Gabriel Velez is a puppeteer and actor who has worked periodically on Muppet projects since the early 1980s. Velez also puppeteered Junior Gorg in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route.[1]
Velez had never puppeteered before joining the Jim Henson Company. In Henson puppeteer workshops starting in the 1980's he was taught and trained in the art of puppetry by Richard Hunt, Jane Henson, Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Kermit Love and Caroll Spinney.
In-house company training and Velez's ability to mimic voices has led him to audition for opportunities to backup the established Muppet characters.
Henson Credits
- Sesame Street: Osvaldo, el Gruñón
- Muppet Meeting Films
- The Muppets Take Manhattan
- A is for Asthma: Dani
- Elmo's Christmas Countdown
Non-Henson Credits
- Pappyland: Turtle Lou
Notes
Velez, Ron Mueck and Shari Weiser were placed in an acting class by Jim Henson, and taught by Cheryl 'Gates' McFadden