Michael Jeter (August 26, 1952 – March 30, 2003) was an American actor of film, stage, and television. His television roles include Herman Stiles on Evening Shade from 1990 until 1994 and Mr. Noodle's brother, Mr. Noodle on Elmo's World (Sesame Street) from January 3, 2000 until April 16, 2003. Jeter's film roles include Zelig, The Fisher King, Waterworld, Air Bud, The Green Mile, Jurassic Park III, and The Polar Express.
Jeter's woebegone look, extreme flexibility, and high energy led Tommy Tune to cast him in the off-Broadway play Cloud 9 in 1981. Much of his work specialized in playing eccentric, pretentious, or wimpy characters, as in The Fisher King, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Drop Zone. Occasionally, Jeter was able to stay away from these types of roles for more diverse characters like those he portrayed in Jurassic Park III, Air Bud and Open Range. Perhaps the most enduring role he starred in on the big screen was when he starred in the classic movie 'Green Mile' and was nominated along with others on the cast for a Screen Actors Guild award.
He was also a favorite with younger audiences in his role as Mr. Noodle's brother, Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street from 1999 to 2003. He appeared in an episode of Touched by an Angel in 1999 as Gus, an insurance salesman who arrives in Las Vegas in the episode "The Man Upstairs". His last two appearances were in the films The Polar Express and Open Range. Both films were in post-production at the time of his death and, when released, contained a dedication to his memory.
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