Doug Kincaid

Doug Kincaid in St. Louis, 2012

Douglas Doerr "Doug" Kincaid (born 1962) is an American artist, writer, and performer, best known for his work in the fields of puppetry and promotional costuming (mascot costumes).

Early influences, education, and career

From an early age, Kincaid was interested in the creation and depiction of imaginary characters and settings, especially in the fields of motion pictures, television, and theme parks. He lists as major artistic influences Walt Disney, animation legend Chuck Jones, acclaimed writer and Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling, and veteran character actor Felix Silla. In 1977, at the age of 15, he co-founded with brother William Kincaid The Kincaid Karacter Company, which would become one of the best known national producers of professional mascot costumes, helping to develop and manufacture such iconic American mascots as "BUDMAN" for Anheuser-Busch, "Fredbird" for The St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, the "Billiken" for Saint Louis University basketball team, "Elroy Elk", the national mascot of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (Elks Lodges), and "Homer", the handyman mascot of home improvement giant Home Depot.

From 1978 to 1981, Kincaid worked with the Six Flags Theme Park in St. Louis, Missouri, creating and portraying costumed characters, performing in the puppet theater, and designing characters and sets with brother Bill for the Six Flags haunted attractions. While attending Washington University in St. Louis in 1980, Kincaid began a 19-year relationship with CBS affiliate KMOX (later KMOV-TV), performing, writing, and creating sets, puppets, and characters (again with brother Bill) for two Emmy Award winning children's programs, D. B.'s Delight (1977–1988) and Gator Tales (1988–1999).

In early 1990, Kincaid passed an audition with The Muppets, and trained with them during the summer of 1990 at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando in preparation for a planned series of television specials to be produced there. The death of Muppet founder Jim Henson in May of that year resulted in these plans being shelved, however.

During the summer of 1993, Kincaid was a featured performer/puppeteer on Ranger Bob's Buckaroo Club, a children's television show produced by WKCF TV 18 in Orlando.

For a brief period in 2001–2002, Kincaid was a member of St. Louis Improv Comedy Troupe CITYImprov at Union Station along with comedian Tim Powers.

Recent projects

In addition to year-round touring and performing as a professional puppeteer, Kincaid continues to design and create mascot characters for an endless variety of organizations and applications. Recently, he co-founded, with two fellow artists, "Implemented Arts Group" (IAG), a St. Louis based creative services studio that specializes in sets, props, murals, special effects, and the creation of three-dimensional themed environments. He currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

References

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