Peter Friedman (b. 1949) is an actor who puppeteered on The Muppet Show, appearing in five episodes in the first season and five more (one uncredited) during the show's third season. While he often performed minor roles (usually singing) and right-handing, his most notable performance on the series was as the Seven-foot-tall Talking Carrot who sang "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" with Gilda Radner. He also spent a brief stint on Sesame Street during Season 8 and Season 9, as the back end of Mr. Snuffleupagus.[1]
Before and after his Muppet work, Friedman performed on Broadway in New York, understudying and playing supporting roles in such 70s productions as The Visit and Molière's Don Juan. He later played leading roles in 1998's Ragtime (receiving a Tony Award nomination for originating the part of Tateh) and the 2004 revival of Twelve Angry Men (as the bigoted Juror #10). TV work includes regular roles on Succession and The Path and appearances on Miami Vice, Without a Trace, NYPD Blue, and Law & Order. Film credits include such semi-independent films as I Shot Andy Warhol and I'm Not Rappaport (with Walter Matthau) as well as the mainstream action film Paycheck (with Aaron Eckhart).
Muppet credits[]
- The Muppet Show
- Episode 111: Lena Horne: Lead Raggmopp
- Episode 112: Peter Ustinov
- Episode 113: Bruce Forsyth: Jugband Fiddler
- Episode 114: Sandy Duncan: Banana, Crocodile
- Episode 115: Candice Bergen: Andre
- Episode 302: Leo Sayer
- Episode 303: Roy Clark: Lead Singing Fireman
- Episode 304: Gilda Radner: Seven-foot-tall Talking Carrot
- Episode 305: Pearl Bailey
- Episode 306: Jean Stapleton: Dancing Couple (uncredited)
- Sesame Street: Mr. Snuffleupagus (back end), Two-Headed Monster (right half, 1978 sketch), banana in "Bilingual Fruit Song" (singing voice only), doctor and baker in Episode 0949, Fowler Scowler, contractor in Episode 0956 (on camera), camel in Episode 1183