Caroll Spinney, "Sesame Street's" Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Dies at 85

[JamesG]

Caroll Spinney, "Sesame Street’s" Big Bird for 50 Years, is Retiring
by Patrick Hipes
October 17, 2018





Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who played "Sesame Street‘s" Big Bird as well as Oscar the Grouch character since the iconic children’s show’s premiere episode in 1969, is retiring.

Producer Sesame Workshop announced the news Wednesday.




The world famous Big Bird has had a great flight in the hands of Spinney, having visited China with Bob Hope in 1979, danced with the Rockettes, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and named a “Living Legend” in 2000 by the Library of Congress.

“Caroll has been one of the leading lights of Sesame Street from the very beginning,” said Joan Ganz Cooney, co-founder of Sesame Workshop, in a release announcing the news.

“His genius and his talent made Big Bird the most beloved yellow feathered friend across the globe. But the sheer artistry of Caroll is that he also brought Oscar to life and made him the most lovable Grouch in the world.”





“Big Bird brought me so many places, opened my mind and nurtured my soul,” Spinney said.

“And I plan to be an ambassador for Sesame Workshop for many years to come. After all, we’re a family! But now it’s time for two performers that I have worked with and respected – and actually hand-picked for the guardianship of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch – to take my alter-egos into their hands and continue to give them life.”

https://deadline.com/2018/10/caroll-...et-1202484591/

[TMC]

In praise of Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch

In Caroll Spinney's Sesame Street retirement announcement Wednesday morning, Big Bird got many of the headlines. But in addition to playing Big Bird, Spinning also voiced the famously grumpy, trash can-dwelling Oscar the Grouch. "He hates talking to people, complains all the time and treasures an old fish wrapped in newspaper and his pet, Slimey the Worm," Karen Zraick writes of Oscar. "But Oscar’s curmudgeonly nature and his dirty, matted green fur make him all the more endearing to his admirers. And with his constant kvetching, he offers kids lessons about how to handle conflict or negative emotions, like annoyance or anger." ALSO: Watch Sesame Street's tribute to Caroll Spinney.

[JamesG]

Caroll Spinney, Big Bird Muppeteer for Nearly 50 Years, Dies at 85
by Lisa de los Reyes
Dec. 8, 2019


Caroll Spinney, the big-hearted Muppeteer who climbed inside a claustrophobic feathered costume to play the beloved "Sesame Street" character Big Bird for almost a half-century, died Sunday, Sesame Workshop announced.

He was 85.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...was-85-1171833

[RetroGuy2000]

So sad. RIP.

[Svenfan1234]

[MA]

Very sad. RIP.

[Zoneboy]

Damn! Another part of my childhood gone. Oscar was always my favorite Sesame Street character.


Carroll, Big Bird and Oscar

[MA]

Sesame Street was a really big part of my childhood, so this made me really sad when finding out that he died.

[MrCleveland]

Spinney now joins Jim Henson...

And if this song doesn't make you wanna break-down...I feel sorry for you...

[OH Nuts!]

R.I.P.

[Hawkee]

I can't believe why Sesame Street put a new puppeteer to replace Carroll Spinney because I happened to see part of a Sesame Street episode and they had a Big Bird segment and when I heard Big Bird speak he sounds like Regis Philbin and when I heard Big Bird's new voice it sounded weird and I thought they should've cast a better puppeteer to replace Carroll Spinney. I hope Sesame Street don't use the same puppeteer for Oscar The Grouch because it's hard to find someone that can play Oscar The Grouch very good. Carroll Spinney was truly a legend of Sesame Street and really knew how how to make kids smile and Carroll's Oscar The Grouch role is his funniest role ever and I always thought Oscar was funny when I was a toddler watching Sesame Street
Bestie