Caroll Spinney

Who they were

Caroll Spinney, American puppeteer and actor (born 1933)

Early life

Spinney was born December 5, 1933, in Waltham, Massachusetts. He developed an early interest in puppetry and performance, creating puppet shows as a child.

Path and career

Spinney began his professional career in local television in Boston before joining Sesame Street in 1969 at its debut. He performed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch continuously until his retirement in 2018, making him one of the longest-serving cast members in television history.

Beyond Sesame Street, Spinney appeared in films including Follow That Bird (1985) and won multiple Emmy Awards for his work in children's television. His characters became cultural icons that educated and entertained generations of children worldwide.

Why this date

Caroll Spinney appears on our December 8 calendar for 2019 as a death entry.