Current Voice Actor for Elmo
Ryan Dillon has been the primary performer for Elmo on Sesame Street since 2013, taking over the role after Kevin Clash resigned in 2012 following allegations of inappropriate conduct with minors. Dillon joined the Sesame Street cast in 2005 and previously performed supporting characters before becoming the full-time Elmo performer. He is a native of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and a graduate of the University of Maryland.
Dillon performs Elmo in the modern Sesame Street production, which is produced by Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City. The show is filmed at the Sesame Workshop studios in Manhattan, and Elmo segments are integrated into the half-hour broadcast and the Sesame Street YouTube channels. The character remains one of the most recognizable Muppet figures in children's media.
Elmo's Role and Character Profile
Elmo is a red Muppet character who first appeared on Sesame Street in 1980 and was originally performed by Richard Hunt before Kevin Clash took over the role in 1985. The character is known for a high-pitched voice, a cheerful personality, and the recurring segment "Elmo's World," which was introduced in 1998 and targets preschool-aged viewers. Elmo's age is canonically three and a half years old.
Elmo's World Segment
"Elmo's World" was a dedicated five-minute segment within each Sesame Street episode that used a fixed set, animation, and live-action films to explore topics such as families, pets, and games. The segment was revamped in 2017 as "Elmo's World: The Next Generation," incorporating new animation and interactive elements to align with updated early childhood education standards. The segment remains a signature part of the Sesame Street format.
Sesame Street Production and Financial Overview
Sesame Street is produced by Sesame Workshop, which operates on a mix of licensing revenue, government funding, corporate sponsorships, and donations. The organization reported total revenue of approximately $33 million in its most recent public filings, with significant income derived from merchandise, international co-productions, and digital content. Sesame Workshop's financial statements are available in its annual reports and IRS Form 990 filings.
The show's broadcast rights and distribution are managed through partnerships with public television stations in the United States and international broadcasters in over 150 countries. HBO and Max held exclusive first-run streaming and television rights to new Sesame Street episodes starting in 2016, with a five-year agreement that was extended through 2025. Episodes then move to PBS stations after a nine-month exclusive window.
Streaming and Distribution
New episodes and a library of classic segments are available on Max, the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service, and on the official Sesame Street YouTube channel, which has billions of cumulative views. The YouTube channel features full episodes, animated segments, and viral clips, making it one of the most-watched children's content properties on the platform. Sesame Workshop also sells direct-to-consumer content through its own digital platforms and app.