Noel MacNeal
Noel MacNeal, sometimes credited as Edward Noel MacNeal, is an American puppeteer, actor, director and writer. He is best known as the performer of Bear on Bear in the Big Blue House. He also starred as Kako on Oobi, Leon MacNeal on The Puzzle Place and as Magellan on Eureeka's Castle.
Noel MacNeal

Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA · A30656 · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Noel MacNeal
- Birthplace
- Harlem, New York, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Puppeteer
- Born
- 1961 · New York City.
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Noel MacNeal, sometimes credited as Edward Noel MacNeal, is an American puppeteer, actor, director and writer. He is best known as the performer of Bear on Bear in the Big Blue House. He also starred as Kako on Oobi, Leon MacNeal on The Puzzle Place and as Magellan on Eureeka's Castle.
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Note VALÉORINE
Noel MacNeal (born 1961) is an actor, marionetteist and screenwriter, among other activities, of American nationality. The actor was born in New York City. Noel MacNeal lived in Brooklyn. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q7047085 · wikipedia · Noel MacNeal
In this article
Biography
Biography
Since 2014, MacNeal has served as resident puppeteer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, portraying puppet characters such as Mr.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Noel MacNeal • Birthplace — Harlem, New York, U.S. • Occupation — * Puppeteer • actor • director • writer • Years Active — 1983–present • Children — 1
Career
Career
MacNeal began his career in puppetry in 1982 as a puppet wrangler on Sesame Street. In 1983, he succeeded John Lovelady as the performer of Knock-Knock the Woodpecker on The Great Space Coaster. In 1997, MacNeal gained widespread recognition for his role as Bear in the Disney Channel preschool series Bear in the Big Blue House. In 2003, he received a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series. In addition to puppeteering, MacNeal has written for a variety of children's programs including Eureeka's Castle, and The Puzzle Place. MacNeal has also directed several programs, including episodes of Between the Lions. In 2023, he directed an episode for season 53 of Sesame Street. Since 2014, MacNeal has served as resident puppeteer and performed various characters on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. In 2022, MacNeal became the vacation/swing puppeteer and vocalist of Audrey II in the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. In March 2025, MacNeal made his solo Cabaret debut at 54 Below in an evening directed by Michael Kirk Lane, with musical direction by John Bronston and featuring Jennifer Barnhart and Fergie Phillipe On November 6, 2025, MacNeal made his Broadway debut as a puppeteer and Ensemble member of the limited time show, Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets.
Personal life
Personal life
On November 6, 1999, he married author Susan Elia at Manhattan's Union Theological Seminary. In 2005, their son was born.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1983–1986 — The Great Space Coaster — Knock-Knock — Performer • 1983–present — Sesame Street — Mommy Snuffleupagus, Gretel, Additional Muppets • 1985 — Little Muppet Monsters — Rat, Cow, Magic Book • 1989–1995 — Eureeka's Castle — Magellan, Webster — Performer, writer • 1990 — The Cosby Show — Cheese — Puppeteer; Episode: "Cliff's Nightmare" • 1991 — Dinosaurs — Additional characters — Puppeteer • 1992 — Dog City — Officer Fuzzy, Doctor — Performer • 1993 — CityKids — Koozebanians • 1995–1996 — The Puzzle Place — Leon MacNeal, Blue Piece Police — Performer, writer • 1997–2006 — Bear in the Big Blue House — Bear, Moss, Billy — Performer, writer, director (one episode) • 1997 — Salty's Lighthouse — Writer • 1998 — Gullah Gullah Island — Writer; Episode: "Magic Show" • 1999 — Cosby — Puppeteer; Episode: "My Spy" • 2000–2005 — Oobi — Kako — Performer • 2006 — Breakfast with Bear — Bear — Performer, writer • 2001–2003 — The Book of Pooh — Rabbit — Performer • 2004 — Chappelle's Show — Puppeteer; Episode: "Knee High Park" • 2004 — Lazytown — Pixel — Voice; Episode: "Defeeted" • 2006–2007 — Blue's Room — Blue — Puppeteer (season 2) • 2006 — The Good Night Show — Leo — Host (26 episodes) • 2009–2010 — Between the Lions — Lionel Lion (seasons 9-10), Monkey, Squeaky the Wheel — Performer • 2014–2026 — Last Week Tonight with John Oliver — Puppeteer • 2015 — Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — Puppeteer; Episode: "Kimmy's in a Love Triangle!" • 2017 — Julie's Greenroom — Additional characters — Performer • 2022 — Pause with Sam Jay — Puppeteer; Episode: "Dead Momma Episode"
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Brooklyn
Residences
New York City.
Birth place
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1985 — Follow That Bird — Madame Chairbird — Performer • 1993 — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III — Raphael — Facial assistant • 2008 — A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa — Sweetums — Performer; television film • 2009 — Old Dogs — Puppeteer
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Roe, Ryan. The Bronx Cheers For Sesame Street. ToughPigs. 2013-05-31.
- 2.Times, Kristie Rearick South Jersey. Puppeteer hosting workshops at Philadelphia Zoo. nj. 2011-09-09.
- 3."Bear" in the House. Huntington, NY Patch. 2012-09-01.
- 4.Instagram. www.instagram.com.
- 5.Hipes, Patrick. Children's & Family Emmys: The Complete Winners List. Deadline. 2023-12-18.
- 6.Dessem, Matthew. Court Finds John Oliver Has the Right to Hire a Giant Squirrel Named "Mr. Nutterbutter" to Insult Coal Barons. Slate. 2018-02-25. 1091-2339.
- 7.https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Lillias-White-Noel-MacNeal-and-More-to-Perform-at-54-Below-Next-Week-20250321
- 8.Brady, Lois Smith. "LOIS SMITH BRADY" The New York Times; November 14, 1999
- 9.Muppet Central News - Muppeteer Noel MacNeal writes puppet making book for young and old.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 24 August 2026.
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