Richard Hunt, 40, a performer who gave life to scores of zany characters that appeared on television's "Sesame Street," "Fraggle Rock" and "The Muppet Show," died Jan. 7 at a hospital in Manhattan. He had AIDS.

To "Sesame Street" fans, he was Don Music, Sully the construction worker and cowboy Forgetful Jones. He also brought to life Gladys the Cow -- who possessed a Julia Child-type voice -- and opera star Placido Flamingo. On "The Muppet Show," he was the ever-whining and much dumped-on Beaker, throaty jazz aficionado Janice, Scooter, Statler and Sweetums. In "Fraggle Rock," he was the voice, eyes and mouth of the shaggy, lumbering Junior Gorg, one of the giant creatures who made life miserable for the Fraggles. He also was the voice behind tiny Turbo Doozer, the Mean Genie and Gunge.

Copyright 1992 The Washington Post

This article was found on the Lexis-Nexis database.