About Me
"If you don't dig sore arms, don't work with
puppets. I've got a solution. When my right arm gets sore, I go out to a
court and shoot left-handed baskets. That gets my left arm sore."
We knew Richard well. Always prepared to perform at the drop of a hat. from his beginnings in high school, to his days scripting television and directing up and coming Muppet performers, always and ever shall be a shining star , always with a crooked toothed grin,and clever retort....Richard Hunt was born and raised in New Jersey within a family of performers. Soon after graduating from high school he auditioned for the Muppets because he was a fan, not due to any experience as a puppeteer. Hunt partook in the Henson workshop productions and assisted with various guests and performers. He then began working on Sesame Street and in 1972 Hunt became a regular member of Henson Associates ( HA ). During his time with the Henson Associates, Hunt worked on "Sesame Street," "The Muppet Show," "Fraggle Rock," as well as many television specials, videos and movies.During his first few seasons on Sesame Street, Richard assisted other puppeteers with characters ( performing the other hands of certain characters, the back half of Mr. Snuffleupagus, Walking backwards, monitor strapped to his belly, cueing the 'primary' muppeteer, while moving the tail) or performing characters to pre-recorded tracks, in many of which he sang lead. Hunt quickly became one of the main performers, with favorites as Sully, Gladys the Cow, Don Music, and Forgetful Jones.While a main performer on the show, none of Richard Hunt's Sesame Street characters became major characters with the immediacy of characters like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Elmo, Although Richard first performed the character, and it's obvious his cast boasts core fan favorites. The theme itself is a fine example of how valuable his contibutions became.Hunt would often perform in Sesame Street productions (such as Christmas Eve on Sesame Street and Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) where he didn't perform any voices.Richard served as a mentor to newer puppeteers. When a new puppeteer joined the Sesame set, Richard was the first to haze and initiate them into the group. Despite this, Richard always took new puppeteers to lunch, as well as anyone on the set who wanted to join him. He was known to often read the newspaper as he was performing a character and doing that character's lines.Sometimes, Richard Hunt would perform a character ordinarily played by another puppeteer, assuming the voice and personality of whichever puppet was on-hand, commonly on camera, Piggy and Sam the Eagle are obvioulsy completely performed by Richard on the Muppet show on occasion.
He appeared on-camera in the film Oxford Blues as Larry.
He directed the Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along home video release
His performance in Trading Places as Wilson,the Dukes' stockfloor runner, is rather memorable, and a key clue to the charm on which Richard built his carrer.
Every time we laugh at Junior Gorg, groove along with Janice, and heckle right along with Statler... He's There.
From the tributes by the Muppeteers, to the on-screen appearances, there are wonderful quotes by and about Richard. Reading what he had to say, and what others have to say about him has been an indescribable experience. If anything, they show us what kind of a man the world is missing…
