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RIP Carroll Spinney

Connecticut–Caroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on “Sesame Street,” died Dec. 8 at his home here according to the Sesame Workshop. He was 85.
MSTies will recall that Big Bird was mentioned in a host segment in episode 318- STAR FORCE – FUGITIVE ALIEN II.

People Magazine has the story.

Thanks to Tim for the heads up.

14 Replies to “RIP Carroll Spinney”

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  1. Big Bird and Oscar – what a remarkable legacy! There is a traveling exhibit on Jim Henson’s Muppets here in Albuquerque right now, with many of the puppets on display. All of these puppets, along with our own favorites Crow, Servo, & Gypsy, show the wonderful magic and power that such characters can have. RIP, Mr. Spinney, your work will continue to delight and educate for decades to come!

       12 likes

  2. goalieboy82 says:

    this comes to mind:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NjFbz6vGU8

       1 likes

  3. Lawgiver says:

    RIP.

       4 likes

  4. mst3kme says:

    As I posted on another board, I had hoped Carroll Spinney would have a long, happy, fulfilling retirement after bringing so much joy, fun, love, laughter, and learning to “Sesame Street” for 49 years.

    Mr. Spinney will always be remembered and loved for his work as the delightful, inquisitive Big Bird and the grumpy, but endearing Oscar the Grouch.

    On a more personal note here, I’m of the generation of “Sesame Street” viewers who started watching after Big Bird went from the village goofball to the gentle hearted child in a big body.

    This was when hardly anyone thought that Snuffy was real—until Big Bird and Elmo showed the grownups to believe.

    Please rent or stream the documentary “I Am Big Bird.”

       15 likes

  5. I was born in ’69, and grew up with Sesame Street//Jim Henson. Amazing that Caroll gave life to those beloved characters as long as he did!!!

    RIP, and Godspeed …

       10 likes

  6. mst3kme: On a more personal note here, I’m of the generation of “Sesame Street” viewers who started watching after Big Bird went from the village goofball to the gentle hearted child in a big body.

    Jim Henson basically imagined the LaChoy Dragon, but in one episode, Big Bird had to respond to the grownups with a perfect toddler “But whyyy?“, and the direction of the show just clicked after that.

    This was when hardly anyone thought that Snuffy was real—until Big Bird and Elmo showed the grownups to believe.

    You mean Big Bird, Elmo, AND Phil Donahue. And Bob’s Uncle Wally, the laziest man on Sesame Street. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BtemfoJ-WI
    (And that was only when the higher-ups realized it might not be the best idea to teach kids that “Grownups won’t believe you, even when you tell them the truth”…)

       2 likes

  7. Terry the Sensitive Knight says:

    “Crow, sorry I drew you like Big Bird. Joel, sorry I drew you like Ernie.”

       5 likes

  8. mst3kme says:

    Eric J.:

    From Wikipedia.org:

    “In an interview on the show Still Gaming, Snuffy’s performer, Martin P. Robinson, revealed that Snuffy was finally introduced to the main human cast mainly due to a string of high-profile and sometimes graphic stories of pedophilia and sexual abuse of children that aired on 60 Minutes. According to Carol-Lynn Parente, the writers felt that by having the adults refuse to believe Big Bird, they were scaring children into thinking that their parents would not believe them if they had been abused and that they would just be better off remaining silent.”

    Even with your heart of cynicism, Eric J., you can’t help but be moved by this clip.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZyMptC2eQ&app=desktop

    You mean Big Bird, Elmo, AND Phil Donahue.And Bob’s Uncle Wally, the laziest man on Sesame Street.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BtemfoJ-WI
    (And that was only when the higher-ups realized it might not be the best idea to teach kids that “Grownups won’t believe you, even when you tell them the truth”…)

       5 likes

  9. radioman970 says:

    Oscar used to scare me a little bit but it was better when Big Bird was a round. (I’m 53 now and no longer a’scared of Oscar…again, as long as Big Bird is around)

       3 likes

  10. Scott Strong says:

    supernaturalcat:
    I was born in ’69, and grew up with Sesame Street//Jim Henson. Amazing that Caroll gave life to those beloved characters as long as he did!!!

    RIP, and Godspeed …

    I was born right after you in 1970. And for generations of kids Sesame Street was a daily ritual. (That and Mr. Rogers). Sorry to see that generation of performers dying off. It was a kinder, gentler era. Not like kids programming today which always seems to be in ADD mode. RIP dear sir.

       4 likes

  11. Scott Strong says:

    mst3kme:
    As I posted on another board, I had hoped Carroll Spinney would have a long, happy, fulfilling retirement after bringing so much joy, fun, love, laughter, and learning to “Sesame Street” for 49 years.

    Mr. Spinney will always be remembered and loved for his work as the delightful, inquisitive Big Bird and the grumpy, but endearing Oscar the Grouch.

    On a more personal note here, I’m of the generation of “Sesame Street” viewers who started watching after Big Bird went from the village goofball to the gentle hearted child in a big body.

    This was when hardly anyone thought that Snuffy was real—until Big Bird and Elmo showed the grownups to believe.

    Please rent or stream the documentary “I Am Big Bird.”

    Well written. I think you speak for many from my generation.

       4 likes

  12. mst3kme says:

    Scott Strong:

    Yes.

    The daily ritual of “Sesame Street”/“Mr. Rogers”/“The Electric Company”/“Zoom.” (Also, “3-2-1 Contact.”)

    PBS was wonderful in those days.

    Scott Strong: I was born right after you in 1970. And for generations of kids Sesame Street was a daily ritual. (That and Mr. Rogers). Sorry to see that generation of performers dying off. It was a kinder, gentler era. Not like kids programming today which always seems to be in ADD mode. RIP dear sir.

       8 likes

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