The End of an Era - Original Big Bird, Caroll Spinney, Leaves ‘Sesame Street’ After Nearly 50 Years

[samcraig]

Everyone needs to retire at some point... Amazing he performed this role for 50 years maintaining his wide-eyed enthusiasm. Equally amazing is the number (millions upon millions) of lives he has touched over that time with his performances.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/arts/television/sesame-street-big-bird.html

 

[skottichan]

I'm in tears now T_T


Got to meet Mr Spinney through a friend who's now working for Children's Television Workshop as an apprentice puppeteer. He's a beautiful man.

 

[bradl]

I'm in tears now T_T


Got to meet Mr Spinney through a friend who's now working for Children's Television Workshop as an apprentice puppeteer. He's a beautiful man.

Agreed. Amazing man. and IIRC, he's the last surviving member of the original Sesame Street Cast still on the show.

I wish he could have lasted another 8 months; that way he could retire at 50 years to the day... or perhaps that is why he is doing this now; so those last voices he is doing will be on that 50th anniversary show.

I just hope that what happened to Charles Schulz doesn't happen to Spinney.

BL.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Kudos, Mr. Spinney for a job well done.

 

[skottichan]

Agreed. Amazing man. and IIRC, he's the last surviving member of the original Sesame Street Cast still on the show.

I wish he could have lasted another 8 months; that way he could retire at 50 years to the day... or perhaps that is why he is doing this now; so those last voices he is doing will be on that 50th anniversary show.

I just hope that what happened to Charles Schulz doesn't happen to Spinney.

BL.

Yeah, I'm worried about that too. Retirement can be a literal killer of creatives, Schulz, Kirby and others.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sesame Street was a superb example of American public service broadcasting at its idealistic and impressive and creative best; a great show with some amazing talent.

Good luck to Carroll Spinney, and having spent half a century on Sesame Street is a wonderful, enriching and incredibly rewarding way to have spent one's professional life.