Elmo Facts: Read More About The Famous Sesame Street Character

Elmo is a self-described three-year-old furry red monster with an orange nose.

He's actually a global phenomenon! Elmo has starred in movies, been featured on TV shows, and even has his own amusement park ride.

Elmo was first introduced in 1980 on the well-known children's series 'Sesame Street'. Since then, the baby monster has become one of the most popular television characters among both children and adults.

Another name that is almost inseparable from Elmo is Kevin Clash, the person who performed Elmo's voice till 2012. Since then, Ryan Dillon took over the job of performing Elmo.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the life of Elmo and some of his most famous moments. We will also discuss why Elmo is so popular and how he has managed to stay relevant for over 30 years. So, if you're curious about Elmo, be sure to read on!

Personality Of Elmo

The character of Elmo has been adored by almost everyone, and since the '80s the love for this puppet monster has been rubbed off from generation to generation. So, let's see what exactly makes the character so adorable and loveable.

Elmo is known for his high-pitched voice and signature laugh, both of which are instantly recognizable to fans around the world.

He is also known for being very friendly and cheerful, which has helped him become one of the most popular 'Sesame Street' characters ever. Elmo loves making new friends and singing songs, and he always tries his best to make people smile.

Even though the little puppet monster is too young to get a job, he enjoys the concept of working and is often seen helping policemen, firefighters, and other public servants.

Inside his head, Elmo has constructed a different world with the help of his wild imagination. But that does not impede him in any way from interacting with the outside world, playing with the kids on 'Sesame Street', and sharing snacks with them. Elmo is also very fond of Dorothy, his pet goldfish.

Due to his young age, almost everything seems interesting to Elmo. However, this is also the reason why he gets bored quite frequently and is always on the lookout for something new.

But his age never bars him from developing good relationships with the people surrounding him.

It is true that sometimes big and loud things scare Elmo, but he always finds a way to cheer up. All in all, he is very friendly and kind, and that's what makes him a good friend, even to antisocial Oscar the Grouch.

Funny Facts About The Character

Thanks to Kevin Clash, we all have enjoyed this delightful puppet character who made our childhood memorable. Here are certain funny facts related to Elmo that every 'Sesame Street' fan should know.

Did you know that Elmo was just an extra puppet in the early days of 'Sesame Street'? Can you believe that?! Back then our little muppet friend also did not have a distinctive personality.

During that period the red monster had a gruff voice and was performed by Richard Hunt. But he didn't like the character and tossed it over to Kevin Clash. It's funny to think how Clash changed the fate of Elmo forever.

To ask for funding of research in school and music education, our little puppet friend appeared before the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee in 2002. This incident made him the first nonhuman to testify before Congress.

Today, Elmo is very popular all over the world, including most of the Western European countries, India, Mexico, and South Africa. It is interesting that Clash himself trained Kenta Mashumoto, the person who voiced Elmo in the Japanese language.

It is funny to see that Elmo, like most children of his age, does not possess adequate knowledge or skill to speak proper English.

Facts About The Voice-Over Actor

Clash provided Elmo's voice from 1984 to 2012 and won two Emmy Awards for his brilliant work. Clash is a talented puppeteer and voice actor, who has also voiced Elmo in many films and television shows other than 'Sesame Street'.

The 1996 blockbuster Elmo toy, known as 'Tickle Me Elmo', featured the voice of Kevin Clash. Later, Jim Henson expressed that he had wished to preserve Clash's voice in speaking dolls.

As a 'Sesame Street' fan himself, Clash's favorite character was Grover. However, in the 2010 documentary 'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey', he confessed that since the age of nine he had wanted to play the red muppet monster.

Clash created his first puppet at the age of 10 by using the lining of his father's coat. His parents were really impressed by his talent and always encouraged his creativity.

While he was in high school, Clash used to make puppets for 'Romper Room', a popular children's show.

Kevin Class started his television career in 1979 by working for national television shows. Some of them are 'Captain Kangaroo' and 'The Great Space Coaster'.

In 2006, Clash published his autobiography titled 'My Life As A Furry Red Monster'.

As a performer and the co-executive producer of 'Sesame Street', Kevin Clash has been awarded a total of 23 Daytime Emmy Awards.

FAQs

What is Elmo afraid of?

Like other children, Elmo is afraid of big and loud things. It is also said that he is scared of clowns.

How old is Elmo?

Elmo himself claims to be three-and-a-half years old.

Does Elmo have a girlfriend?

Even though there is no proper information available on this topic and though it seems that Elmo is too young to be romantically interested in someone, some believe that Abby Cadabby could someday become Elmo's girlfriend.

Who has voiced Elmo?

From 1984 to 2012, the great voice actor Kevin Clash played Elmo. But 2012 onwards, the character was voiced by Ryan Dillon.

Is Grover the Cookie Monster?

No, even though both of them are blue monsters, they are different from one another. They are also played by different actors. Grover is played by Eric Jacobson, and the Cookie Monster is played by David Rudman.

What is Elmo's mom's name?

Elmo's mother's name is Mae.

How many Elmos have there been?

Elmo belongs to a big family. The audience has already met Elmo's father Louie, his mother Mae, his country cousin Elmer, his aunt Jill, and his uncle Furgus Fuzz.