noel macneal

Since the early 1980s, Noel MacNeal has worked as an actor, director, puppeteer, and writer for children’s television. In Bear in the Big Blue House, he was the voice and puppeteer of Bear. He also appeared in Oobi as Kako, The Puzzle Place as Leon MacNeal, and on Nick Jr’s ACE Award-winning series Eureeka’s Castle as Magellan the baby dragon. He has performed with Woody Allen, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Lewis, Mickey Rooney, Emma Thompson, Wayne Brady, Dave Chappelle, and Katie Couric. Noel was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2003 for “Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series.”

While Bear is his most well-known role, MacNeal has also played Mrs. Snuffleupagus and various Snuffleupagus relatives on Sesame Street,  Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, and Madame Chairbird in the Sesame Street film “Follow That Bird.”  Noel plays ZoZo, an eco-friendly mascot who promotes safer streets, renewable transportation, and usable public places. Livable Streets Education uses this classic Jim Henson designed and created walk around puppet to educate about these issues with young children and families.

Kako on Nick Jr.’s Oobi, Blue on Nick Jr.’s Blue’s Room, Rabbit on The Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning series The Book of Pooh, Lionel on PBS’s Between the Lions, and Knock-Knock on The Great Space Coaster are among his other notable roles. He’s written for The Magic School Bus, The Puzzle Place, Gullah Gullah Island, Nate the Great, Breakfast with Bear, and Bear in the Big Blue House, among other popular children’s shows.