Kevin Clash

Kevin Jeffrey Clash is an American puppeteer and voice actor whose characters included Elmo, Clifford, Benny Rabbit, and Hoots the Owl.

Kevin Clash was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 17, 1960, the third of four children born to George Clash, a flash welder and handyman, and Gladys Clash, who ran a small daycare center in their twobedroom, onebath home in the Turner Station of Dundalk, Maryland. Clash developed an interest in puppetry at an early age, inspired by childrens shows like Kukla, Fran and Ollie and Sesame Street. He made his first puppet, a version of Mickey Mouse, at the age of 10. When he was twelve, he created a monkey puppet out of the lining of his fathers coat. His first performances were for his mothers daycare children.

Source: Wikipedia