Kevin Clash was born and raised in Turner Station, Baltimore, Maryland. His father was a welder for metals company and his mother ran a daycare. He began making his own puppets when he was 10 years old and his parents encouraged his interests. As a teenager, he would perform on Baltimore Harbour Front.
His first job was as a pelican character for a local Baltimore show called Zep. He soon moved on to Wake up with the Captainas the puppeteer for Artie. From 1981-1986, he appeared on the Great Space Coaster, this was where he attracted the attention of Kermit Love, one of the Muppets puppeteers. He officially became a puppeteer on Sesame Street in 1984 (after a few brief stints on the show). His earliest puppets were Dr. Nobel Price and Hoots the Owl. Soon to include Baby Natasha, and Kingston Livingston III. Elmo became his main character after taking over from Brian Muehl and Richard Hunt. He changed some things about Elmo and made it his own. Some other notable characters were Baby Sinclar from Dinosaurs (NOT THE MAMA!) and Ambrosios and Fiery from Labyrinth.
Clash won Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series for his work as Elmo and Hoots the Owl on Sesame Street in 1990, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.
According to IMDB, Due to the merchandising deal he struck with toy manufacturers, he is the highest-paid Muppeteer ever. The "Tickle Me Elmo" doll, for instance, was one of the largest-selling dolls in history.
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