a popular Sesame Street muppet who is three and a half years old and is known for his bright red color. He has appeared in various segments on the show, including "Elmo's World," "Elmo the Musical," and "Elmo & Tango's Mysterious Mysteries." In addition, he is the host of "The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo," which premiered in 2020. 

In this article, we will provide an introduction to Elmo and share some of his most popular videos on a single webpage.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

"Is Elmo a Muppet?" - Yes, Elmo is a Muppet. The term "Muppet" was coined by Jim Henson and is a trademark associated with the puppet characters he created. While Elmo is technically a puppet, he is also considered a Muppet due to his association with the Sesame Street and The Muppets franchises. While the term "puppet" can also be used to describe Elmo, the term "Muppet" is more commonly associated with him.

Elmo's Physical Characteristics

Elmo is a lovable and popular furry red Muppet character. He has two large eyes that are positioned on top of his head, a unique feature that he shares with the character Cookie Monster. This physical characteristic may contribute to their endearing appeal to audiences. Elmo's nose is designed to resemble an orange egg, which is another distinctive feature of his appearance. Overall, Elmo's physical appearance is a big part of his charm and has contributed to his enduring popularity among children and adults alike.

Elmo's voice is indeed created by the puppeteer using a technique known as falsetto, which involves intentionally raising the pitch of the voice to a high-pitched sound. This technique requires the puppeteer to manipulate their voice while speaking through the Elmo puppet, giving the character his signature high-pitched tone. It is not achieved through the use of computer-generated effects or manipulation. Elmo's unique voice is one of the key elements that contribute to his popularity and has become a recognizable and beloved feature of the character.

In episode 4274 of Sesame Street, which aired in 2011, Elmo's height was measured by Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints quarterback who made a guest appearance on the show. Elmo was measured to be 24 inches, or 61 centimeters, tall. This measurement has since become a known fact about the character and is often referenced in discussions about Elmo's physical characteristics.

Elmo's Potty Time

"Does Elmo have ears?": Of course he has ears. However, Muppets are not designed to accurately reflect the real world. For a glimpse of Elmo's ears, you can watch the "Elmo's World Ears" segment."

"Is Elmo a boy or girl?": Elmo is a boy. However, on "Sesamstrasse," the German version of Sesame Street, for a while, Elmo's name was changed to Elma, and the character was portrayed as a girl."

A Brief History of the Elmo Character and Casting

The character Elmo was designed by puppeteer and muppet designer Carol Wilcox in the late 1970s. This initial design had a wider head.

Elmo first appeared on Sesame Street in episode 1405 in the song We Are All Monsters. Elmo was first voiced by Brian Muehl. (1980–1984) In episode 1439, Elmo was polishing an H with a rag in his hand. Maria approaches him, but Elmo just mutters. Early in his career, Elmo was an unpopular character who couldn't speak but tried to communicate by muttering.

After Brian Muehl, Elmo was performed by Richard Hunt (1984–1985), but he was not as successful at performing Elmo. Following Hunt, Kevin Clash played Elmo and first voiced him in episode 2026 in 1985. Clash's unique performance style made Elmo a popular character. Clash performed as Elmo from 1985 to 2012.

Ryan Dillon voiced Elmo after Kevin Clash left the show in 2013. (2013 – present)

Elmo Saves Christmas

"Did Elmo go to jail? What Happened to the Guy Who Plays Elmo? : Several lawsuits have been filed against Kevin Clash, the previous puppeteer who voiced Elmo. Although the lawsuits were dismissed, Kevin Clash had to end his career on Sesame Street by resigning."

"What does Elmo Mean? : Elmo has no meaning in English. The word Elmo means helmet, protection in Italian."

Elmo's Family

Elmo has a large family due to his popularity. Elmo has a mother named Mae, a father named Louie, and a sister named Daisy. Elmo's cousins are Jesse, Pepe, Elmonosuke, Mimsy, Elmer, Chester and Phoebe Furchester-Fuzz. Elmo's uncles are Furgus Fuzz, Uncle Jack and aunts are Funella Furchester, Aunt Jill.

Elmo The Musical

"Does Elmo have brothers? : Elmo does not currently have a brother. He has a sister named Daisy. But Daisy did not appear in episodic appearances. At least until now. (2022)"

"Where does Elmo Live? : Elmo lives with his family on the 1st floor of a Sesame Street building. Ernie and Bert, who live in the basement of the building, are Elmo's neighbors."

"Where is Elmo's Mom? : Elmo's mother Mae is still on Sesame Street. But she doesn't appear much in the videos. Her most important role so far has been to provide informations about Covid 19 in Mae's Minute videos."

Elmo's World

Elmo's World is a segment that aired on Sesame Street between 1998 and 2012. The first episode of Elmo's World to air is Elmo's World Balls in episode 3786. Each episode has a different theme: shoes, dancing, friends, mouths, food, music... etc. 

There are other characters besides Elmo in the episodes that last 15-20 minutes on average. Dorothy, Elmo's pet goldfish, has a question in every episode. Mr Noodle (Bill Irwin) tries to answer these questions and usually succeeds after many failed attempts. In Mr Noodle's absence, Mr. Noodle's brother (Michael Jeter) and Mr. Noodle's sister (Kristin Chenoweth) fulfills this task.

A new five-minute version of Elmo's World aired between seasons 47 and 52. In this new version, the animated smartphone Smartie was also one of the characters.

Elmo's World Happy Holidays

"What happened to Mr. Noodle from Elmo?: Michael Jeter, who played the character of Mr. Noodle's brother Mr. Noodle, died of an epileptic seizure."

"Where to Watch Elmo's World? : You can watch Elmo's World videos for free at sesamstreetguide.com - Elmo's World (S 47 - 50) / Elmo's World (S 30 - 46)"

Elmo and Social Media

Elmo has a Twitter account like many other Sesame Street characters. On Elmo's twitter profile, in the personal information section, we encounter the following text: "Elmo's Elmo! Elmo lives on Sesame Street and was told to tell you that Elmo is official!"

Also, Elmo is the first Sesame Street character to have an Instagram account. Elmo states that his account run with the help of Elmo’s mommy and daddy.

Elmo's Christmas Countdown

"What is Elmo's Phone Number? : Sesame Street has developed an app for Elmo's calls. Elmo Calls by Sesame Street"

"Does Elmo Have a Girlfriend? : In episodes 3179 and 4032, Elmo falls in love with Gina and even wants to marry her. However, although not officially confirmed, Abby Cadabby is Elmo's childhood sweetheart. It is possible to see the harmony between these two in the video Elmo's Travel Songs and Games."

Illeism - Third Person Speech

Elmo usually speaks in the third person. This is also called illeism. Elmo doesn't say "I've come", he says "Elmo has come".

"Why does Elmo talk in third person? : It's about character creation. Each character in Sesame Street has their own unique characteristics. This makes one muppet different from the others."

Elmo's Pets and Toys

Elmo had goldfishes called Barkley in the late 1980s and Bubbles in the 1990s. Bubbles' death made Elmo very sad. So Miles and Telly gifted him a goldfish called Miles-Telly. In 1998, Elmo got the goldfish Dorothy. He also has a puppy named Tango since 2021. Since 1986, Elmo's favorite toy has been Baby David.

"Who is Elmo's Best Friend? : Sesame Workshop answered this question: Elmo's best friends are Zoe and Abby, and also his pet goldfish Dorothy."

"When was Tickle Me Elmo Invented? : The Tickle Me Elmo toy was invented by Ron Dubren in 1996. The toy was produced by Tyco."

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Elmo

Are Elmo and Cookie Monster related? : No, Elmo and Cookie Monster are not related.

Where to Watch Elmo? : Sesame Street episodes are currently airing on HBO Max. You can watch some episodes and special videos for free on our website. (sesamestreetguide.com)

What does Elmo Say? : "Elmo loves you!"

How Tall is Elmo in feet, inches, centimeters? : 24 inches, 60.96 centimeters, 2 feet.

What kind of creature is Elmo, is Elmo a demon? : He's not a creature or demon, just a monster.

What Animal is Elmo? : Elmo is not an animal. He represents a three and a half year old preschool boy.

Is Elmo an original Sesame Street character?: No, he's not one of the original Sesame Street characters. He joined the cast of the series long after 1969.

How Old is Elmo? : Although some sources say that Elmo is 3 years old, he is 3½ years old, according to the Sesame Street official statement.

Who Voices and Plays Elmo now? : Elmo has been voiced and played by Ryan Dillon since 2013.

When did Elmo Join Sesame Street? : In 1980, in Episode 1405

When was Elmo Created? : By Caroly Wilcox, in 1979.

When is Elmo's Birthday? : It's a paradox, but Elmo celebrates turning three and a half every February 3rd.

How Long has Elmo been Around? : He's been around for over 40 years.

Is Elmo Real? : It's not real, it's just a muppet created by fiction.

What Color is Elmo? : He is red. Only his nose is orange.

When did Tickle Me Elmo Come Out? : Tickle Me Elmo was released in July 1996.

What is Elmo's Fish Name? : Since 1998 Elmo has owned a goldfish named Dorothy. The names of Elmo's previous goldfish are: Barkley, Bubbles, Miles-Telly.

How to do Elmo Voice? : Elmo's voice is made with a fake voice as a result of the puppeteer's high pitch.

When was Elmo Born? : Elmo was born on February 3, 1980.

What is Elmo's Last Name? : Elmo doesn't have a specific last name. But in general, Elmo's last name is monster.

What Color is Elmo's Nose? : It is orange.

Was Elmo on Sesame Street? : He wasn't always on Sesame Street. He joined after 1980.

When did Elmo's World Start? : Elmo's World started in 1998 with the Elmo's World Balls segment, which appeared in the 3786th episode in the 30th season.

Elmo Pictures