Muppet Movie, Sesame Street was Love's domain, along with Caroly Wilcox, as one of the key supervisors. He also portrayed Willy, the hot dog vendor, on Sesame Street. He even puppeteered on the special Julie on Sesame Street. For the feature film Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, he served as special Muppet consultant, as well as appearing in many background scenes as Willy. Love was also involved in designing many of the Sesame Street puppets for the early international productions. For the special The Great Santa Claus Switch, Love contributed to the giant Thig. In his memoir The Wit and Wisdom of Big Bird, Caroll Spinney speaks affectionately of Love and his importance to the show, though noting an occasional cantankerous side. Beyond Sesame Street In addition to his work on Sesame Street, Love remained busy as freelancer, creating and building puppets for the non-Henson puppet series The Great Space Coaster. One of his specials was watched by a young Kevin Clash, whose parents contacted Kermit and told him about their son. Kermit worked as a mentor to Kevin and introduced him to Jim Henson, helped Kevin get jobs on children's shows The Great Space Coaster and Captain Kangaroo. After both shows were cancelled, Kevin moved on to Sesame Street. Other works included building the Snuggle Bear puppet for the popular Snuggle fabric softener commercials. Love also appeared as Santa Claus on the cover of New York magazine in December 1982, 1984 and 1985. Going into semi-retirement in the 1990s, Love remained active, building many full-body puppets for the Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker performances, such as designing the mice and the -tall Mother Ginger puppet, an association that continued as recently as 2004. In 1993, he directed the Whirligig pilot for PBS at The Studios at Los Colinas, Irving, Texas. In 2001, Love designed Aza, the bird-like mascot for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Personal life and final years Although he was American, Love often spoke with an English accent. He resided in Stanfordville, New York and was survived by Christopher Lyall, his partner of 50 years. Love died on June 21, 2008, of congestive heart failure and pneumonia in Poughkeepsie, New York. References External links Rick Lyon's Photos from Love's 85th Birthday Party Dance Magazine Profile profile at Theater Development Fund 1916 births 2008 deaths Male actors from New Jersey American costume designers American puppeteers Ballet designers