Carroll Spinney, the voice and puppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has died at the age of 85.
In a statement released by the Sesame Street Workshop, it hailed Spinney as "an artistic genius whose kind and loving view of the world helped shape and define 'Sesame Street' from its earliest days in 1969 through five decades, and his legacy here at Sesame Workshop and in the cultural firmament will be unending."
Spinney began playing Big Bird back in 1969, but only retired last year due to health complications arising from dystonia. Speaking to the New York Times last year, he said he was "fortunate" to have played two of the best muppets.
"Playing Big Bird is one of the most joyous things of my life," Spinney said. Indeed, it was his suggestion to play Big Bird like a child, arguing that he could be a surrogate for the children watching and "and be all the things that children are."
In 1990, he performed 'It's Not Easy Being Green' as Big Bird as the public memorial for Jim Henson, who passed away at the age of 53.
Here's that performance. Spinney is survived by his wife, Debra, and his three children and four grandchildren.
