Caroll Spinney, ‘Big Bird’ And ‘Oscar The Grouch’ Muppeteer, Dies
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Caroll Spinney "Oscar and Big Bird" attends SiriusXM's Town Hall with original cast members from Sesame Street commemorating the 45th anniversary of the celebrated series debut on public television moderated by Weekend TODAY co-anchor Erica Hill on October 9, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Carroll Spinney, the man who played Big Bird on Sesame Street, has passed away. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Spinney also operated and voiced Oscar The Grouch during his almost fifty years on the show. He retired in October 2018.
Spinney won five Daytime Emmy Awards while on Sesame Street, and he also received a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2006.
The Hollywood Reporter adds that he died in his home after “living with dystonia for some time.” He was 85 years old.
Carroll Spinney was survived by his wife, Debra, and his three children.
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