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Rick Lyon

Richard S. Lyon (born February 25, 1958), known professionally as Rick Lyon, is an American , , voice artist, and puppet designer renowned for his contributions to children's television, theater, and film, including long-term work on and creating the puppets for the Tony Award-winning musical . Born in , Lyon developed an early interest in performance and , enrolling at in 1976 initially as a music performance major before switching to theater in 1977. He further honed his skills in through studies at the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts in and the Institut International de la Marionnette in . During his time at Penn State, Lyon created and performed in a children's educational puppet show as part of the university's outreach program, presenting it at over 100 schools in the early 1980s while building puppets, writing songs, and designing stages. Lyon's professional career began in earnest after meeting in 1986, leading to his role as a and work with the Creature Shop. He joined beginning with 20 in the fall of 1988 as a , contributing for over 15 seasons through 33 and voicing characters in related projects like from 1998 to 2009. In film, he served as an animatronic for the original live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) and (1993). His television credits also encompass Bear in the Big Blue House, , on , and puppetry for shows like The Late Show with , as well as contributions to networks including , , , , , and . In theater, Lyon achieved significant acclaim as the puppet designer and captain for Avenue Q, conceiving and building every puppet for the production that premiered Off-Broadway in 2003 before transferring to Broadway, where it won three Tony Awards including Best Musical. He performed in the original cast as characters such as Nicky, Trekkie Monster, and the Bad Idea Bears, and continued in the role during its runs in London, Las Vegas, and the U.S. tour, overseeing the creation of over 300 puppets across its 15-year run. Other stage work includes MuppetVision 3D at Walt Disney World and puppetry for episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, where he portrayed the character Mo-Mo. Based in the area, Lyon founded The Lyon Puppets, a company through which he designs, builds custom puppets, writes scripts, and composes music for various television, film, and live projects. His multifaceted career spans more than three decades, emphasizing innovative in educational and entertainment media. As of 2025, Lyon continues to engage with the puppetry community, including participating in panels at events like .

Early life and education

Early life

Rick Lyon was born on February 25, 1958, in , where he spent his childhood. Growing up in , Lyon developed an early interest in music and performance, including playing the , which he pursued as a young musician before college. He also gained exposure to through local influences, though specific details about his upbringing remain limited in available records. Lyon's fascination with puppets began in childhood during the mid-1960s, sparked by an "aha moment" while watching Jim Henson's on a , which he described as "weird, abstract, funny." Inspired by Henson's work, he began creating his own puppets using household items from his home and basic techniques, self-teaching the craft without formal training during his pre-college years. This early experimentation laid the foundation for his lifelong passion for and performance.

Education

Rick Lyon enrolled at in 1976, initially pursuing a major in music performance with a focus on at the School of Music. He switched to a theater major in , and his involvement in university theater productions ignited his passion for . He studied theater at Penn State, crediting the supportive theater department and exceptional professors for providing a strong foundation in acting and performance techniques essential to his later career. During his time there, Lyon created and performed in a children's educational puppet show as part of the university's arts outreach program, presenting it at over 100 schools in the early while building puppets, writing songs, and designing stages. Building on his undergraduate training, Lyon pursued specialized studies in puppetry at the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts in Waterford, Connecticut, where he honed technical skills in puppet construction and manipulation. He further advanced his expertise through training at the Institut International de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mézières, France, gaining international perspectives on marionette techniques and the broader art of puppetry. These programs collectively equipped him with the interdisciplinary skills in acting, design, and performance that became central to his professional development as a puppeteer.

Career

Sesame Street

Rick Lyon began his tenure as a puppeteer on in the fall of 1987, contributing to the show for 15 seasons through Season 33 (2002–2003). During this period, he performed a variety of background and supporting roles, operating such as monsters, grouches, animals, letters, and vegetables, often stepping in for lead characters when primary performers were unavailable. His work included assisting with , a key character operated by , which allowed him to engage directly with the show's foundational techniques. Lyon's puppeteering extended to specific segments and episodes, showcasing his versatility in educational content. For instance, he operated a background cow Muppet and a in Episode 3976, contributing to the lively farm-themed scenes that reinforced learning objectives. He also performed in segments, where his handling of supporting puppets helped illustrate concepts like daily routines and emotions for young audiences. Additionally, Lyon puppeteered roles including in the 1999 special , a -themed adaptation of that blended storytelling with moral lessons on kindness and perseverance. Throughout his Sesame Street run, Lyon collaborated closely with , integrating their Muppet-style into the production to maintain the show's signature whimsical and expressive aesthetic. This long-term involvement not only refined his lip-sync and skills—honed through imitation of Jim Henson's methods—but also fostered his growth as a performer by providing consistent opportunities to adapt for educational narratives. His contributions helped sustain the program's innovative use of puppets to engage children in topics like and , influencing the evolution of television in children's media.

Broadway and theater

Rick Lyon made his Broadway debut in the 2003 musical Avenue Q, where he originated the roles of puppeteer and voice for Nicky, Trekkie Monster, and one of the Bad Idea Bears. The production opened on July 31, 2003, at the John Golden Theatre and became a landmark for its innovative blend of human actors and puppets addressing adult themes. Lyon's performances contributed to the show's critical acclaim, running for 2,534 performances on Broadway until 2009. Lyon designed and built all the puppets for Avenue Q, drawing on his expertise to create characters that integrated seamlessly with live theater. His company, The Lyon Puppets, adapted and constructed puppets for subsequent productions, including the 2005 Las Vegas residency at the Wynn Hotel, the 2006 West End transfer to London's Noel Coward Theatre, the first American national tour, and various international stagings in Australia, Japan, and elsewhere. These designs emphasized durable, expressive rod puppets that allowed for dynamic stage movement and audience interaction. Avenue Q won the 2004 , along with two other Tonys, highlighting the production's as a fresh innovation in musical theater that revitalized the form through satirical, puppet-driven storytelling. Lyon's contributions were further recognized with the 2004 Outer Critics Award for Outstanding Puppet Artistry and the 2003 Lucille Lortel for the run. Beyond , Lyon served as a in the Disney theme park attraction , performing characters including Rick the Camera Operator, Penguin, Fish, , and Zoot in the 1991 production at . He also originated the role of in the 2001 BMI Musical Theatre Workshop presentation of Kermit, Prince of Denmark, a Muppet parody of Shakespeare's written by and .

Film work

Rick Lyon's film career began in the early , where he specialized in animatronic puppeteering for major productions, leveraging radio-controlled mechanisms and suit performances to bring fantastical characters to life in cinematic contexts. His work often involved close collaboration with suit performers and effects teams to synchronize movements under the constraints of shooting schedules, distinct from the live immediacy of . In 1991, Lyon served as the animatronic puppeteer for Tokka, the hulking mutant turtle antagonist in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, operating the character's expressive head mechanisms during action sequences. He returned for the franchise's third installment in 1993, performing as the animatronic puppeteer for in , where he controlled the turtle's head to convey nuanced expressions alongside the suit actor's physical movements. These roles highlighted his expertise in , a technique that required precise programming of servo motors to achieve lifelike facial animations in a environment. Lyon expanded his film contributions in 1994 with , where he puppeteered the animatronic Mrs. Rockchewer, a rock-like creature, during an extended production in that demanded months of on-set performance to integrate the puppet with live-action footage. Three years later, in 1997's , he handled face puppeteering for the Redgick Baby—an alien infant creature—using radio-controlled mouth operations, and contributed as an uncredited New York City puppeteer for additional street scenes. Later credits include puppeteering sheep characters in the 2004 Corn, shot on a farm amid challenging outdoor conditions to depict genetically modified agricultural themes. Lyon's early training with on television projects equipped him with foundational skills in puppet synchronization that proved adaptable to the more technically demanding scale of film .

Television and other media

Rick Lyon has contributed to a wide array of television projects across multiple networks, including , , , , , , , and , often serving as a and designer. His work extends his expertise from children's programming to variety shows, pilots, and late-night comedy sketches, showcasing his versatility in live-to-tape and broadcast formats. In children's television, Lyon performed as a on 's The Book of Pooh (2001–2003), where he operated characters in the Bunraku-style puppetry format alongside other performers. He also contributed to Bear in the Big Blue House (1997–2006) on the same network, handling various roles in the Henson-produced series. On , Lyon worked as a for Between the Lions (2000–2010), appearing in early episodes such as the 23rd and 28th. For , he portrayed Stick Stickly, the popsicle stick host, in specials like Stick Stickly Stuck! and Nick's New Year's Special, as well as segments within programming blocks including . Lyon served as the lead puppeteer for the first season of Comedy Central's Crank Yankers (2002), where he brought crank call characters to life through in the show's signature format. He also participated in pilots, notably performing as Omar in Nickelodeon's Me + My Friends (1998), a demo for a potential and character series. Additional pilot work includes Reality Theatre on and Feelings on , where he handled puppeteering and design coordination. More recently, Lyon has appeared multiple times on CBS's The Late Show with (2015–present), providing custom puppets and performing in comedic sketches, including parodies of iconic characters such as and . These segments highlight his ability to blend with adult-oriented .

Puppet design and production

Rick Lyon founded The Lyon Puppets, a specializing in the and construction of puppets for , and theater, with a workshop based just outside in . The company focuses on creating handmade, one-of-a-kind puppets that meet high professional standards for quality, durability, and performability, often tailored to specific project needs. A cornerstone of the company's work is the design and fabrication of all puppets for the Tony Award-winning musical , which premiered on in 2003; these puppets, featuring innovative mechanisms for expressive movement, have been produced for the original production and licensed for use in stagings worldwide. Lyon's designs emphasize functionality for live performance, incorporating elements like removable arm rods to facilitate actor manipulation while maintaining character integrity. Beyond Avenue Q, The Lyon Puppets has built custom puppets for diverse media projects, including collaborations with major studios and networks such as , , , and . For instance, the company constructed the alien characters and Gert—a bickering husband-and-wife duo inspired by comedic archetypes—for 's "Alien Invasion" promotional interstitials, completing the builds under a tight deadline with a team that ensured professional-grade results. Lyon also contributes to the creative aspects of his productions by scriptwriting original content and composing music, with soundtracks for live shows recorded by his house , The Ripmeisters. This multifaceted approach stems from his evolution from a performing —beginning with roles on shows like —to a dedicated and fabricator, where he applies hands-on techniques in materials like fur, foam, and custom armatures to craft puppets that blend artistry with practical usability.

References

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    Rick Lyon - IMDb
    Rick Lyon was born on 25 February 1958 in Rochester, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), Teenage Mutant Ninja ...
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    Rick Lyon (Actor, Puppet Designer, Puppets) - Broadway World
    BIO. Originally from Rochester, NY, and now based in the New York City area, Mr. Lyon studied theatre at Penn State University, and puppetry at the Institute ...
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    Rick Lyon Bio
    I was a puppeteer on Sesame Street for over 15 years, was an animatronic puppeteer for two of the original live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films ...
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    'Sesame Street' and 'Avenue Q' puppeteer Rick Lyon reflects on time ...
    Oct 24, 2021 · A 15-season veteran of the show and creator of the puppets for the Broadway hit “Avenue Q,” he will tell you that Penn State is a good place to start.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
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    Rick Lyon - 54 Below
    A professional puppeteer practically since birth, Rick has worked in TV, film, theatre and everything in between. Favorite projects include Sesame Street, Bear ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
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    'Sesame Street' and 'Avenue Q' puppeteer reflects on time at Penn ...
    Nov 2, 2021 · Puppeter Rick Lyon, a 15-season veteran of "Sesame Street," credits much of his success to his time at Penn State.
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    Rick Lyon, man behind 'Avenue Q' - The Today Show
    Sep 30, 2003 · He studied theater at Penn State University and puppetry at the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts in Waterford, Conn., and the Institut ...Missing: education | Show results with:education
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    SESAME STREET, Seasons 20-33 (PBS), Puppeteer ; ELMO'S WORLD segments on SESAME STREET, Puppeteer ; THE BOOK OF POOH (Disney Channel), Puppeteer ; BEAR IN THE BIG ...Missing: involvement | Show results with:involvement
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    - **Start Year and Duration**: No specific start year or duration provided.
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    Rick Lyon (b. February 25) is a puppeteer and actor from Rochester, New York, who began working on Sesame Street in Season 20 and has performed in many projects ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
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    Jun 22, 2018 · While shows like "Captain Kangaroo" and "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" introduced him to puppets, his first experience with live puppets came when he ...Missing: roles | Show results with:roles
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    I created all of the puppets for AVENUE Q, and was in the original Broadway cast, originating the roles of Nicky, Trekkie Monster, one of the Bad Idea Bears, ...
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    Aug 24, 2004 · As the first cast member of the troupe, he brings his "Sesame Street" experiences and theatre background together nightly to perform as the ...
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    CREDITS; Film Work; Additional voices ... Animatronic puppeteer: "Tokka," Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, New Line Cinema, 1991 ...
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    Rick Lyon TMNT3
    NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD! HONEST! I had a blast puppeteering Donatello for TMNT 3. Donnie's animatronic head was particularly expressive, and the suit performer, ...Missing: credits | Show results with:credits
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    Tim Lawrence · Tim Lawrence. animatronic puppeteer: Splinter · Rick Lyon · Rick Lyon. animatronic puppeteer: "Donatello" / animatronic puppeteer: Donatello · Noel ...
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    Rick Lyon Film, NES III
    This is the only photo I have of the animatronic character I spent months performing in 1993 in Berlin -- Mrs. Rockbiter from The Neverending Story III.
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    MIB - Rick Lyon and The Lyon Puppets
    At left is a picture of the puppet I helped puppeteer for 1997's megahit MEN IN BLACK. Specifically, I operated the mouth, which was radio-controlled, ...
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    Rick Lyon Film -- CORN
    We shot our sheep puppet stuff on the Brodekker farm in northern New Jersey, surrounded by live sheep, lying out on the the fields in sweltering heat in late ...Missing: 2004 | Show results with:2004
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    The puppets are performed Bunraku-style (from behind, usually with three puppeteers performing one character), with the puppeteers in green from head to toe in ...
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    Based just outside New York City in NJ, we tour throughout the Northeast. To find out more about The Lyon Puppets, and to see more pictures of my puppets, click ...
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    All the puppets I build are handmade, one-of-a-kind custom-built puppets, made to high professional standards of quality and performability.
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    Rick Lyon -- Nickelodeon Puppets
    The Lyon Puppets recently built - in a huge rush - several puppets for the Nickelodeon cable network. I designed the two aliens pictured below, ...
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    Rick Lyon's Album -- The Ripmeisters
    The Ripmeisters! The house band for recording the musical soundtracks for my live puppet performances has come to be known as The Ripmeisters.