Noel MacNeal

MacNeal began his career in puppetry in 1982 as a puppet wrangler on Sesame Street.^[1] In 1983, he succeeded John Lovelady as the performer of Knock-Knock the Woodpecker on The Great Space Coaster.^[2]

In 1997, MacNeal gained widespread recognition for his role as Bear in the Disney Channel preschool series Bear in the Big Blue House.^[3] In 2003, he received a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series.

In addition to puppeteering, MacNeal has written for a variety of children's programs including Eureeka's Castle, and The Puzzle Place. MacNeal has also directed several programs, including episodes of Between the Lions. In 2023, he directed an episode for season 53 of Sesame Street.^[4][5]

Since 2014, MacNeal has served as resident puppeteer and performed various characters on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.^[6]

In 2022, MacNeal became the vacation/swing puppeteer and vocalist of Audrey II in the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors.

In March 2025, MacNeal made his solo Cabaret debut at 54 Below in an evening directed by Michael Kirk Lane, with musical direction by John Bronston and featuring Jennifer Barnhart and Fergie Phillipe^[7]

On November 6, 2025, MacNeal made his Broadway debut as a puppeteer and Ensemble member of the limited time show, Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets.

On November 6, 1999, he married author Susan Elia at Manhattan's Union Theological Seminary.^[8] In 2005, their son was born.^[9]