facebook-pixel

The puppeteer who played Big Bird on ‘Sesame Street’ for nearly 50 years is retiring

(Richard Termine | Sesame Workshop | The Associated Press) In this Dec. 9, 2013, image released by the Sesame Workshop, singer Janelle Monáe, left, and character Big Bird appear in a scene from the "Power of Yet" sketch at Kaufman-Astoria Studios in the Astoria neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York. Caroll Spinney, who has played Big Bird since "Sesame Street" debuted in 1969, has announced his retirement.

By The Associated Press
  | Oct. 17, 2018, 3:23 p.m.
| Updated: 8:33 p.m.

Woodstock, Conn. • The puppeteer who has played Big Bird on “Sesame Street” is retiring after nearly 50 years on the show.

Caroll Spinney tells The New York Times that Thursday will be his last day on the program, which he joined from the start in 1969. In addition to Big Bird, the 84-year-old was Oscar the Grouch. Spinney says, “I always thought, how fortunate for me that I got to play the two best Muppets.”

He says the physical requirements of performing the characters had become difficult and he developed problems with his balance. He stopped doing the puppeteering for Big Bird in 2015 and now only provides the voices for him and Oscar.

His apprentice, Matt Vogel, will succeed him in the Big Bird role. Vogel also plays Kermit the Frog.

By The Associated Press