Ryan Dillon is a professional puppeteer, voice-over performer, and puppet builder located in New York.

Since childhood, Ryan has been creating puppets and making them come alive in his hometown of Philadelphia.

Trained by John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Johnny and The Sprites) when he was sixteen, he honed his craft and met other important performers dedicated to the art of puppetry.

When he was still in high school, he was asked to become a puppeteer for Sesame Street. Initially hired at seventeen, he was one of the youngest performers ever hired at the company.

Through Sesame Street, Ryan has had the pleasure of working with the amazing Muppeteers, as well as guest stars including Jennifer Hudson (American Idol, Dreamgirls),  Amy Sedaris (Strangers With Candy), Lee-Ann Womack ("I Hope You Dance" song),  Shirley Jones (The Partridge Family)  and more.

Aside from The Muppets, Ryan has also puppeteered on various television projects, working for companies such as Nickelodeon, The Ohio State Lottery, Comedy Central, and more . Along with television, Ryan also has performed in many live theatrical productions. Through the O'Neill Puppetry Conference in Waterford, Connecticut, he has worked with directors such as Terry Lee, Paul Mesner, and Ron Binion. Taking what he was learned from his own professional experiences, Ryan has also taught classes in television puppetry at Penn Sate and various schools and centers on the east coast.

In March 2010, Ryan made his Off-Broadway review in "John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean!" playing Dorsel. The show is currently playing at New World Stages in New York City. 

Photo by Frankie Cordero