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Tim Lagasse

Tim Lagasse (born February 20, 1969) is an puppeteer, puppet designer, , , and filmmaker best known for his work in children's television programming, including performances on , Oobi, , and . Born in , Lagasse earned a in Puppet Arts from the , where he became the first recipient of the Memorial Prize in Puppetry in 1991. Over his career spanning over three decades, he has designed, built, and performed puppets for major networks and production companies, including , , , and . His notable roles include the title character Oobi in the Nick Jr. series Oobi (2000–2005), Crash in Disney XD's (2012–2014), and Scatter in the Apple TV+ series (2019–present). Additionally, Lagasse created and puppeteered short films for PBS's , earning three Daytime Emmy Award nominations for his contributions. Lagasse's accolades also include a Broadcast Silver and a of Excellence from the Union Internationale de la Marionnette for his artistry. He has directed projects such as the Bedfellas (2015) and serves as a puppeteering and educator, mentoring emerging artists worldwide. Residing in , , with his wife and cats, Lagasse continues to innovate in through cabaret performances, hand shadow acts, and custom puppet fabrication.

Early life and education

Early years

Tim Lagasse was born on February 20, 1969, in . As the oldest of four siblings, he grew up in a family with relatives across , including siblings in Wallingford, in an environment that fostered creativity through local resources like the Milford Public Library. From an early age, Lagasse developed a passion for magic, acting, art, and , often exploring these interests independently. He frequently visited the library to delve into books on puppets, magic tricks, and origami using the Dewey Decimal System, which helped nurture his hands-on curiosity about performance and crafting. His initial exposure to puppetry came through watching the premiere episode of , which ignited his fascination with how puppets operated mechanically. As a child, Lagasse experimented with puppetry by disassembling and reassembling his sister's dolls to understand their construction, foreshadowing his later skills in puppet design. During his pre-teen years at St. Mary's Catholic grade school and Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Connecticut, he participated in the Clown Ministry program, where he built his own puppets and performed entertaining skits at local hospitals to bring joy to patients. These activities, along with staging magic shows and delivering singing telegrams in a bear suit for small fees, highlighted his early inclination toward performative arts and crafting.

Education

Lagasse pursued formal training in at the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts Program, enrolling in 1987 and earning a (BFA) degree in 1992. His childhood fascination with , sparked by family viewings of , motivated this choice of study. The program's emphasized hands-on skills in puppet , fabrication, and , with core courses such as Materials Techniques (DRAM 3607/5605), which covered character , clay , and mold making; Rod Puppetry (DRAM 3603/5604), focusing on building and manipulating rod puppets; and Paper Sculpture (DRAM 3602/5602), utilizing methods like the Roser Papier Methode for creating performable puppets. Additional classes in Hand Puppetry (DRAM 3608/5610) and Marionette Construction (DRAM 5609) provided comprehensive training across puppet forms, integrating historical and theoretical foundations to develop well-rounded artists. Under mentors Frank Ballard, the program's founding director until 1990, and Bart P. Roccoberton Jr., who succeeded him, Lagasse honed his craft through intensive studio work and collaborative projects. His early talent was evident in student creations, culminating in his receipt of the inaugural Jim Henson Memorial Prize in Puppetry in 1991, awarded for excellence in puppetry work during his studies. The Puppet Arts Program's integrated approach to puppetry—as both an art form and a performative discipline—shaped Lagasse's design philosophy, emphasizing innovation in fabrication techniques and character development that blend functionality with expressive storytelling.

Career

Early career

Following his graduation from the University of Connecticut in 1992 with a BFA in Puppet Arts, Lagasse entered the professional puppetry field through entry-level design and performance opportunities that leveraged his academic training. His first paid gig came shortly after, when he designed and built the Bababooey puppet for The Howard Stern Show after answering a call to the UConn Puppet Lab seeking an inexpensive custom creation. In the early 1990s, Lagasse gained initial television experience as a on 's Eureeka's Castle (1989–1995), where he collaborated with emerging talents like , helping both establish their footing in children's programming . This minor role marked his entry into network television, building practical skills in live performance and character handling amid the show's whimsical, magical setting. Lagasse also pursued independent creative work that boosted his early reputation, producing the short-form series , which featured bare-handed sketches. Originating as a 40-minute live during his university years with assistance from fellow Puppet Arts majors, it evolved into a collection of one-minute shorts commissioned by in 1996, showcasing his innovative approach to simple, expressive puppet forms. These foundational efforts culminated in his first prominent on-screen role as the for Mr. Cook on Nickelodeon's (1994–1996), a series where he performed the friendly baker character, contributing to the show's interactive, song-driven format and solidifying his presence in children's television. Through such collaborations and gigs, Lagasse networked within the tight-knit community, including ties to producers and Henson Company affiliates, paving the way for broader opportunities in the field.

Children's television and puppetry roles

Tim Lagasse began his prominent work in children's television puppetry with the Disney series Bear in the Big Blue House, where he served as an ensemble puppeteer and performed the character Jet Setter Tutter, Tutter's adventurous uncle, from 1997 to 2006. His contributions included hand shadow performances and supporting the show's ensemble of Muppet-style puppets, utilizing techniques that integrated live-action elements with intricate rod and hand manipulations to bring the Woodland Valley characters to life. Lagasse also performed as Polka Dots and Dress Up Chest in Nickelodeon Jr.'s Blue's Room (2004–2008), serving as part of the ensemble in this interactive spin-off of Blue's Clues, where his puppetry supported imaginative play and educational segments for preschoolers. One of Lagasse's most innovative roles was as the title character Oobi in the Noggin/Nickelodeon series Oobi, which aired from 2000 to 2005. In this groundbreaking hand-puppet format, Lagasse voiced and puppeteered the curious four-fingered hand monster using minimalistic bare-hand designs augmented with ping-pong ball eyes on elastic bands for expressive facial movements, emphasizing mime and physical comedy to engage preschool audiences. This approach, building on his earlier experimental short films, highlighted puppetry's potential without elaborate costumes, allowing performers' hands to serve as the primary expressive tools. Lagasse also contributed to PBS's , an educational reading series that ran from 2000 to 2010, where he performed key segments from 2000 to 2010. He voiced and operated characters such as the pompous Barnaby B. Busterfield III, the energetic Gus the Bunny, and the scholarly Arty Smartypants, among various monkeys and supporting figures, employing a mix of rod and techniques to deliver humorous, literacy-focused skits. From 2000 to the present, Lagasse has been an ensemble puppeteer on , performing additional Muppet characters and segments that support the show's educational segments on letters, numbers, and social skills. His work involves versatile operation of classic Jim Henson-style puppets, often in group scenes or special inserts, contributing to the series' enduring appeal for young viewers. In a departure to live-action hybrid , Lagasse voiced and puppeteered the chaotic Crash in Disney XD's from 2012 to 2014. As the hyperactive, mischievous counterpart to the human Bernstein, Lagasse's performance combined energetic physical manipulation with vocal improvisation, using a soft puppet to interact dynamically with child actors in comedic scenarios.

Design and directing contributions

Tim Lagasse's design and directing work emphasizes innovative fabrication and creative leadership in educational children's programming, often integrating simple, expressive materials to enhance storytelling. For the series (2000–2010), Lagasse served as designer and segment director, where he built and sets for a series of award-nominated short films that promoted . These films, which he created and directed, earned him three Emmy nominations for outstanding achievement in technical or engineering development or for single camera editing. Notable examples include Vowel Boot Camp, a multi-part series he pitched and helmed to teach vowel rules through humorous ; Humongous; ; King Midas; and Roodles the Clown. His designs maintained a style consistent with classic , using durable fabrics and mechanisms for expressive animal and humanoid characters. Lagasse's earlier innovation in puppet design came with (1990s–2000s), a 40-minute live variety show he produced and directed featuring bare-hand mime puppets. Developed during his studies at the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts Program with assistance from fellow students, it debuted at the 1991 Puppeteers of America National Festival and received the 1992 UNIMA Citation for Excellence in the Art of Puppetry. A 2001 revival at HERE Arts Center in led to adaptations as Nickelodeon interstitial shorts, directed by Agi Fodor with additional puppetry by Jim Napolitano and . The show's fabrication relied on minimalistic hand techniques, emphasizing gesture and facial expressions without full costumes. In Oobi (2000–2005) on Noggin, Lagasse acted as puppet captain, overseeing the design and fabrication of the series' signature bare-hand puppets equipped with ping-pong ball eyes on elastic bands for dynamic movement. These simple yet versatile constructions, designed in collaboration with Robinson, allowed for nuanced performances that captivated young audiences. Lagasse served as puppet designer and captain for (2004–2008), where he fabricated most puppets (except Blue and Polka Dots), art directed the builds, and coordinated on-set to support the show's . As puppet captain and ensemble puppeteer for Netflix's The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell (2018), Lagasse contributed to the fabrication and performance of quirky, gothic puppets that complemented the show's blend of baking, crafts, and horror-themed humor. Lagasse worked as senior puppet fabricator for Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019), applying advanced techniques at the Jim Henson Creature Shop to build intricate puppets for the fantasy prequel series. Lagasse extended his directing and design expertise to (2019–2023) on Apple TV+, serving as puppet captain and segment director while performing as the character Scatter. In this role, he managed the fabrication of the show's puppets, ensuring they incorporated flexible materials for interactive, problem-solving segments aimed at preschoolers. From 2015 to 2018, Lagasse contributed to ABC's as an additional puppeteer, supporting performances in episodes like the musical collaboration "We Are Family" featuring . His broader work with includes designing and building puppets for various projects, applying advanced fabrication techniques to create durable, character-driven figures.

Recent projects

In recent years, Tim Lagasse has continued his work in children's television , serving as the performer for the character Scatter and as puppet captain on the Apple TV+ series , a production by that aired from 2019 to 2023. In this role, Lagasse also directed segments, contributing to the show's focus on problem-solving adventures featuring a team of monsters designed to engage audiences. Lagasse expanded his involvement with the Muppets franchise in 2023 as an additional muppeteer and wrangler for The Muppets Mayhem on Disney+, where he supported performances in multiple episodes of the musical comedy series centered on Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band. His contributions included puppet repair and on-set handling, drawing on his prior directing experience to ensure seamless integration of characters in the live-action format. Beyond these series, Lagasse has pursued freelance puppetry opportunities, including special appearances and independent short-form projects that highlight his skills in character fabrication and performance, though specific details on 2024–2025 productions remain limited in public records.

Teaching and mentorship

Academic roles

Tim Lagasse has taught at the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts Program, contributing to the training of future puppeteers through instruction in practical techniques. Additionally, he has delivered lectures and courses at the Foundation and the focused on performance and design, sharing insights from his extensive professional background.

Workshops and international work

Tim Lagasse has offered advanced on-camera intensives in , targeting participants with basic Muppet-style experience to refine monitor work and character development through practical exercises and one-on-one feedback. These sessions, limited to small groups, require attendees to bring their own puppets and submit video reels for selection, promoting professional growth in live and filmed . In 2012, Lagasse collaborated with International in as a and workshop trainer, focusing on therapeutic to aid emotional recovery following the 2010 earthquake. During his April visit, he trained local facilitators in construction and performance, enabling the creation of educational films that addressed , hygiene, and for children in disaster-affected areas. This initiative, part of ' broader mission to use for social good in crisis zones, involved Lagasse performing and directing puppets to deliver life-saving messages on health and emotional wellbeing, reaching thousands through community screenings and play-based outreach. In 2025, Lagasse co-led a three-day workshop on developing non-verbal, short-form puppet theater for slams with Amanda Maddock through the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry. Held over four sessions in August in Burbank, California, this in-person intensive explored concise storytelling and physical manipulation and was open to participants of all experience levels to create slam-ready pieces.

Awards and honors

Early recognitions

Tim Lagasse received his first major recognition in with the Memorial Prize in 1991, becoming the inaugural recipient as a student at the University of Connecticut's Puppet Arts Program. This award honored his innovative designs and performances developed during his BFA studies, marking the beginning of his acclaim in the field. In 1993, Lagasse was awarded the UNIMA Citation of Excellence in the Art of by the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA-USA), recognizing his emerging talent in creating engaging hand- narratives. That same year, he earned a Broadcast Silver Award from Broadcast Design International for his series of short independent films, , which showcased simple yet expressive hand-based characters in educational vignettes for . These honors highlighted Lagasse's early contributions to design and , establishing him as a promising innovator in contemporary during the .

Emmy nominations

Tim Lagasse received three Daytime Emmy nominations for his work on the PBS children's series Between the Lions, recognizing his innovative contributions to and production in . In 2003, at the 30th , he was nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Editing category for the puppet films he edited, sharing the nod with Vincent J. Straggas, Laura Cheshire, Therese Cafaro, and Kristi Kilkenny. This nomination underscored his skill in crafting engaging, fast-paced segments that integrated with literacy-focused to captivate young audiences. The following year, in 2004 at the 31st , Lagasse earned two additional nominations. He was recognized in the Outstanding Achievement in /Styling category for his puppet costume designs, collaborating with John Orberg, James J. Kroupa, and Michael K. to create vibrant, expressive characters that enhanced the show's whimsical aesthetic. Additionally, he received another nomination in Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera for segments, again shared with Jordan Montminy, Therese Cafaro, Kristi Kilkenny, and Vincent J. Straggas, highlighting his continued excellence in editing dynamic puppet performances. These nominations affirmed Lagasse's pivotal role in elevating Between the Lions as a benchmark for high-quality children's programming, boosting his profile in the industry and paving the way for expanded directing and design opportunities in educational media. His recognition for both technical editing and creative design elements demonstrated a rare versatility, influencing subsequent projects that prioritized innovative puppetry to promote learning.

References

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