Noel MacNeal is an American puppeteer, actor, writer, and director known for his long career in children’s television and puppetry. He first worked on Sesame Street, where he trained under Jim Henson and Frank Oz and contributed both performance and direction over many years. MacNeal gained distinction through his portrayal of Bear on Bear in the Big Blue House and Breakfast with Bear, and has been the resident puppeteer on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver since 2014.
MacNeal’s repertoire spans many well-known children’s series: he performed Kako on Oobi, Magellan on Eureeka’s Castle, and Leon MacNeal on The Puzzle Place. He has also contributed as a writer for shows such as The Puzzle Place, Eureeka’s Castle, The Magic School Bus, Cyberchase, and Gullah Gullah Island. In theatrical puppetry work, he has served as swing puppeteer and swing voice for Little Shop of Horrors.