The vibrant, brief life of Richard Hunt, Muppeteer
'Funny Boy' is a biography by Jessica Max Stein
by Jim Provenzano
While speculation continues about the relationship between Ernie and Bert, a former resident of Sesame Street was definitely gay and played Ernie's right-hand man, literally.
In "Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography," Jessica Max Stein intimately covers the professional career and private life of the affable, talented, and friendly man who was quick to make friends in his puppeteer career.
From an early age in suburban, Closter, New Jersey, Richard Hunt was already entertaining neighborhood kids with his own puppet shows. His high school experience involved theater and an early education in the performing arts. He had the desire to travel across the George Washington Bridge to New York City, where he hoped his career would take off.
In its early years, Hunt had seen "Sesame Street," and perhaps Henson's earlier creations on TV back when even Kermit the Frog didn't have a name.
"I had grown up watching the Muppets," Hunt is quoted as saying in an interview. "I'd drop anything to watch them. I thought they were weird."
Just weird enough for Hunt to one day cold-call the Henson workshop from a payphone to snag a job interview at 18.
One of his first duties was operating the right hand of Ernie (performed by Henson), the joke-playing roommate of Bert (performed by Frank Oz). Due in part of their close proximity – one operating the head and body, the other an arm – their relationship quickly grew to earnest friendships with Henson and his fellow creators.
Let's get things started
As the Henson creative outlets expanded, Hunt joined the creators and cast of what was going to be a new show. After a disastrous variety show that was featured a bit too much violence (titled "Sex & Violence"), Henson was hesitant, but was convinced to bring the show to London, where they would begin taping of "The Muppet Show." Why London? British investor Lew Grade had the only deal offered at the time.
Kermit led his wacky crew through a variety show that each week included a special guest. Hunt created and performed the characters of Scooter, the stage manager; Janice, the groovy bass player; Gladys the Cow; Beaker, the scientist's often exploding lab partner; one half of balcony hecklers Statler (Hunt) & Wells; Miss Piggy (for one season) and Sweetums, one of the full-bodied monsters who always seemed to turn out to be nicer than you'd think.
Please don’t pair Baume’s videos with an article about my book. He plagiarized from me.