Ryan Dillon

Ryan Dillon
Born (1988-05-25) May 25, 1988 (age 36)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationPuppeteer
Years active2005–present
EmployerThe Jim Henson Company
Known forThe voice of Elmo

Ryan Dillon (born May 25, 1988) is an American puppeteer. In 2013, he began playing Elmo on Sesame Street. Dillon has worked as an ensemble muppeteer for the Jim Henson Company since 2005.[1] He also played Cooper and Paul Ball for the interactive series Sesame Street TV for Xbox Kinect, and appeared on all four seasons of the new CBeebies and co-productions of Sesame Street, The Furchester Hotel, and The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo as Elmo.[2] In March 2017, Dillon was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming.[3][4]

Background and career

Dillon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a young puppeteer, Dillon came to the attention of Sesame Street producers when he went to an audition as a high school student.[citation needed] He took time off from school during his senior year to participate in the shooting for season 37 in 2005. In 2013, he succeeded Kevin Clash as the performer for Elmo in new productions and appearances following his resignation from Sesame Street in November 2012. He also replaced the late Richard Hunt as Don Music in Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary tribute.[citation needed]

Dillon has taught classes in television puppetry at Pennsylvania State University, and various schools and centres in the United States.[5] In addition to playing Elmo, Dillon has appeared on Kraft MilkBite commercials, "Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me," "Little Children, Big Challenges," "Little Discoverers: Big Fun With Science, Math and More," Julie's Greenroom, The Muppets Take the Bowl, The Muppets Take the O2, the Nickelodeon webseries "Ask Sylvia" as the title character, and John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean (2010).[citation needed]

Filmography

Years Title Role Notes
2013–present Sesame Street Elmo
2014–2017 The Furchester Hotel Elmo, Guinea Pig (ep. 12), Mail Bird (ep. 68), Christmas Elf on Phone (ep. 68), Mr. Peckwood (ep. 74), Cat Bride (ep. 96)
2016 The Toycracker: A Mini-Musical Spectacular Elmo TV short; uncredited
2020 Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration Don Music, Elmo, Lefty the Salesman, Roosevelt Franklin (puppetry only)
2020–2021 The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo Elmo
2022–present Mecha Builders Mecha Elmo

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2023 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Puppeteer Performance Sesame Street Won [6]

References

  1. ^ Ng, Gwendolyn (5 October 2017). "Meet Ryan Dillon, the new man behind Sesame Street puppet Elmo". Star2.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Ryan Dillon". Puppeteer Bios. Sesame Street. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ryan and Elmo Red Carpet Interview". DailyMotion. May 7, 2016. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  4. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 22, 2017). "Daytime Emmy Nominations: 'Young and the Restless' Tops List; THR Scores Nom". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "Ryan Dillon Resume". DillyPuppets.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  6. ^ Coates, Tyler (November 2, 2023). "Children's & Family Emmy Awards: Disney Dominates Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
Preceded by Elmo performer
2013–Present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Don Music performer
2019–Present 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Lefty the Salesman performer
2019–Present 		Succeeded by
None