Noel MacNeal

Since 2014, MacNeal has served as resident puppeteer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, portraying puppet characters such as Mr.

• Name — Noel MacNeal • Birthplace — Harlem, New York, U.S. • Occupation — * Puppeteer • actor • director • writer • Years Active — 1983–present • Children — 1

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.

On November 6, 1999, he married author Susan Elia at Manhattan's Union Theological Seminary. In 2005, their son was born.

• 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"