Tau Bennett (b. December 11, 1999) is a puppeteer who began his career as a protégé of Kevin Clash. Bennett's initial meeting of Clash was featured in the documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey; the invitation came from Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, who met Bennett in Atlanta, and was reminded of Clash.
Bennett puppeteered Baby Bear on the Sesame Street float in the 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He makes a cameo in Episode 4310, holding Clash's dog Puna.
At the 2016 Vulture Festival, Bennett puppeteered J. G. in an onstage puppet workshop and demonstration alongside Steve Whitmire (as Kermit the Frog), Eric Jacobson (as Animal), Peter Linz (as a dog), and other audience members (as Whatnots). The group lip-synced to Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping."
In October 2016, Bennett participated in a puppeteer workshop taught by Matt Vogel, Marty Robinson, and Peter Linz in New York City for Sesame Workshop. He officially joined Sesame Street as an assistant Muppet performer starting with season 48, including assisting Jennifer Barnhart as Rosita's Abuela for Episode 4801. He puppeteered Bert in the 2016 Macy's Parade. He was also present at the Muppet Lounge during the 2017 broadcast of episode 4 of Below the Frame, bringing one of his cartoons to show Caroll and Debi Spinney.
Bennett first received on-screen credit as a Sesame Street performer in season 49. His first speaking part on the series was an enthusiastic Anything Muppet audience member in Episode 5005.[1] He was later given a prominent role as Gabrielle's cousin Tamir.
Outside of his work with Sesame Street, Bennett has his own troupe of surrealist puppet characters, labeled under the name Cold Sober.
External links[]
- Lynn Davidson, "Young puppeteer heads to New York for 'Sesame Street' debut," The Augusta Chronicle, March 18, 2011.
Sources[]
- ↑ Tau Bennett on Instagram, October 15, 2020
- ↑ 4310 script.