Peter Linz (born June 28, 1967)[1] is an American puppeteer and voice actor.[2] Known for his work with the Muppets, Linz's most prominent role is performing for the character Walter who was introduced in the 2011 feature film The Muppets.[3][4] Since 1991, Linz has performed on Sesame Street, where he later took on the roles of Herry Monster and Ernie on Sesame Street in 2017.[5] Linz recounts receiving the role of Walter as his favorite; "Apart from my wedding day and birth of my children, being cast as Walter was one of the greatest moments of my life. I was beyond happiness."[6]

Peter Linz
Linz at the 2011 Dragon Con
Born (1967-06-28) June 28, 1967 (age 57)
Other namesGeorge Bailey
Occupations
  • Puppeteer
  • voice actor
Years active1989–present
Spouses
Marlene E. Rudy
(m. 1993; died 2016)
(m. 2023)
Children3

He has performed many characters on children's television shows. Some of his best known performing roles are Snook in It's a Big Big World, Tutter and Pip in Bear in the Big Blue House, Pooh in The Book of Pooh, Tizzy on Squeak! (season 1), and Theo Lion in Between the Lions, though he has also performed in Blue's Room, Sesame Street,[4] and The Puzzle Place. Following the departure of Steve Whitmire from The Muppets, Linz took over the roles of Statler, Link Hogthrob, Robin the Frog, and Lips.

Linz also performed in the Broadway musical Avenue Q,[7] and provided the voice of Moz in the English dub of Sheep and Wolves.

Personal life

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Linz was previously married to Marlene E. Rudy from 1993 until her death in 2016, together they have three children.[8] He married his second wife Alice Dinnean in 2023.[9]

Filmography

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Year Title Role(s) Notes
1991–present Sesame Street Alistair Cookie (assistant)
Honkers
Osvaldo, el Gruñón (1990s)
Yo-Yo (puppetry only)
Additional Muppets
Bif
Herry Monster (2015–present)
Ernie (2017–present)
Daniel (Julia's dad)
1993 Sesame Street Stays Up Late! Additional Muppets
1994 Muppet Sing-Alongs: It's Not Easy Being Green Goldfish
Sesame Street: A New Baby in My House Princess Azalea
1994–1998 The Puzzle Place Skye
Nuzzle
Seasons 1&2
1996 Aliens in the Family Varch
Elder the Nertron Galactic Federation
Yukkles
Others
1996-2004 Blue's Clues Doodle Board (Blue's Room segments only)
1997–2006 Bear in the Big Blue House Tutter
Pip
Jack the Dog (Season 4)
Skippy
Jacques the Beaver
Luna the Moon (puppetry only)
Shadow (puppetry only)
Ray the Sun (puppetry only)
Big Old Bullfrog
Puck
1997 Sesame Street: Kids' Guide to Life: Telling the Truth Additional Puppeteer
1998 Elmopalooza Additional Puppeteer
Elmo's World Seagull (Episode: The Beach) Voice performer
Sesame Street: Grover's Travels A Twiddlebug Girl
1999 Muppets From Space Shakes
Beach Hippie (on-screen cameo)
Additional Muppets
2000–2010 Between the Lions Theo Lion
Heath the Thesaurus (2001–2002)
Announcer Bunny
Gawain
2001–2004 The Book of Pooh Winnie the Pooh
2002–2020 Squeak! Tizzy
2003–present Avenue Q Additional Puppeteer
2003 Fisher Price Baby Development Dee as George Bailey
2004–2005 Blue's Room Polka Dots (2004–2005)
Doodle Board (Season 1 only)
2006–2010 It's a Big Big World Snook
Oko
2007–2011 WordWorld Bug
Pig
Monkey
as George Bailey
2008 Sesame Street: Count on Sports Additional Muppets
Abby in Wonderland
A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa
Lomax, the Hound of Music Lomax
Various humans
2011 30 Rock Additional Muppet Puppeteer
The Muppets Walter
Droop (behind-the-scenes)
Singing Food in "Me Party" number
Mutation
Hippie (voice)
Human Walter (voice)
Nigel
Snowth
KikoRiki: Team Invincible Krash English dub; as George Bailey
2013 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map Phantom Parrot (puppetry only)
Gnarlybeard (puppetry only)
Stu Stukowski (puppetry only)
Lighthouse Lou (puppetry only)
Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase Elmo (voice only, grand opening ceremony)
2014 Muppets Most Wanted Walter
Manolo Flamingo
Finger-snapping prisoner in "The Big House" number
Baby
2015–2016 The Muppets Walter (presentation pilot)
Angel Marie (presentation pilot)
Happy Yellow Creature (presentation pilot)
Gloria Estefan
Droop
Snowth
2016 Sheep and Wolves Moz[10]
2017 The Muppets Take the Bowl Walter
Robin the Frog
Statler
Link Hogthrob
Lips
Snowth
Live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–10
2018 The Muppets Take the O2 Walter
Robin the Frog
Statler
Link Hogthrob
Lips
Snowth
Live show at the O2, London, July 13–14
2020 Muppets Now Joe the Legal Weasel
Walter
Robin the Frog
Statler
Link Hogthrob
Foo-Foo (Miss Piggy's dog)
2021–present Donkey Hodie Clyde the Cloud
2021 Muppets Haunted Mansion Walter
Joe the Legal Weasel
Statler
Robin the Frog
Lips
The Ghost
The Muppets Christmas Caroling Coach[11] Statler Voice, theme park show at Disneyland during Disney Merriest Nights
2023 The Muppets Mayhem Lips, Statler

References

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  1. ^ https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/peter-linz-112578
  2. ^ Garlen, Jennifer C.; Graham, Anissa M. (July 5, 2009). Kermit culture: critical perspectives on Jim Henson's Muppets. McFarland. pp. 187–. ISBN 978-0-7864-4259-1. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  3. ^ Barnes, Henry. The Muppets – review", The Guardian, January 26, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Sam. Blu-ray, DVD Release: The Muppets, DiscDish.com, January 19, 2012.
  5. ^ Ryzik, Melena (April 13, 2020). "How to Get to 'Sesame Street'? These Days, It's by Video Conference". The New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Hiskey, Michele. "Atlanta Muppeteer Peter Linz fulfills quest for identity with Walter's fame". Saporta Report. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  7. ^ King, Randall (November 19, 2011). "Muppet man: Jason Segel livin' large starring with fuzzy legends in film he wrote". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  8. ^ undefined. "3 Questions With 'Muppets' puppeteer Peter Linz". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "Alice & Peter". Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Zola.
  10. ^ "About Movie". sheepandwolvesmovie.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Video: The Muppet Christmas Caroling Coach Debuts at Disney Merriest Nites". laughingplace.com. November 11, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
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Preceded by
None
Walter (Muppet)
2011–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Herry Monster
2015–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Statler
2017–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Robin the Frog
2017–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Link Hogthrob
2017–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Lips
2017–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
Billy Barkhurst
Performer of Ernie
2017–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Captain Vegetable
2019–present
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Horatio the Elephant
2019–present
Succeeded by
None