Eric Jacobson (born January 15, 1971) is an American puppeteer. He is best known for his involvement with the Muppets, performing Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle, as well as Sesame Street characters Bert, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Guy Smiley and the left head of the Two-Headed Monster.
Early life Eric Jacobson was born on January 15, 1971, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was inspired to enter the field of puppetry after the death of Jim Henson. In 1992, while attending New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, he interned at the Jim Henson Company, working in the archival library. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree the following year.
Career Jacobson began his career as a supporting puppeteer on Sesame Street in 1994, occasionally performing the roles of Grover and Bert when Frank Oz wasn't available. Following Oz's retirement from the program, Jacobson became the characters' primary performer. Since 2005, he has performed Guy Smiley, a role previously performed by Henson. Following Caroll Spinney's retirement in 2018, he became the full-time performer of Oscar the Grouch. For his work on the program, he has received Daytime Emmy Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2011 and 2019, respectively.
Jacobson began performing Miss Piggy in 2001, debuting at the MuppetFest fan convention. The following year, he began performing Fozzie Bear and Animal, debuting in the roles in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. In 2005, he began performing Sam Eagle beginning with The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. The aforementioned characters were also previously performed by Oz, whom he consulted with to accurately maintain characterization and physicality for the characters.
Jacobson has contributed to several other children's television shows, including The Puzzle Place and Jack's Big Music Show. He has performed live puppet theater with Basil Twist, The Puppet Company, The Cosmic Bicycle Theater, and The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in Central Park. He performed Harry the Duck on Bear in the Big Blue House and puppeteered Piglet on The Book of Pooh. In 2007, he served as both a puppeteer and writer on Playhouse Disney's Bunnytown.
Personal life Jacobson is married to Mary Jacobson. The two met during her time as a production assistant on Sesame Street.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1999The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandBertAssistant performer 2002 It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Yoda Performer; Television film 2005 The Muppets' Wizard of Oz Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle2008Abby in WonderlandGrover, BertPerformer; Direct-to-DVD film A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam EaglePerformer2011The Muppets Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, Marvin Suggs Performer2013 Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map Shaggy Rogers Puppeteer; Direct-to-DVD film2014 Muppets Most Wanted Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Animal, Marvin SuggsPerformer
Television Year(s) Title Role Notes 1994–present Sesame Street Bert (1997–present), Grover (1998–present), Guy Smiley (2005–present), Oscar the Grouch (2015–present) Performer 1996–98 Once Upon a Tree Billy-Bob the Bobcat Performer 1998 The Puzzle Place Leon MacNeal, Blue Piece Police Puppeteer (season 3) 1997–2006 Bear in the Big Blue House Harry the Duck, Tucker TutterPerformer2001Between the LionsBertPerformer, Episode: "Tweet! Tweet!" 2001–03 The Book of Pooh Piglet Performer (puppetry only)2002–07Play with Me SesameBert, GroverPerformer2005, 2012Jimmy Kimmel Live!Grover, Fozzie Bear, AnimalPerformer; 3 episodes2005The Tony Danza ShowMiss PiggyPerformer; 3 episodes2005, 2007The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonMiss Piggy, Fozzie BearPerformer; 2 episodes2005–07Jack's Big Music ShowLittle Bad Wolf, Phil the Coo-Coo BirdPerformer2005, 2011, 2014LiveMiss PiggyPerformer, 3 episodes2005Extreme Makeover: Home EditionMiss Piggy, Fozzie, AnimalPerformer2006–11Pinky Dinky DooAdditional voices2007–08BunnytownSuper Bunny, Green Cave Bunny, Royal Assistant Marvin, Captain Dan, MelvinPerformer (also writer)2008Studio DC: Almost LiveMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam EaglePerformer2011So Random!Miss PiggyPerformer, Episode: "Miss Piggy"Take Two with Phineas and FerbMiss PiggyPerformer, Episode: "Miss Piggy"Saturday Night LiveMiss Piggy, Fozzie BearPerformer, Episode: "Jason Segal/Florence + The Machine"The Tonight Show with Jay LenoMiss PiggyPerformer; 1 episode2011, 2012WWE RawMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, AnimalPerformer, 2 episodes2011, 2012WWE Tribute to the TroopsMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam EaglePerformer; Television special2013Good Luck CharlieMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, AnimalPerformer, Episode: "Duncan Dream House"Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday SpectacularMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam EaglePerformer; Television special2015–16The MuppetsMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, Marvin Suggs2019Drop the MicMiss PiggyPerformer; 1 episodeBig City GreensDr. EnamelVoice role, Episode: "Hurty Tooth"
Credited as Fozzie Bear; Jacobson credited as Fozzie Bear's "personal handyman"2020The Not-Too-Late Show with ElmoBert, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Two-Headed Monster (left head)PerformerMuppets NowMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, AnimalPerformer; Disney+ seriesThe Power of We: A Sesame Street SpecialOscar the GrouchPerformer; Television special2021Muppets Haunted MansionMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, AnimalPerformer; Disney+ special2022The Masked SingerMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, AnimalPerformer; Episode: "Muppets Night"2023The Muppets MayhemAnimalPerformer; Disney+ series2026The Muppet ShowMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Animal, The Newsman (uncredited)Performer; Television special
Video games Year(s)TitleRoleNotes2001Sesame Street SportsGroverVoice role2002Sesame Street PreschoolBert2003Muppets Party CruiseMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear2006Bert and Ernie's Imagination AdventureBert2011Sesame Street: Once Upon a MonsterGroverSesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover!2012Kinect Sesame Street TVBert, Grover, Guy Smiley2023Disney SpeedstormMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear
Other appearances Year(s) Title Role Notes2003Sesame Street 4-D Movie MagicGrover, BertPerformer, theme park film2008–09Muppet YouTube ShortsMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam EaglePerformer2010The Muppets Kitchen with Cat CoraMiss Piggy, Fozzie BearPerformer, web seriesDisney's Honorary VoluntEars CavalcadeMiss PiggyVoice, theme park parade2013–14MuppisodesMiss Piggy, Fozzie BearPerformer, web shorts2014Nerdy NummiesMiss PiggyPerformer, Episode: "Muppet Cookies!"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9qqKaYz4bk2016–19The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American HistoryMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam EagleVoice, theme park show2017The Muppets Take the BowlMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, NewsmanPerformer, live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–102018The Muppets Take the O2Performer, live show at the O2, Jul. 13–142019Muppet Babies Play DateMiss Piggy (baby), Fozzie Bear (baby), Animal (baby)Performer (puppetry only), web shorts2021The Muppets' Christmas Caroling CoachFozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Sam EagleVoice, theme park show2025"World of Color Happiness!" preshowSam Eagle, Animal, Miss Piggy, Fozzie BearPerformer (prerecorded footage); theme park show2026Life in LooksMiss Piggy2026Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The MuppetsMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, NewsmanPerformer (prerecorded footage); theme park attraction
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Refs2011Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Performer in a Children's SeriesSesame Street 2019Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Character Voice-Over PerformanceWhen You Wish Upon a Pickle: A Sesame Street Special 2021Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated ProgramThe Monster at the End of This Story 2023 Children's and Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Puppeteer Performance The Muppets Mayhem Sesame Street 2026Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)The Muppet Show
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