Sesame Street loses Big Bird actor after 50 years

From Digital Spy

One of the original residents of classic US children's programme Sesame Street is moving away after 50 years.

It was announced on Wednesday (October 17) that original Big Bird puppeteer and voice actor Caroll Spinney will be stepping down from the children's show after recording its 50th season for PBS and HBO.

Spinney was one of the last remnants of the classic era of Sesame Street, having been discovered by the late Jim Henson himself and hired for the first season in 1969 as the puppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

"Before I came to Sesame Street, I didn't feel like what I was doing was very important. Big Bird helped me find my purpose," Spinney 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 my wonderful wife! – and created a lifetime of memories that I will cherish forever."

Spinney will be handing over the job of voicing Oscar the Grouch to his protege Eric Jacobson, who currently also plays Grover, Bert and Guy Smiley on Sesame Street.

Related: Sesame Street producers suing over Melissa McCarthy's naughty puppet movie

Taking over as Big Bird will be Matt Vogel, who also made headlines this time last year when he became the newest Kermit the Frog puppeteer when the Jim Henson Company controversially sacked Steve Whitmire.

Spinney's voice will still be heard in Sesame Street through 2019 on HBO and 2020 on PBS in the US.

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