Find a Grave Caroly Wilcox (1931-2021)

Caroly Wilcox
Personal information
Birth 16 May 1931
Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA
Death 9 Jan 2021 (aged 89)
New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA
Burial Cremated

Puppeteer

She began working with The Muppets in 1969, and was director of the New York Muppet workshop. She designed, built, and performed characters for Sesame Street, including the Yip-Yips and an early version of Elmo, from its launch in 1969 until her retirement in 2012.

She also worked on The Muppet Show (1976–1981), Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977), Fraggle Rock (1983–1987), and Put Down the Duckie (1988). Her film credits included The Muppet Movie (1979), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), and Follow That Bird (1985).

Where Was Caroly Wilcox born?

She served on the board of directors of the Jim Henson Foundation. She was a Daytime Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts, 1976 (Sesame Street); Special Classification of Outstanding Individual Achievement – Puppet Design, Construction and Costuming, 1981 (Sesame Street); Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design, 1986 and 1990 (both for Sesame Street).

Where is Caroly Wilcox buried?

She was nominated for five other Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design, all for Sesame Street. She was also a Primetime Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Individual Achievement [in] Creative Technical Crafts, 1980 (two nominations, both for The Muppet Show).

She taught puppetry workshops in the theatre program at New York University, and at other schools. In 2020, Wilcox appeared with fellow Jim Henson colleagues Bonnie Erickson and Rollie Krewson in an online interview hosted by the Museum of the Moving Image.