Kevin Clash

One of the most beloved and successful characters in the world, Elmo is an international icon. But few people know his creator, Kevin Clash. Until now.

As a teenager growing up in the 1970's, Kevin had very different aspirations from his classmateshe wanted to be a puppeteer. More specifically, he dreamed of working with his idol, master puppeteer Jim Henson, the creative force behind Sesame Street.

Kevin began building puppets at the age of ten and performed on local television, where he caught the eye of one of the Muppet designers. Joining Sesame Street as a junior puppeteer, Kevin was given an old puppet that was on the verge of being cut from the show. Kevin gave it a new voice, a new personality, and a new name: Elmo, establishing one of the shows most successful and popular characters to date.

Kevin's unique and unlikely journey as the persona behind one of the world's most iconic characters is told in the new film, "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey." The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the coveted Special Jury Prize of 2011. The Hollywood Reporter called the film "a rare documentary that will connect across generations and cultures to delight viewers worldwide for years to come."

In addition to his Emmy Award-winning work with Elmo and other characters, Kevin is also Sesame Street's Senior Puppet Coordinator, Muppet and Captain. He has directed and co-produced several DVD series for Sesame Workshop, for which he also serves as Senior Creative Consultant.

He is also the author of "My Life As a Furry Red Monster: What Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud."

Clash is a wonderful example of finding one's passion, believing in one's dream and finding a way to achieve it.