Born on September 17, 1960, this American puppeteer, director, and producer is renowned for his work with the Jim Henson Company and as the original performer of Elmo on "Sesame Street." Starting his career in Baltimore, he quickly rose to prominence through his work on "Captain Kangaroo" and "The Great Space Coaster." His portrayal of Elmo earned him multiple Emmy Awards. Despite stepping down from "Sesame Street" in 2012, his legacy in puppetry remains influential.