When it comes to Sesame Street legends, few characters are as iconic (or as hungry) as Cookie Monster. With his unmistakable blue fur, googly eyes, and insatiable love for cookies, he has been delighting children and adults alike for decades. But how much do you really know about this lovable, biscuit-guzzling monster?
From his surprising real name to the shocking truth about his cookies, here are 10 crumb-tastic facts about Cookie Monster that might just surprise you!
1. Cookie Monster’s Real Name Isn’t Cookie Monster
Yes, you read that right! Before he became the cookie-loving icon we all know, he actually had a real name—Sid. In an old Sesame Street skit, Cookie Monster revealed, “Me name is Sid, but me changed it to Cookie Monster!” It’s safe to say the name suits him much better!
2. He Wasn’t Always Blue
Believe it or not, Cookie Monster didn’t always sport his signature blue fur. Before his Sesame Street days, he appeared in a series of Jim Henson commercials in the 1960s—back then, he had green, brown, and even orange fur! When he finally made it onto Sesame Street, he was given his now-iconic blue makeover.
3. Those Cookies Aren’t Real!
It might break your heart to hear this, but the cookies Cookie Monster munches on aren’t real biscuits! The crew on Sesame Street found that real biscuits were too messy and would damage the puppet. Instead, they use painted rice cakes or dyed puffed cereal to create the illusion of delicious, crumbly cookies.
So, despite all his singing and excitement over biscuits, Cookie Monster has probably never eaten a real one in his life!
4. He Has a Family
Cookie Monster isn’t the only one in his family with a love for biscuits. He has been seen with his mum, dad, and even a baby cousin named Biscuit Monster! His mother once tried to teach him about eating healthy, but let’s be honest—he was always destined to be the cookie king.
5. Cookie Monster Was Once a Commercial Mascot
Before Sesame Street, Cookie Monster wasn’t munching biscuits—he was a corporate mascot! Jim Henson originally created him as part of an advert campaign for snack foods in the 1960s.
In these early commercials, he was known as the “Wheel Stealer”, where he would gobble up anything in sight—not just biscuits! It was only later that he found his true love for cookies and joined Sesame Street.
6. He’s Multilingual!
Cookie Monster is famous all over the world, and he speaks more than just English! Across different countries, his voice and name sometimes change to fit local cultures. For example, in France, he is called “Macaron le Glouton”, and in Germany, he’s “Krümelmonster” (which translates to “Crumb Monster”).
But no matter the language, one thing stays the same—his love for cookies!
7. He Almost Had a Different Personality
Early drafts of Sesame Street almost gave Cookie Monster a very different personality. Originally, he was meant to be a mischievous and slightly scary character who stole food, not just biscuits.
Thankfully, the writers decided to make him more fun and lovable, turning him into the enthusiastic, cookie-obsessed monster we all adore today.
8. He Once Tried a “Healthy” Diet
In the early 2000s, Sesame Street introduced a campaign to promote healthy eating, and Cookie Monster briefly swapped his biscuit obsession for the phrase:
“Cookies are a sometimes food.”
This led to some controversy, as fans feared their favourite monster was being forced onto a diet. But don’t worry—he never stopped loving cookies; he just learned to enjoy them in moderation!
9. He Has a Hit Song!
One of the most famous songs in Sesame Street history is “C is for Cookie”, performed by Cookie Monster himself. The song debuted in 1972 and quickly became an anthem for children everywhere.
Even today, it remains a Sesame Street classic, proving that Cookie Monster’s love for biscuits is truly timeless.
10. Cookie Monster Has an Official Twitter Account
Yes, Cookie Monster is on social media! His official Twitter account (@MeCookieMonster) is filled with hilarious posts, updates, and, of course, plenty of biscuit-related wisdom.
One of his most famous tweets?
“Me just ate cookie. That all. Carry on.”
Simple, classic, and very on-brand!
So, how many of these crumb-tastic facts did you already know? From his surprising real name to his early days as a commercial mascot, Cookie Monster has quite a history beyond just eating biscuits.
Do you have a favourite Cookie Monster moment? Share it in the comments below—just don’t forget to grab a biscuit while you’re at it!
And as Cookie Monster himself would say…“Me want cookie!” 