Michael Earl (puppeteer)
Michael Earl | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California , U.S. | September 10, 1959
Other names | Mike Davis |
Occupation | Puppeteer |
Michael Earl (September 10, 1959 – December 23, 2015) was an American
History
Michael Earl (Davis) was born in
At 17 he attended a puppetry festival where he met
Earl mentored and/or coached many TV and film puppeteers, including Drew Massey, Kevin Carlson, Camille Bonora and James Murray. He served as a puppetry consultant to entertainment companies such as MCA/Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. and Disney, working one-on-one with the Vice President of Disneyland Entertainment to conceive, develop and write puppet- and non-puppet live events, including Haunted Passages on the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. In 1989 he co-wrote and directed 7 puppeteers operating 80 puppets in The Snow Queen at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles[citation needed].
Earl toured the U.S. giving concerts for children and their families, combining his talents as a singer, songwriter and puppeteer. He worked one-on-one with children and adults, teaching them puppet making and performance through such organizations as the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Mark Taper Forum/Music Center, California Youth Theatre, L.A.'s Best, Puppeteers of America, L.A. Inner City Arts, Beverly Hills Parks & Recreation, Kaiser Permanente, The Sycamores, L.A. Unified School District, Art Share L.A, Hollywood Arts Council and the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission. In 2002, Michael created the "Puppet Power!" program through California Youth Theatre,[2] where he taught, designed, co-built, directed and produced the first (and 2nd) annual Ivar Puppet Festival, involving 150 L.A. Unified School District teens from two different high schools building dozens of giant 15-foot puppets they performed at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood[3]'.
In 2008 Earl made a brief appearance on the Sky One observational documentary series
In 2010 he partnered with Roberto Ferreira to open Puppet School. In December of that year, they premiered a new original musical entitled, "It's a Monster World," where Earl performed live on-stage alongside his advanced students. Michael Earl continued to teach TV puppetry in Los Angeles and New York City (www.puppetschool.com), while writing and developing new entertainments that "encourage, instruct and strengthen children of all ages through the imaginative use of music and puppetry."
In May 2011, Puppet School premiered a sold-out run of another live stage show called "Puppet Jukebox" in Hollywood – featuring Earl and his advanced puppetry students. Also in 2011, Earl announced his plan to launch "TV Puppets Unplugged!" – a touring lecture/demonstration that features stories and film clips from his 30-year career. TV Puppets Unplugged! played at colleges throughout the US.
Personal life
Earl lived in Los Angeles, California.
Death
On December 23, 2015, he died at the age of 56 from colon cancer, which he had for three years since 2012.[4]
Filmography
Live action
- Team America: World Police – Lead Terrorists
- Men in Black II – Puppet Alien
- The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth[5] – Ms. Flossy, Mumfred the Mummy
- Geo Kids –
- Dinosaurs – Refrigerator Monster
- The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth – Ms. Flossy, Bunky, Thirstin the Cloud, Additional characters
- Ticktock Minutes – Dr. Ticktock
- Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! – Additional Muppets
- Sesame Songs: Rock & Roll – Additional Muppets
- The Jim Henson Hour – (Pilot) Additional Muppets
- Muppet Wildlife PSAs – Muppet Penguin
- Little Muppet Monsters – Muppet Penguin
- Sesame Street 20th Anniversary Special – Additional Muppet Performer
- The Muppets Take Manhattan – Additional Muppet Performer
- Mr. Mom – Mr. Snuffleupagus (Archive footage on TV)
- Simon – Commune Member
- UK Border Force – Himself
- John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together – Additional Muppet Performer
- Sesame Street – Mr. Snuffleupagus, Forgetful Jones, Slimey the Worm, Poco Loco, Honkers, Polly Darton, Leslie Mostley, Additional Muppets for three seasons (1978–1981)
- The Dark Crystal – Additional Muppet Performer (Puppet Test footage)
- was performing another one of their characters in the same scene.
- Theodore Rex – The Reverend
- The Phantom Tollbooth – Milo's Friend (uncredited)
- Funnybones – Dr. Ticktock
- GeoScout – Dr. Ticktock
- Media Mania– Mortimer Monster
- Life on Earth – Alien, MTV Music Video
- Fandango– Various paper bag puppets in movie theatre spots
- Rock Along with Bo Peep – Fleeter Mouse
Non-anime
- Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? – Ira Gation, Additional Voices
Visual effects
- Shrek – Motion capture Shrek body suit
References
- ^ "Puppetmaster Michael Earl on his roles in Sesame Street and The Muppets". Liverpool Daily Post. April 12, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- ^ Carpenter, Susan (February 12, 2004). "Handy man". L.A. Times. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- ^ "Fantasy Figures". Los Angeles Daily News. January 4, 2003.
- ^ "The Muppets, Sesame Street: Veteran Muppeteer Michael Earl Dies". December 28, 2015.
- ^ "The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth Review - Film Reviews Entertainment - Variety". www.variety.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007.
External links
- Michael Earl at IMDb
- Puppet School
- Muppeteer teaches art of making puppets
- Earl explores mind of Muppets maker. Archived 2012-02-28 at the Wayback Machine