Kevin Clash is an American puppeteer, director, and producer whose career spans Sesame Street, Jim Henson productions, film, and live-action creature performance. He is best known as the defining performer behind Elmo and as one of the most influential puppeteers of his generation.
Genre and family-entertainment fans also know Clash for performing and voicing Master Splinter in the original live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films. His wider credits include Labyrinth, Dinosaurs, Muppets Tonight, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets from Space, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Beyond performing, Clash has also worked extensively as a director, producer, and creative leader, and his life and career were the subject of the documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey.