Happy Birthday, Elmo!

According to one source, Elmo may have appeared in the 1981 book, "The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites," except he appeared as dark orange. Elmo though was a bit of an orphan. Three muppeteers couldn't connect to the furry red monster (who looked a bit shaggier back in those days). One day, young Kevin Clash was sitting in the Muppeteer-in-training greenroom when the late Richard Hunt (who voiced Scooter, Beaker, and Sweetums) tossed him Elmo ... more 

According to one source, Elmo may have appeared in the 1981 book, "The Sesame Street Circus of Opposites," except he appeared as dark orange. Elmo though was a bit of an orphan. Three muppeteers couldn't connect to the furry red monster (who looked a bit shaggier back in those days). One day, young Kevin Clash was sitting in the Muppeteer-in-training greenroom when the late Richard Hunt (who voiced Scooter, Beaker, and Sweetums) tossed him Elmo and suggested he give it a try. Clash and Elmo partnered up on November 18, 1985, and they've never looked back. (See an early Elmo singing "One Fine Face" with Ernie in 1985.) less