Eric Jacobson (born July 25, 1970) is an American puppeteer best known for his long-running work on Sesame Street and for performing several classic characters in The Muppets franchise. Active with Sesame Street since the mid-1990s, Jacobson stepped into established roles and has been responsible for maintaining the voices, timing and physicality that audiences expect from those characters.

Career and notable roles

Jacobson joined the Sesame Street cast in 1994 and gradually became the regular performer for characters whose original performers reduced their on-screen time. He has performed Bert since 1997 and Grover since 1998 on Sesame Street. In The Muppets franchise he is the current performer of Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear, roles long associated with Frank Oz, and he has taken on the challenge of keeping those characters’ personalities consistent for new productions and live appearances.

Performance style and craft

Puppeteering for iconic characters requires matching vocal tone, comic timing and the subtle hand and facial movements that define a character. Jacobson’s work emphasizes faithful interpretation rather than imitation: he preserves established mannerisms while making small adjustments appropriate to new scripts, directors and media formats. That includes television episodes, ensemble sketches, promotional events and stage performances.

Contributions and appearances

  • Regular performer on Sesame Street since the 1990s, including episodic work and specials.
  • Performer of classic Muppet characters in modern productions and live events.
  • Participant in workshops, rehearsals and collaborative scripting sessions to adapt puppets and sketches for contemporary audiences.

Because many beloved Muppet characters were created decades earlier, continuing them is both a technical and cultural responsibility. Puppeteers like Jacobson serve as stewards of that legacy: they maintain continuity while allowing characters to appear in new contexts for younger viewers.

Personal life and legacy

Jacobson’s public biography notes his birthdate as July 25, 1970, and that he is married to Mary Jacobson. His career illustrates how modern puppetry often blends performance, voice work and collaborative production. By taking on high-profile roles on Sesame Street and in The Muppets, he has become part of the chain of performers who keep these characters active across generations.