Shari Lewis (born Phyllis Naomi Hurwitz on January 17, 1933, in New York City) was a pioneering American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television host. She gained national fame with her beloved sock puppet, Lamb Chop, first introduced on Captain Kangaroo in 1956. Lewis's career spanned over four decades, during which she became a prominent figure in children's entertainment.