Page "Jerry Nelson" Paragraph 4

He was also the first puppeteer to perform Mr. Snuffleupagus, keeping the role from 1971 to 1978.

Most sources ( including Sesame Street Unpaved and Sesame Street: A Celebration-40 Years of Life on the Street ) state that back problems caused by the physical stress of the performance forced him to bow out, but in a 2009 interview Jerry Nelson gave a different explanation for giving up the role: " I was not loathe to give that character up.

But the reasons for giving it up were because at that time we were doing The Muppet Show and he was a real part of the show, and they needed his presence.

So they asked if I ’ d mind giving it up .".

Minor recurring characters include educator Herbert Birdsfoot ( 1970 – 1973 ), the sound-mimicking Simon Soundman ( 1971 – 1992 ), the more frightening-looking monster Frazzle ( 1971 – 2012 ), Grover's customer Mr. Johnson ( 1971 – 2012 ), Little Jerry of the band " Little Jerry and the Monotones " ( 1970 – 2000 ) and most of the announcers that appear in Sesame Street sketches ( 1970 – 2012 ).

Nelson also made a cameo appearance as the giant in the " Sesame Street News " story of Jack and the Beanstalk.