Michael Jeter

Michael Jeter (August 26, 1952 – March 30, 2003) was an American actor of film, stage, and television. His notable television roles are as Herman Stiles on Evening Shade from 1990 until 1994 and for playing Mr. Noodle's brother Mr. Noodle on Elmo's World from 2000 until 2003. Jeter's film roles include Zelig, The Fisher King, Waterworld, Air Bud, The Green Mile, Jurassic Park III, and The Polar Express, among many others.

Early life

Jeter was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee on August 26, 1952. His mother, Virginia (née Raines; May 6, 1927), was a housewife. His father, William Claud Jeter (March 10, 1922 – March 1, 2010), was a dentist. Jeter had one brother, William, and four sisters, Virginia, Amanda, Emily, and Larie. Jeter was a student at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) when his interests changed from medicine to acting. He performed in several plays and musicals at the Circuit Theatre and its sister theatre, the Playhouse on the Square, in midtown Memphis. He left Memphis to further pursue his stage career in Baltimore, Maryland.

Career

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.

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.

• In 1990, Jeter won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway musical Grand Hotel.
• He won an Emmy Award in 1992 for his role in the television sitcom Evening Shade as math teacher and assistant football coach Herman Stiles.

Personal life

Jeter was openly gay and met his partner Sean Blue in 1995. They were together from 1995 until Jeter's death in 2003.

Death

On March 30, 2003, Jeter was found dead in his Hollywood home at age 50. Although he had HIV, he had been in good health for many years. His partner, Sean Blue, stated publicly that Jeter died of an epileptic seizure.