Caroll Spinney, Iconic Voice Of Big Bird On ‘Sesame Street,’ Retires After Nearly 50 Years

Caroll Spinney, the iconic puppeteer who voiced the beloved character Big Bird on Sesame Street, is leaving the show after 49 years, it was announced on Wednesday.

Spinney, who also played Oscar the Grouch, will reportedly leave the show officially on Thursday. Sesame Street films in Astoria, Queens in New York City and first premiered in 1969.

“Big Bird helped me find my purpose,” Spinney, 84, said in a statement. “Even as I step down from my roles, I feel I will always be Big Bird. And even Oscar, once in a while! They have given me great joy, led me to my true calling and created a lifetime of memories that I will cherish forever.”

50 CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Spinney, who also played other minor characters on the children’s series, won six Emmys (including a Lifetime Achievement Award) and two Grammys. He also boasts a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was named a “Living Legend” in 2000 by the Library of Congress.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Spinney said the part of Big Bird was a great fit for him for several different reasons.

“I’m a soloist,” he explained. “I’m not good with a team. I’m out of sync with the rest. They’re all going left at the same time, while I’m the only one going right.” He also said it could be “very lonely in there … I was separated from everybody.”

Pablo Mena

Writer for uinterview.com. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Savannah Lee Smith, Brooke Lena Johnson & Sara Silva Share Their Sexiest Scenes For ‘Cruel Intentions’

The first episode of Cruel Intentions aired on November 21, 2024. It can be watched…

2 hours ago

Melania Trump & RFK Jr. Team Up In Attempt To Improve Donald Trump’s Diet Of Big Macs & KFC

Former—and future—First Lady Melania Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been nominated to be…

2 hours ago

VIDEO: Cleveland Cavaliers Players Distribute Thanksgiving Meals To 1,000 People In Need In Ohio

https://youtu.be/jVpLSCMGyJo Cleveland Cavaliers players served Thanksgiving meals to community members in Cleveland on Tuesday, Nov.…

8 hours ago

Indicted Influencer Andrew Tate Promises To ‘Teach Jake Paul A Lesson’ After Mike Tyson Fight

Andrew Tate, who is busy with his legal battles over trafficking charges in Romania, joined…

9 hours ago

Rep. Lauren Boebert Deletes Her Cameo Account After Charging $250 For Videos After Possible House Ethics Rules Violations

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) shut down her Cameo account quickly after creating it amid a…

10 hours ago

Joe Jonas, Kylie Minogue & Ariana Madix Prepare For Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – Times, Channel & Performers

The three-hour parade, which takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., has been nationally…

20 hours ago