Can You Believe How Old Elmo and These Other Beloved TV Characters Are?

Celebrate the Sesame Street favorite's birthday with a look at some surprising ages

By Billy Nilles Nov 18, 2015 7:17 PMTags
Elmo, Sesame StreetPBS

Would you believe us if we told you that Elmo made his debut on Sesame Street 30 years ago today?

It may seem impossible, but the adorable red monster has been a part of our lives for three decades now after his introduction to children everywhere on Nov. 18, 1985. Once we got over how old this monumental milestone made us feel, we got to thinking: How old are some of our other beloved TV characters? So we did the math and, well, it only made us feel even older. Prepare to have your mind blown.

Kermit the Frog

Jim Henson's most famous creation is still cracking us up on ABC's The Muppets reboot, but the little green guy has some serious years behind him. He first made his debut in 1955 on WRC-TV's Sam and Friends, making America's favorite frog 60 years old!

Fox

Maggie Simpson

Sure, the youngest member of The Simpsons has never moved past her toddler years, but she's almost as old as Elmo. Her family first appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987 before being spun-off onto their own long-running series, which makes Maggie 28 years old.

NBC

Zack Morris

Mark-Paul Gosselaar's first appearance as the '90s coolest high school student actually predates Saved by the Bell—and the decade he's come to define. Zack Morris first appeared as an eighth grader on Disney Channel's Good Morning, Miss Bliss in 1988. Considering the average age of eighth graders is 13, that would make Zack 40 today. And that means the time is finally right for our reboot idea: Saved by the Bell: The Midlife Crisis Years.

ABC

Bugs Bunny

What's up, doc? Oh, just Bugs Bunny's age is all. The Looney Toons favorite first appeared in the Tex Avery short A Wild Hare all the way back in 1940, making the rabbit 75 and his basketball skills in Space Jam all the more impressive, all things considered.

ABC

Michelle Tanner

When Michelle first made her debut on Full House in 1987, she was but an infant, still a few years out from the catchphrase machine she'd become. Sadly, the world won't get to see if, at 28, she's still running around saying "You got it, dude" since Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen won't be returning for Fuller House. Fun fact: Michelle and Maggie Simpson are the same age!

Nickelodeon

Doug Funnie

When Doug and his family moved to Bluffington at the start of the Nickeodeon series in 1991, he was 11 years old, making him 35 now. We don't even want to think about what that means for Porkchop, his dog.

Lizzie McGuire

When Lizzie McGuire premiered on Disney Channel in 2001, Hilary Duff's character was 13 years old—which means she'd be 27 years old today. And totally married to Gordo (Adam Lamberg), right? Right.

FOX

Stewie Griffin

Everyone's favorite diabolical toddler was one year old when Family Guy first premiered on Fox in 1999. If he aged like a normal human, he'd be 17 today. Yep, that's how long Family Guy has been around. We can hardly believe it either.

WB

Buffy Summers

When Buffy moved to Sunnydale at the start of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997, she was 15 years old. So, if she was still slaying on TV today, she'd be 33 years old.

Nickelodeon

Tommy Pickles

Little Tommy was only one year old when Rugrats premiered in 1991, which means he'd be 25 today. Where's that All Grown Up! special, Nickelodeon?

MTV

Daria Morgendorffer

Our favorite sarcastic high school was 16 years old when Daria debuted on MTV in 1997, meaning she'd be 34 years old in 2015. We'd love to see what a mid-30s Daria looks like, if only to see if she and Jane are still BFF. They have to be, OK? They just have to be.

Art Streiber/NBC

John Munch

There is no fictional character that has appeared in more TV series than Richard Belzer's John Munch—nine series on five networks since his debut on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1993. During his time on Law & Order: SVU, it was implied several times that he was born in 1951, which makes the retired sergeant 64 today.

Comedy Central

Eric Cartman

Respect his authority! America's most profane elementary school student was in third grade when South Park premiered on Comedy Central in 1997. Taking the average age of third graders (eight) into account, that would make Cartman 26 years old today.

Which TV character's age surprised you the most? Sound off in the comments below!