Orange Characters on Sesame Street: Zoe, Ernie, Oscar, and More

If you’ve ever searched for the orange characters on Sesame Street, you’re definitely not alone. Several well-known Sesame Street characters have orange fur, skin, or hair and a few of them have become some of the most recognizable residents of the neighborhood.

While Zoe and Ernie are probably the first orange characters that come to mind, they’re far from the only ones. In fact, even Oscar the Grouch started out as orange in the earliest days of the show before eventually becoming the green grouch we know today.

While characters like Zoe and Ernie are known for their orange coloring, other Sesame Street favorites like Count von Count, the number-loving vampire-inspired character, bring their own unique personalities to the neighborhood. Orange monsters aren’t the only colorful residents on the street—characters like Telly Monster, the lovable worrier who often plays his triangle, are also longtime friends of the Sesame Street gang.

Here’s a closer look at the orange characters who have appeared on Sesame Street over the years, including some famous favorites and a few lesser-known monsters.

Ernie

Ernie is one of the most famous orange characters on Sesame Street and has been part of the show since its very first season in 1969. With his bright orange face, wide smile, and striped sweater, Ernie quickly became one of the show’s most beloved characters. He is best known as the playful and mischievous roommate of Bert.

Ernie’s personality is cheerful, imaginative, and sometimes a little chaotic. His playful nature often drives Bert a bit crazy, which is exactly what makes their friendship so funny and memorable.

One of Ernie’s most famous moments came in the song “Rubber Duckie,” which he sings while taking a bath. The song became so popular that it was actually released as a single in the 1970s and even charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ernie has been performed by several puppeteers over the years. Jim Henson originally performed the character until his death in 1990. Since then, the character has been performed by Steve Whitmire and later Billy Barkhurst. Over the decades, Ernie has appeared in countless classic Sesame Street sketches involving imagination, problem solving, and friendship.

Zoe

Zoe is another well-known orange character on Sesame Street. She joined the cast in 1993 and quickly became one of the show’s main monster characters. Zoe is energetic, confident, and sometimes a bit dramatic. She is often shown playing games with Elmo and participating in segments focused on imagination and storytelling.

One of Zoe’s most famous character traits is her beloved pet rock named Rocco. Zoe insists that Rocco is real, which often leads to humorous disagreements with Elmo. This running joke has become one of the character’s most recognizable gags.

Zoe also frequently appears in Elmo’s World segments and other parts of the show designed for younger viewers. The character was originally performed by puppeteer Fran Brill and later by Jennifer Barnhart, who continues to perform Zoe today.

Oscar the Grouch (Originally Orange)

Most fans know Oscar the Grouch as the grumpy green character who lives in a trash can. But in the first season of Sesame Street, Oscar was actually orange.

During Season 1 in 1969, Oscar’s fur was bright orange instead of green. The character’s color was changed in later seasons, eventually becoming the familiar green version audiences recognize today.

Sesame Street later joked about this change by having Oscar explain that he turned green during a vacation to a swamp. Oscar was created to introduce children to the idea that not everyone has to be cheerful all the time. His grouchy personality provided a humorous contrast to the generally upbeat tone of the show.

Despite his constant complaining, Oscar remains one of the show’s most beloved characters.

Murray Orange Sesame Street Character

Murray Monster is another orange Sesame Street character who appeared regularly on the show beginning in the mid-2000s. Murray is a friendly, curious monster who is especially known for his segments called “Murray Has a Little Lamb.”

In these segments, Murray visits real schools and classrooms with his lamb, Ovejita. Together they observe different activities that children are doing, such as art projects, science experiments, or music lessons. Murray usually asks lots of questions while the children explain what they are learning.

Murray was performed by puppeteer and writer Joey Mazzarino, who also wrote many Sesame Street segments during that time. The character helped bridge the gap between the Muppet world of Sesame Street and real children in classrooms.

Although Murray has appeared less frequently in recent seasons, he remains one of the more recognizable orange monster characters introduced in the later years of Sesame Street.

Rudy (Abby Cadabby’s Stepbrother)

Rudy is an energetic orange monster who was introduced to Sesame Street in 2017. He is the younger stepbrother of Abby Cadabby and became part of the show when Abby’s family storyline expanded.

Rudy is curious, enthusiastic, and sometimes a little impatient. Because he is younger than many of the other characters, his stories often focus on learning how to share, take turns, and handle big feelings. Abby frequently helps guide him through these situations.

The character was introduced as part of Sesame Street’s effort to show different types of families, including blended families. Rudy’s addition allowed the show to explore sibling relationships and everyday challenges that many children experience.

Rudy is performed by puppeteer Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, who also performs Abby Cadabby.

Julia on Sesame Street

Julia is an orange-haired Sesame Street character who was introduced to the show in 2017. She is one of the newest residents of the neighborhood and was created to help children understand autism.

Julia is curious, creative, and loves to play. She especially enjoys drawing and creating art. Like many children on the autism spectrum, Julia sometimes communicates and interacts with the world a little differently than the other characters. For example, she may repeat words she hears or become very focused on activities she enjoys.

Her friends on Sesame Street learn how to understand and support her, showing young viewers that everyone experiences the world in different ways. Julia’s storylines often focus on friendship, patience, and inclusion.

The character was developed in collaboration with autism advocates and experts to make sure she was portrayed thoughtfully and accurately. Julia has become an important part of Sesame Street’s ongoing effort to help children learn about kindness, acceptance, and understanding differences.

Sully the Construction Worker

Sully is a human character on Sesame Street who often appears alongside his construction partner, Biff. With his bright orange skin tone and signature hard hat, Sully is easily recognizable in many classic Sesame Street sketches.

Biff and Sully frequently appear in construction-themed segments where they build, measure, hammer, and count materials. These scenes are often used to teach concepts like numbers, shapes, and problem solving.

The two characters also appear in humorous sketches where they try to understand instructions or complete simple tasks, sometimes getting a bit confused along the way. Their friendly back-and-forth conversations help demonstrate teamwork and communication.

Sully has been portrayed by several actors over the years and has appeared on Sesame Street since the early seasons. Together with Biff, he remains one of the show’s most familiar recurring human characters.

Don Music

Don Music is a classic Sesame Street character known for his dramatic struggles with songwriting. Although he isn’t a monster like many other Muppets, he has an orange face and wild hair, making him one of the more recognizable orange characters to appear on the show.

Don Music usually appeared sitting at his piano, trying to compose songs about simple topics like numbers, letters, or everyday activities. Unfortunately, inspiration didn’t always come easily. When he got frustrated, he would often shout “I’ll never get it! Never!” and bang his head on the piano keys.

In many sketches, another character—often Kermit the Frog—would step in to help Don finish his song. Once he finally figured it out, Don would happily sing the completed version.

The character was performed by puppeteer Richard Hunt during the early years of Sesame Street. Don Music became a memorable part of the show’s classic sketches, especially for fans who grew up watching Sesame Street in the 1970s and 1980s.

Why Sesame Street Uses Bright Colors

One reason Sesame Street features so many colorful characters is because the show was originally designed to appeal to young children who were just beginning to learn about shapes, letters, numbers, and colors.

Bright colors like orange, red, blue, and green help characters stand out visually and keep children engaged. The creators of Sesame Street wanted the neighborhood to feel fun, lively, and visually interesting, which is why the characters come in so many different colors and shapes.

From Ernie’s bright orange face to Zoe’s fuzzy orange fur, orange characters have been part of the Sesame Street world for decades. And with new characters continuing to appear over the years, the colorful neighborhood of Sesame Street is always full of surprises.