William Mills "
Bill"
Irwin (born April 11, 1950) is an American actor, clown, and comedian. He began as a
vaudeville-style stage performances and has been noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He has also made a number of appearances on film and television, and he won a
Tony Award for his role in
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf on
Broadway. He is also known as
Mr. Noodle on
Sesame Streets "
Elmo's World", and regularly appears as a therapist on
Law and Order SVU. His adaptation allowed him to interpolate his signature clowning routines into the course of the action.