Mr. Snuffleupagus

PERFORMER	Jerry Nelson 1971-1980
	Michael Earl 1980-1981
	Martin P. Robinson 1981-present
DEBUT	1971

Bird and Snuffy — Snuffy with his best friend "Bird."

FollowThatBird-BestFriendsHug — *Follow That Bird*

0343 03a — Dr. Marzullo can't believe her eyes in Episode 0343.

0406j — Snuffy is given a gentler appearance in 1972.

1800-9 — Maria finds Snuffy's huge toaster left at the Fix-It Shop in Episode 1800.

Snuffydonteat — *Don't Eat the Pictures*

1624-Trunks — Snuffy and Big Bird try to give the yard a more tropical feel on a cold winter day, from Episode 1624.

Snuffy marathon — Snuffy runs the NYC marathon in Episode 1836.

1676f — A failed attempt at taking a photo of Snuffy in Episode 1676.

Mr. Snuffleupagus is a full-bodied Muppet character who lives with his family in a cave just off of Sesame Street. His species is Snuffleupagus as well as his last name.

Although his friends call him Snuffy, his full name is Aloysius Snuffleupagus. He is eternally four and a half years old,^[1] and celebrates his birthday on August 19. Snuffy's best friend is Big Bird, whom he affectionately calls "Bird."

His favorite foods are cabbage and spaghetti, and in the fifth season premiere, he revealed that he also drinks sassafras tea. In one episode during his debut season, it is revealed that Snuffy is afraid of fruit. He dislikes apples because he fears they might fall from the tree and hit him on the head, and he dislikes bananas out of fear that he might slip on the peels.

Snuffy is a big fan of opera music, and at one point attended daily rehearsals at Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. He even performed a light-opera rendition of the alphabet with Judy Collins. In one episode, Snuffy tap danced with Maurice and Gregory Hines, known as the Hines Brothers (who were appearing in the Broadway musical Eubie! at the time).

Imaginary[]

Mr. Snuffleupagus first appeared on Sesame Street in Episode 0276, the third season premiere. When he first appeared, many of the adults assumed that he was Big Bird's imaginary friend, due to a series of coincidences and near-miss encounters that continually kept Snuffleupaguses and humans apart. Big Bird would often try to find ways for Snuffy to meet the adults, but something would always cause Snuffy to leave before the humans could see him. Sometimes, all it would take for the adults to see Mr. Snuffleupagus would be to turn their heads, yet they usually wouldn't do so until Snuffy had already gone.

While Snuffy served as the show's resident incredible figure for years, other characters had alleged imaginary friends of their own. Mr. Hooper reminisces about "Mr. Mish-Mosh" in Episode 0513. Big Bird accuses David of manufacturing his childhood friend Bill in Episode 1940, and similarly doesn't believe in David's juggler friend Michael Davis (who also does not believe in Big Bird) in Episode 1959. Snuffy describes his friend the Wheelermonster in Episode 0806 (whom Big Bird believes to be made-up), in Episode 2014 Uncle Wally made up the very similar Mrs. Snortleoutagus, or "Snorty" for short, and, until she met him in Episode 1494, Mommy Snuffleupagus originally thought Big Bird to be Snuffy's imaginary friend, and in Episode 1361, Big Bird says that Snuffy thinks Maria is imaginary. On at least two occasions (in episodes 0361 and 0731) the adults manage to — temporarily — convince Big Bird that his friend Snuffy isn't real.

From 1972 to 1985, various kids could see Mr. Snuffleupagus, some Muppets saw him, and even a few celebrities (including Judy Collins in a fantasy sequence), but the major human characters never believed his existence until Episode 2096, the season 17 premiere. In fact, many appearances of Snuffy on the show during the fourteen years in which he was "imaginary" (allegedly) involved some scenario in which the adults would be very close to meeting Snuffy but then just miss him in the last moment. This was often due to Snuffy being called by his mommy or otherwise needing to go home in the time it took Big Bird to gather his friends. Snuffy can be heard in some tracks on the 1972 album Havin' Fun with Ernie and Bert, yet none of the other Muppets acknowledge his presence. A similar case occurs on the 1975 album Merry Christmas from Sesame Street, where Snuffy sings the last verse of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

By the 7th season premiere (in which the street residents' skepticism even makes newspaper headlines), Snuffy is so used to people not seeing him that he counts everyone who doesn't notice him. His hopes are raised again in the 8th season premiere when he sees all of Big Bird's human friends in the courtyard discussing what to do. He tells Big Bird, but by then the group has left to gather things for a park picnic and baseball game, so Big Bird doesn't see them. When the group returns and leaves one more time, it's the bird's turn to play skeptic and assume his not-imaginary friend was himself imagining.

However, at least one of Big Bird's adult friends would believe, even if their meetings didn't work out. Still in the 8th season, in Episode 1028, Buffy decided to believe Snuffy was real as long as Big Bird did (singing "I Believe"). By Episode 1360 (season 11), Buffy had joined the skeptical majority, and Snuffy himself (who by this point has seen most of Big Bird's friends) thinks Buffy is the imaginary "Buffle-up-a-gus," leaving the yellow bird disbelieved on both sides. Snuffy maintains his opinion in Episode 1546 (season 12),but ultimately decided to also believe in her without meeting, while for her part Buffy returns to believing (this time with Cody's belief spurring her on), sincerely wants to meet Snuffy, and sings a different but similarly affirming song "I Believe in Snuffleupagus."

Snuffy's own skepticism about things unseen continues in Episode 1546, when Mister Rogers stops by the street and agrees to judge a race between the bird and the Snuffleupagus (who he doesn't meet, but he never questions anything from Big Bird). A frustrated Big Bird realizes, with adults doubting the race could happen on one side and Snuffy doubting Mr. Rogers in the neighborhood, he can't talk about the event with anyone. A more momentous race occurs in Episode 1836, when Snuffy participates in the NY marathon and Big Bird hopes at last his friends will see him. However, the only one who observes and meets him is Forgetful Jones, and true to form, he forgets that he saw him (he sees Snuffy again in Episode 2085, and in trying to persuade diehard skeptic Bob, is convinced he too was imagining things).

Big Bird's efforts to prove his best friend's existence occasionally included taking photographic evidence. His first effort, in Episode 0323, is dismissed because Mr. Snuffleupagus was standing in front of David's shaggy rug (which he resembles). He tries again in Episode 1659, with a successful image, but Snuffy takes it to show his mommy. Undaunted, Big Bird takes a photo again in Episode 1676, for inclusion in his newspaper, this time including himself with Snuffy. The final picture only shows Snuffy's fur and Big Bird's feathers, but the pair are proud, and no adult reactions are revealed.

In Episode 1966 (the season 16 premiere), a year before Snuffy finally met the adults, Big Bird makes an impassioned plea to the adults to believe him, as he knows the difference between reality and imagination. This results in Maria, Gordon, and Linda deciding to believe that Snuffy is real despite the lack of evidence. (Maria had shown signs of believing as early as Episode 1800 when she saw Snuffy's giant toaster.) In Episode 2042, while Gordon made plans to meet Snuffy, Oscar instead ended up seeing Snuffy. While ever contrary Oscar insists Snuffy is imaginary in this episode, they had previously met, including sharing can space (Episode 0585 and Episode 1017). Later that season, in Episode 2058, Oscar lets Snuffy join the Grouchketeers.

Mr. Snuffleupagus became real to the entire cast for a few reasons. One was because the writers were running out of new ways to have Snuffy just barely miss meeting them. Another factor was increased concerns that the adults' refusal to believe Big Bird's claims of his friend's existence would discourage children from sharing important things with their parents.^[2]

Many years later, the writers played at Snuffy's original imaginary role in Episodes 4069 and 4070 for a plot in which Snuffy became invisible. Martin Robinson once said about Snuffy, "He's not invisible, he just has bad timing!"^[3]

Snuffy's family[]

see Snuffy's family

Mr. Snuffleupagus lives with his family in a cave located at 456 Snuffle Circle. His little sister Alice was featured as a main character for several years, and he has a Snuffleupagus friend at school named Rosalyn. Sometimes he can be seen playing with his puppet Gus or his stuffed toy Mr. Anteloper.

In 1992, the producers of Sesame Street tested an episode in which Snuffy's parents get a divorce. After a series of arguments, Daddy Snuffle moved out of the cave, and Snuffy and Alice had to deal with the emotional fallout of a breakup. The episode didn't test well with children, and the producers decided to shelve it. In the context of the show, Mommy and Daddy Snuffleupagus are still married. For more information, see "Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce."

Notable events[]

Snuffymountain — Snuffy in front of the mythical Mount Ihu Papa'a Lo'ihi Nui, aka Mount Snuffleupagus.

Episode 0276: Snuffy first appears
Episode 0331: Snuffy celebrates his 2nd birthday
Episode 0731: Big Bird almost believes Snuffy is imaginary
Episodes 1090-1095: Trip to Hawaii
Episode 1122: Big Bird and Snuffy remember how they met.
Episode 1494: Big Bird visits Snuffy's cave for the first time
Episode 1496: Snuffy learns sign language
Episode 1800: Cousin Abigail visits
Episode 1938: Snuffy goes to the Movies
Episode 2042: Oscar meets Mr. Snuffleupagus
Episode 2058: Snuffy joins The Grouchketeers
Episode 2096: The adults meet Snuffy for the first time
Episode 2410: Snuffy introduces his sister, Alice
Episode 2477: Snuffy plays with Alice
Episode 3821: Snuffy draws a huge picture for Gina
Episode 4069 - Episode 4070: Snuffy's Invisible
Episode 4088: Snuffy wants to be a cloud
Episode 4091: Snuffy feels he's too big
Episode 4223: Snuffy sneezes all over Sesame Street
Episode 4321: Lifting Snuffy
Episode 4414: Snuffy serves at Hooper's Store

Behind-the-scenes[]

Firstsnuffy — Big Bird first encounters Mr. Snuffleupagus, from the third season premiere. (close-up eye detail)

Snuffy eyes close-up — Big Bird first encounters Mr. Snuffleupagus, from the third season premiere. (close-up eye detail)

Jon Stone Snuffy — Jon Stone directing Michael Earl as Mr. Snuffleupagus.

Snuffy stored — Snuffy is too large to store anywhere other than hung from the ceiling.

Some early scripts written with the character in them originally referred to Snuffy as "Galopogus."^[4] The script for Episode 0278 includes the internal note "Galopogus is known as Snuffle-upagus now."

The original Mr. Snuffleupagus puppet had bright yellow eyes, immobile eyelids, and yellow eyelashes. He was redesigned in Season 4, gaining white eyes, eyelids, and eyelashes.

It takes two people to perform Mr. Snuffleupagus. The person who performs the front also performs the voice. Jerry Nelson was the first to play the character. Most sources (including Sesame Street Unpaved and 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 loath 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."^[5]

Nelson continued to provide Snuffy's voice through Season 11, and he reprised the role for the audiobook version of Don't Cry, Big Bird in 1983. Michael Earl Davis performed the front-end of Snuffy from 1978 to 1981;^[6] lip-syncing to Nelson's voice for two seasons, then voicing the character for Season 12. Since 1981, Martin P. Robinson has been the permanent voice and face of Snuffy. The back of Mr. Snuffleupagus has been performed by Richard Hunt, Brian Muehl, Frank Kane, and Peter Friedman, but since 1979, the regular back-end has been Bryant Young.

Jerry Nelson recalled in the film Muppet Guys Talking that in casting for Snuffleupagus, Jon Stone described the character as "Eeyore-like." Hence, Snuffy originally spoke in a low, sad-sounding tone of voice, which was gradually lightened over time, and his catchphrase was "Ohhh, dear." This depressed aspect is especially noticeable during his first year on the show. When Snuffy entered and Big Bird asked how he was feeling, Snuffy would typically say, "Oh sad, very, very sad," though he often wouldn't give a reason why this was.

In the early years of Snuffy's Sesame Street appearances, his entrances were scored by a low-range brass musical cue (composed by Joe Raposo)^[7] that could be heard by those nearby (Big Bird explains to Mrs. Sharp in Episode 0965 that when Snuffy walks, he makes a musical sound). A modified version of this theme appeared on various Sesame Street albums, and was the basis for Snuffy's song-and-dance "Doin' the Snuffleupagus."

Because the Snuffy costume is so enormous, the suit is stored above the studio soundstage, with a pink blanket wrapped over it, when not in use. During the filming of the Hawaii episodes, the costume was maneuvered to different locations using a helicopter.

The Snuffy puppet and his facial movements are operated entirely from within the puppet. There is a long stick that moves his eyes around, a long string to pull down his eyelids, and a handle to pull down the lower part of his mouth, as the size of his mouth makes it practically impossible for a puppeteer to operate it like a normal puppet. The interior was first publicly shown in the Sesame Family Robinson blog post "HandyMan in Snuffleupagus." In another post, Martin Robinson explained that in between takes, one of the camera operators will fan air through the mouth of the puppet to cool off the puppeteers. Robinson also explained it was a lot easier to perform the puppet when it was warm as he was less likely to pull muscles, although on some days he would sweat through three or four t-shirts.

For scenes where a Muppet character rides atop Snuffy — such as Elmo (in Kids' Favorite Songs) and Zoe (Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!) — the puppeteer performs from inside the Snuffy puppet between the front and back-end performers, and the camera avoids showing Snuffy's bottom half.^[8]