Allan Trautman (born May 25, 1955) is an American puppeteer, best known for his work with The Jim Henson Company.
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Early life
He is originally from Brooklyn, New York. Trautman has a B.A. in Physics and Drama from Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. He later obtained an MFA in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts in 1978.
Career
He had his first job as a puppeteer during college working on The Letter People. Trautman spent two summers performing at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. He stayed in Los Angeles after graduation and performed with Sid and Marty Krofft. In 1985, he portrayed The Tarman, one of the lead zombies of the "Return of The Living Dead" film series, often considered one of the most iconic zombies in film. He would return to the role for two of the film's sequels in 1986 and 2005, respectively. Trautman began working with the Muppets in 1990 on Muppet*Vision 3D, which played at Disney's Hollywood Studios from 1991 to 2025, and Disney California Adventure from 2001 to 2014. He has been working with Jim Henson's Creature Shop since 1991 on animatronic projects as well as The Henson Digital Performance Studio. He is a cast member of Henson Alternative's puppet improv show, Puppet Up! (a.k.a. Stuffed and Unstrung), touring to such places as Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. He has also teaches Improvisation at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California.
Filmography
Film
The Return of the Living Dead (1985) — Tarman Zombie
Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988) — Tarman Zombie
Cold Dog Soup (1990) — Joseph
Muppet Classic Theater (1994) — Banker, Father Pig
Jack Frost (1998) — Puppeteer
Muppets from Space (1999) — Additional Muppet Performer
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) — Juicer (voice, uncredited)
Monkeybone (2001) — BBQ Pig (voice)
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002, TV Movie) — Eugene, Performer of Joe Snow
Intolerable Cruelty (2003) — Convention Lawyer
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005) — Tarman Zombie
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005, TV Movie) — Crow, Old Tom
The Jungle Book (2016) — Animal Voices (voice), Puppeteer
The Happytime Murders (2018) — Octopus, Puppet Doctor (puppetry only, voiced by Damon Jones)
Television
The Letter People (1974-1976) — Mister C, Mister K, Mr. V (puppeteer)
Dinosaurs — Fran Sinclair (face performer), Grandpa Louie (performer), Winston (performer), Georgie the Hippo (suit performer and normal voice), Bradley P. Richfield (suit performer, occasionally), Mr. Pulman, Dr. Elliot Piaget, Edward R. Hero, Moolah the Cash Cow, Mr. Lizard, Mr. Otto Lynch
The Puzzle Place — Kyle O'Connor (Season 3 Puppetry only)
Sid the Science Kid — Director
Unhappily Ever After — Mr. Floppy Puppeteer
Puppet Up! on TBS
Greg the Bunny
Muppets Tonight — Fairyland Police Chief ("Fairyland PD" segments)
The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth — Gil the Grouper, Johnny Paste, Sherry the Fairy, Sunny the Sun
Splash and Bubbles — Bob
Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) — Supporting Muppet Performer
The Muppet Show (2026) — Supporting Muppet Performer
Web series
Alt/Reality — Various
Simian Undercover Detective Squad — Skreet the Orangutan
Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony — Deliveryman (ep. 17)
Other
Puppet Up! — Performer
Stuffed and Unstrung — Performer
Dr. Dolittle — Puppet Coordinator
The Muppets Take the Bowl — Additional Muppet Performer (live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Sept. 8–10, 2017)
The Muppets Take the O2 — Additional Muppet Performer (live show at the O2 Arena, Jul. 13-14, 2018)
