The makers of Sesame Street have paid tribute to "legendary puppeteer" Caroll Spinney - the man behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch - following his passing at his home in the US state of Connecticut. He was 85 and had been suffering from the movement disorder dystonia for some time.
Spinney brought Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to life for generations of children and adults, working on the show from its inception in 1969 until last year.
Sesame Workshop described Spinney as "an artistic genius whose kind and loving view of the world helped shape and define Sesame Street".
Caroll Spinney, the legendary puppeteer behind beloved Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, died today, December 8th 2019, at age 85 at his home in Connecticut, after living with Dystonia for some time. https://t.co/q7FVDul5WT pic.twitter.com/CvWBD0NQyp
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) December 8, 2019
"Caroll Spinney gave something truly special to the world," it continued. "With deepest admiration, Sesame Workshop is proud to carry his memory - and his beloved characters - into the future. Our hearts go out to Caroll's beloved wife, Debra, and all of his children and grandchildren."
Paying tribute to her friend and colleague, Sesame Street co-founder Joan Ganz Cooney said: "Caroll Spinney's contributions to Sesame Street are countless. He not only gave us Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, he gave so much of himself as well.
"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."
