What is Kevin Clash’s net worth and salary?
Kevin Clash is a talented voice actor, puppeteer, and co-executive producer with a net worth of $5 million. He gained recognition for his work as a puppeteer on popular shows like Captain Kangaroo, Caboose, and the Great Space Coaster. However, he is best known for his iconic role as the voice of Elmo on Sesame Street.
Clash was not only a puppeteer on Sesame Street, but also the co-executive producer and Muppet captain for the show. He played a crucial role in the production of many Muppet movies and television shows, including The Jim Henson Hour. Clash’s expertise in puppetry and voice acting has made him a valuable member of the entertainment industry.
Kevin Clash’s Salary for Voicing Elmo
The exact salary of Kevin Clash for voicing Elmo is unknown, but most Sesame Street actors earn between $300,000 and $500,000 per year. According to the 2011 tax releases, Caroll Spinney, who plays Big Bird, earned $314,072 from Sesame Street. As an executive producer, Clash earned a percentage of the profits from Elmo’s merchandise and DVD sales in addition to his base salary.
Early Life and Puppetry
Kevin Clash was born in Turner’s Station, Baltimore County, Maryland on September 17, 1960. He developed an interest in puppetry at a young age, inspired by television shows of the era. At age 10, he made his first puppet, his own version of Mickey Mouse. He later made a monkey puppet out of the lining of his father’s coat.
Clash began performing for his mother’s daycare pupils, which she ran out of their home. He had built nearly 100 puppets by the time he was a teenager and performed at venues around Baltimore such as schools, churches, community events, and fundraisers.
Kevin Clash’s Career Highlights
Kevin Clash was discovered by Baltimore TV personality Stu Kerr at age 16 and became a puppeteer for Captain Kangaroo at 19. He later worked with Jim Henson on projects such as “Labyrinth,” “Sesame Street,” and “The Muppets.”
In 1985, Clash developed Elmo’s distinctive voice and mannerisms, making him a beloved character on “Sesame Street.” Clash became the senior Muppet coordinator, writer, director, and co-producer of the Elmo’s World segment of the show.
Clash also worked on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “The Jim Henson Hour,” “Muppets from Space,” “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz,” and “Muppets Tonight.”
After a hiatus due to sexual abuse allegations, Clash returned to puppeteering with the film “The Happytime Murders” in 2018 and performed in the 2019 Netflix series “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.”
Kevin Clash Resigns from Sesame Workshop Amidst Sexual Abuse Allegations
In 2012, Kevin Clash, the puppeteer and voice actor behind Sesame Street’s Elmo, faced allegations of sexual abuse. Two accusers came forward claiming to have been in sexual relationships with Clash, one of whom was a minor at the time. Clash denied the accusations but resigned from Sesame Workshop in November 2012. Two more accusers later came forward. The cases against Clash were ultimately dismissed in July 2013 due to the statute of limitations. In April 2014, the decision to dismiss the three lawsuits was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Personal Life of Kevin Clash
Kevin Clash was married to Genia Clash for 17 years before getting divorced in 2003. He publicly revealed his homosexuality in response to allegations of sexual abuse in November 2012, stating: “I am a gay man. I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter.”
Clash has a daughter named Shannon, born in 1993. In June 2015, he sold his Manhattan apartment and moved to Los Angeles.
