Who Are Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street
Bert and Ernie are two of the most iconic Muppet characters on the long-running PBS children's television series Sesame Street, which first aired in 1969 and is produced by Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City. The characters were created by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, with Bert performed originally by Frank Oz and Ernie performed by Jim Henson for decades. The show features them as roommates sharing a basement apartment at 123 Sesame Street, and their dynamic pairs a serious, rule-following personality with a carefree, playful one. Their interactions, catchphrases, and sketches have become a core part of children's educational entertainment and pop culture references worldwide. The characters have appeared in numerous specials, films, and digital content, maintaining their relevance across multiple generations of viewers. Forbes covered the cultural impact of the characters in a 2023 article.
Sesame Street has aired over 4,500 episodes across more than 150 countries, making it one of the longest-running and most widely distributed television shows in history. The series is funded by a combination of licensing revenue, public broadcasting grants, and corporate sponsors, with Sesame Workshop reporting total operating revenue exceeding $160 million in recent fiscal years. Bert and Ernie merchandise, including plush toys, books, and apparel, remains a consistent top seller for Sesame Workshop's licensing division. The show's educational curriculum is developed with input from child psychologists and educators, focusing on literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills. Sesame Workshop's official site details the organization's mission and financial structure.
Are Bert and Ernie Brothers or Just Friends
The question of whether Bert and Ernie are brothers has been a persistent fan theory for decades, fueled by their shared last name, their living arrangement, and their close bond. However, Sesame Workshop and the show's creators have consistently stated that Bert and Ernie are not related and are simply best friends and roommates. The characters do not share a surname in any official Sesame Street canon, and their dynamic is intentionally designed to model a platonic friendship between two very different personalities. This clarification has been reiterated in multiple interviews with puppeteers and producers over the years. The Sesame Street fan wiki compiles official character bios and production notes.
Fan speculation about their relationship often draws parallels with other fictional duos, but Sesame Street's format is explicitly educational, and the show's writers have confirmed that the characters' pairing is based on complementary traits rather than familial ties. The show's format uses the Bert and Ernie sketches to teach concepts like patience, sharing, and conflict resolution. In 2018, a social media post by a Sesame Street writer reignited the debate, but the official Sesame Street social media accounts reaffirmed that the characters are friends. The lack of any canonical evidence supporting a brotherly relationship makes the friendship interpretation the only factually supported answer. The Hollywood Reporter has addressed the fan theory in coverage of the show.
Bert and Ernie Voice Actors and Puppeteers
Original Performers and Long-Term Cast
Jim Henson originated the performance of Ernie and performed the character from 1969