Who is the largest of the Sesame Street muppets?

The title of Sesame Street (Review)'s biggest resident belongs to the gentle, woolly mammoth-like creature named Aloysius Snuffleupagus. Known affectionately as Snuffy to his friends, his immense size requires two puppeteers working in tandem to operate the massive costume. One performer controls his head, expressive eyes, and front legs, while a second puppeteer maneuvers his substantial back half. This operational complexity makes him not only the longest and heaviest main character but also one of the most challenging to perform.

For the first 14 years of his existence on the show, Snuffy was famously portrayed as Big Bird's seemingly imaginary friend. He would always manage to shuffle away just moments before any of the adult characters arrived, leaving them to believe he was a figment of Big Bird's imagination. This long-running gag was eventually retired for a very important reason.

In 1985, the show's producers grew concerned that the adults constantly disbelieving a child could send a negative message to young viewers, potentially discouraging them from sharing important truths with adults in their own lives. In a landmark episode, Snuffy was finally revealed to the entire cast, cementing his place as a very real, and very large, member of the neighborhood.