Turner Station
Kevin began making puppets at home and performing locally, developing both his craft and his instinct for reaching young audiences.
About Kevin
A life built by hand.
From a Baltimore workshop to stages and screens around the world, Kevin Clash has followed the same instinct: make something that connects.
Where it began
A kid, a workshop, and a big idea.
Kevin Clash grew up in the Turner Station community outside Baltimore. Fascinated by the performers he watched on television, he began studying how puppets were made, building his own characters, and performing for children while still in his teens.
Local television opened the first doors. His talent and persistence soon led to national work, including Captain Kangaroo, before he joined Sesame Street in 1984.
Selected milestones
A career in motion.
Early television
Work in Baltimore and New York, including Captain Kangaroo, turned a childhood passion into a professional life.
Sesame Street
After joining the program in 1984, Kevin helped transform Elmo into a character known around the world for curiosity, laughter, and love.
Director, producer, mentor
Beyond performing, Kevin’s work has included directing, producing, writing, and guiding the next generation of puppeteers.
A story shared
His autobiography and the documentary Being Elmo brought audiences behind the scenes of a remarkable creative journey.
From the archive
The work behind the work.
A few moments from a much larger collection documenting Kevin’s early experiments, television career, and enduring bond with audiences.
