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__ Kevin Clash Background Info __

Kevin Clash was born on September 17, 1960, in Turners Station, Baltimore County, Maryland, sometimes referred to as "Chocolate City." Kevin's love for puppeteering began when he watched "Captain Kangaroo" every morning, which was a mainly puppet show that aired on the local channel. One day, he went into his parents' closet to find material to make a puppet out of. He took his father's coat and cut it all up, crafted a puppet, and sat it on his parents' dresser. Despite being down a coat, his father only told him not to cut up coats for puppets. Kevin went on to host puppet shows for free for his mother's day care and eventually he was found at a county fair by a local TV personality that told him to audition for a spot on "Caboose," a children's puppet show on local Channel 2. He was accepted and, while on a school field trip to New York City, he met Kermit Love, one of the largest puppeteers at the time. Love eventually led him to success at "Sesame Street," other puppeteering movies at the time, and other Muppets functions.

__ Problem He Overcome __

Kevin Clash overcame two problems in the 1970s: race and poverty. Kevin is African American and grew up in a poor, mainly black community in the outskirts of Baltimore. At this time, race was still a touchy subject, even though civil rights movements were underway. On all puppet shows Clash watched, virtually none of the puppeteers were African American, or any race other than white. It was tough for a young black boy to be a puppeteer, especially on television. Kevin worked hard at what he did. He made many more puppets, from material other than his dad's coat this time, and worked at what he did by performing on "Caboose." Kevin's skill, as well as his connection to Kermit Love, shot Kevin to his debut on "Sesame Street," which was the show he dreamed he could work at. Kevin has progressed today to be known as the puppeteer for Elmo and has made appearances on the Food Network, several puppet films, and now has his own documentary that shows how he made it to where he is today. Kevin dreamed that he could do what he wanted and because of how ambitious he was, he climbed up the ladder until he reached his spot on "Sesame Street" of Muppet Captain and co-executive producer.

__ Bruce Lee Info __

- born in US, raised in Hong Kong for teen years - moved back when 18 to receive citizenship and a higher education ($100 in pocket) - during this time, he started teaching martial arts and starred in movies -