Costumed Children’s TV Characters Without Their Masks

As children, we often don’t think too hard about the colorful characters that fill out TV time. Behind each costumed hero, though, there’s a real, living breathing person – and some of them are really, really weird in real life…

Barney the Dinosaur

Debuting in 1992, Barney the Dinosaur appeared in “Barney & Friends” on PBS, with new episodes airing regularly until 2009.

Several different actors wore the Barney costume over time, but the most prolific Barney has gone on to a far more controversial career in the years since.

David Joyner

Self-proclaimed spiritualist and healer David Joyner now works providing tantric “massages” for $350 a session.

He only takes female clients, and the words he uses to describe his sessions are so incredibly creepy that it is utterly terrifying that women believe anything he says.

If you don’t want your childhood ruined forever, maybe don’t Google this guy.

Bear in the Big Blue House

“Bear in the Big Blue House” ran from 1997 to 2006 on Playhouse Disney, and features a large bear (simply named Bear) and his colorful collection of fuzzy friends.

Noel MacNeal

Joel MacNeal first began his career in entertainment as a puppeteer on “Sesame Street” before taking on the role of Bear.

In addition to work in a fuzzy costume, he also wrote scripts for the show, as well as other edutainment shows including “The Magic Schoolbus.”