Bob Payne, also credited as Robert Payne and known as "Bobby," was a college friend of Jim and Jane Henson. Payne first worked with the Muppets as a substitute puppeteer on Sam and Friends in 1958, while Jim Henson was in Europe. He subsequently designed and built several characters on The Muppet Show and other Henson productions, and served as an occasional performer at various times.
Payne received special credit as a historian on The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years. He also appeared in four 1974 episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as a puppeteer with Bob Brown's marionette company.[1]
Puppeteer credits
- Sam and Friends
- Mirinda commercials: Mirinda Craver
- Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall: Prancer
- The Muppet Show: "Scarborough Fair" Tumblers (with Kathryn Mullen, episode 511), Frogs (episode 523),[2] others (episode 314, episode 407)
- Sesame Street: Telly Monster (1979), Bertha, Chet, Cousin Monster (at least one sketch), Georgie, Judy Finstermacher, Mary Rhymie, Zebediah
- The Muppet Movie
- John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
- Muppet Meeting Films: Roll in "Meal Break"
- The Great Muppet Caper
- The Muppets Go to the Movies
- The Dark Crystal: Skeksis Historian (puppeteer)
Design credits
- Tales of the Tinkerdee: Palace Guard's helmet (later used for Super Grover)
- Sesame Street: built the original Telly Monster
- The Muppet Show: designed and built Mulch, Pinocchio, Punch and Judy Puppets, and others
- The Dark Crystal: Podlings fabrication team
- Fraggle Rock
Sources
- ↑ The Neighborhood Archive
- ↑ Finch, Christopher. Of Muppets and Men, 1981.