The legendary puppeteer behind beloved Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch has died.
Caroll Spinney passed away Sunday at his home in Connecticut.
The 85-year-old had been living with dystonia for some time.
In a statement, Sesame Street described Spinney as an “artistic genius” whose legacy will be unending.
“His enormous talent and outsized heart were perfectly suited to playing the larger-than-life yellow bird who brought joy to generations of children and countless fans of all ages around the world, and his lovably cantankerous grouch gave us all permission to be cranky once in a while.”
Joan Ganz Cooney, the co-founder of Sesame Street, said Spinney’s contributions to the show are countless.
“He not only gave us Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, he gave so much of himself as well,” she said. “We at Sesame Workshop mourn his passing and feel an immense gratitude for all he has given to Sesame Street and to children around the world.”
Spinney joined Sesame Street for its inaugural season in 1969 and officially announced his retirement in 2018.
