Leslie Carrara-Rudolph

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph
Other names
  • Leslie Carrara
  • Leslie Rudolph
Occupations
  • Actress
  • puppeteer
Years active1996–present
Known forSesame Street

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, sometimes credited as Leslie Carrara, is an American actress and puppeteer. She is best known as a Muppet performer on Sesame Street originating the character Abby Cadabby, for which she has received seven Emmy Award nominations.

Career

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Carrara-Rudolph began performing with the Muppets in 1996 on the ABC series Muppets Tonight, on which she performed Spamela Hamderson and Darci.[1] Since 1996, Carrara-Rudolph has been a performer on Sesame Street. She originated the role of Abby Cadabby in 2006 and has performed various additional characters.[2] Since 2009, she has received five Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series.[3][4]

In 2004, Carrara-Rudolph puppeteered Blue during the first season of the Nick Jr. series Blue's Room. From 2005 to 2008, Carrara-Rudolph performed Ginger in the Playhouse Disney series Johnny and the Sprites.[5] She is one of the founding members of The Jim Henson Company improv group Puppet Up!.

In addition the puppetry, Carrara-Rudolph has provided voiceover for various animated series and video games. From 2010 to 2015, Carrara-Rudolph voiced Peg Puppy in the Nickelodeon animated series T.U.F.F. Puppy. From 2016 to 2018, she voiced Bubbles on Splash and Bubbles. In 2022, she reprised her role as Abby in the Sesame Street animated series Mecha Builders.

In 2023, Carrara-Rudolph performed Penny Waxman in the Disney+ series The Muppets Mayhem.[4]

Personal life

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Carrara-Rudolph is married to Paul Rudolph, a music composer for Sesame Street.[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Production Role Notes
1999 The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Additional Muppets Performer
2008 Forgetting Sarah Marshall Dracula Bride Puppeteer
Abby in Wonderland Abby Cadabby Performer; direct-to-DVD film
2011 The Muppets Additional Muppets Performer

Television

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Year Production Role Notes
1996–1998 Muppets Tonight Spamela Hamderson, Darci, Shirley, Dorothy Bovine, Belle the Bubble Mom, Additional Muppets Performer
1996–present Sesame Street Abby Cadabby, Lotta Chatter, Rosa, Sleeping Beauty, Virginia Virginia, Tango, Additional Muppets
1997–1998 The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss Little Cat A, Morton the Elephant Bird, Princess Tizz, Additional Muppets
2000–2003 Poochini's Yard Wendy White Voice
2003 Animal Jam Edi the Zebra Performer
2004 All Grown Up! Myron Voice
2004–2005 Blue's Room Blue Puppeteer (season 1)
2005–2008 Johnny and the Sprites Ginger Performer
2008–2009 Panwapa Koko the Penguin, Sheep Kid #2
2008 A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa Additional Muppets Performer; television special
2009–2011 The Electric Company Werewolf, Bat, Mummy Voice
2010–2015 T.U.F.F. Puppy Peg Puppy
2015–2024 Nature Cat Gracie the Toad, Sadie Dog, Rat, Additional voices
2016–2018 Splash and Bubbles Bubbles, Flo
2020 The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo Abby Cadabby Performer
2021–present Donkey Hodie Dodie Hodie
2022–2023 Mecha Builders Abby Cadabby Voice
2023 The Muppets Mayhem Penny Waxman Performer

Video games

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Year Production Role Notes
2004 Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal Sasha Phyronix Voice
2005 Ratchet: Deadlocked Commander Sasha, Tyrranhoid Bride, Slugha
2011 Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover! Abby Cadabby
2012 Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Monsterpiece
Kinect Sesame Street TV

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2009 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series Sesame Street Nominated
2011 Nominated
2012 Nominated
2014 Nominated
2015 Nominated
2023 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Puppeteer Performance Sesame Street Nominated [7]
2025 Pending [8]

References

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  1. ^ "Stars of 'Sesame Street' to visit central Illinois with puppets, music and comedy for all ages". WGLT. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  2. ^ [email protected], Mary Ann Ford (2007-01-14). "Normal native's wife voice of Abby Cadabby". pantagraph.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  3. ^ Daytime Emmy 2012 Coverage: Leslie Carrara aka Abby Cadabby, 26 June 2012, archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2021-07-30
  4. ^ a b "Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (Abby Cadabby)". Sesame Workshop. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  5. ^ Group, Susan Young | Bay Area News; MediaNews (2007-01-14). "Puppeteer spices 'Sprites' with Ginger". East Bay Times. Retrieved 2024-08-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Sayasane, Elizabeth; Guillen, Elise (2019-04-22). "Alumnus finds dream career on Sesame Street". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  7. ^ Coates, Tyler (2 November 2023). "Children's & Family Emmy Awards: Disney Dominates Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Schneider, Michael (December 12, 2024). "Children's & Family Emmys 2024 Nominations: 'Percy Jackson,' 'Sesame Street,' 'Spiderwick Chronicles' Lead; Ceremony Moves to March". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
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Preceded by Performer of Goldilocks
(2012–present)
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
None
Abby Cadabby
(2006–present)
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Performer of Baby Natasha
(2014–present)
Succeeded by
None