Sesame Street : NPR

Caroll Spinney, Who Played Big Bird And Oscar On 'Sesame Street,' Dies At 85

Puppeteer Caroll Spinney who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, died Sunday at age 85. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images hide caption

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Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Caroll Spinney, Who Played Big Bird And Oscar On 'Sesame Street,' Dies At 85

December 8, 2019 • The actor and puppeteer performed on the popular TV show from its very first episode in 1969 until his retirement last year.

After 50 Years On 'Sesame Street,' The Voice Of Big Bird And Oscar Is Retiring

Caroll Spinney and Oscar the Grouch at the Daytime Emmy Awards in 2007. After some 50 years on Sesame Street, Spinney is retiring. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images hide caption

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Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

After 50 Years On 'Sesame Street,' The Voice Of Big Bird And Oscar Is Retiring

October 17, 2018 • Caroll Spinney, 84, has performed the roles since the show's very first episode. "I will always be Big Bird," he said. "And even Oscar, once in a while!"

Former Writer Saw Bert And Ernie As 'Loving Couple'; Sesame Workshop Disagrees

A former Sesame Street writer stepped into a longtime debate, saying he considered Bert and Ernie to be a gay couple. Revierfoto/picture alliance via Getty Images hide caption

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Revierfoto/picture alliance via Getty Images

Former Writer Saw Bert And Ernie As 'Loving Couple'; Sesame Workshop Disagrees

September 18, 2018 • Mark Saltzman revived a longtime debate saying, yes, the beloved puppet pair were gay. Their producers and creators were quick to deny the claim.

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids

'Sesame Street' has many versions around the world. Above: its new Afghan characters, 6-year-old Zari (left) and her brother, Zeerak. Rahmat Gul/AP hide caption

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Rahmat Gul/AP

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids

December 29, 2017 • In January, Sesame Workshop will start creating programs for Syrian kids who've had to flee their homeland. The goal is to help them deal with the "toxic stress" of refugee life.

With $100 Million Grant, Sesame Workshop Reaches Out To Refugee Kids

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Julia, A Muppet With Autism, Joins The Cast Of 'Sesame Street'

Julia (center) first appeared online and in printed materials as a part of Sesame Street's See Amazing in all Children initiative. She'll now appear on TV as well. From left, Elmo, Alan Muraoka, Julia, Abby Cadabby and Big Bird. Zach Hyman/Sesame Workshop hide caption

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Zach Hyman/Sesame Workshop

Television

Julia, A Muppet With Autism, Joins The Cast Of 'Sesame Street'

March 20, 2017 • Julia has bright red hair, big green eyes and she loves to draw. She can be a little shy, but Elmo and Abby Cadabby don't mind. She's voiced by Stacey Gordon, whose son is on the autism spectrum, too.

Julia, A Muppet With Autism, Joins The Cast Of 'Sesame Street'

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Erasing Red Ink, Sesame CEO Offers Vision To Preserve Home Of Big Bird

To ensure the survival of Sesame Street, one of the most cherished long-standing shows on television, Sesame Workshop CEO and President Jeffrey Dunn has worked to find new funding for the company. Jason Kempin/Getty Images hide caption

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Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Business

Erasing Red Ink, Sesame CEO Offers Vision To Preserve Home Of Big Bird

October 13, 2016 • When Jeffrey Dunn took over as CEO of Sesame Workshop in 2014, Sesame Street's future was in flux. Since then, he has created a plan to ensure the beloved Muppets are around for generations to follow.

Erasing Red Ink, Sesame CEO Offers Vision To Preserve Home Of Big Bird

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Beyond 'Sesame Street': A New Sesame Studios Channel On YouTube

Marvie, the host of Sesame Studios, will sing and answer viewer questions. Sesame Workshop hide caption

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Sesame Workshop

Television

Beyond 'Sesame Street': A New Sesame Studios Channel On YouTube

May 6, 2016 • Sesame Workshop, the company behind Sesame Street, unveils a new initiative to reach kids in a digital and mobile age. NPR gets a sneak peek.

Beyond 'Sesame Street': A New Sesame Studios Channel On YouTube

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'Sesame Street' Introduces A New Muppet Character With Autism

Julia is described by the Sesame Workshop as "a preschool girl with autism who does things a little differently when playing with her friends." Sesame Workshop hide caption

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Sesame Workshop

The Two-Way

'Sesame Street' Introduces A New Muppet Character With Autism

October 22, 2015 • Little Julia stars in the digital storybook called "We're Amazing, 1,2,3."

After 25-Year Hiatus, First Arabic-Language 'Sesame Street' Opens Again

Gargur, No'maan, Melsoon and Shams — four of the Muppet stars of Iftah Ya Simsim, the first Arabic-language version of Sesame Street. The show went off the air 25 years ago, and other Arabic-language Sesame Street spinoffs have launched since — but now, the original is debuting again. Sesame Workshop hide caption

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Sesame Workshop

World

After 25-Year Hiatus, First Arabic-Language 'Sesame Street' Opens Again

September 6, 2015 • Iftah Ya Simsim was one of the earliest foreign-language Sesame Street spinoffs when it launched in 1979. But the beloved show went dark when its studio was partially destroyed during the Gulf War.

After 25-Year Hiatus, First Arabic-Language 'Sesame Street' Opens Again

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Sesame Street's New ABCs: On PBS And Now HBO

These familiar faces will soon be appearing on another channel. Kathy Willens/AP hide caption

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Kathy Willens/AP

The Two-Way

Sesame Street's New ABCs: On PBS And Now HBO

August 13, 2015 • For the next five seasons of Sesame Street, episodes will air first on HBO before they're made available to PBS for free nine months later.

Maria Leaves Sesame Street After 44 Years On The Block

Gordon (played by Roscoe Orman), Maria (played by Sonia Manzano), and The Count on Sesame Street's 42nd season. Manzano is closing out a Sesame Street career that began in 1971. Zach Hyman/Sesame Street hide caption

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Zach Hyman/Sesame Street

The Two-Way

Maria Leaves Sesame Street After 44 Years On The Block

July 2, 2015 • Sonia Manzano's acting career began when she was in the original cast of Godspell — a musical which began as a student production on campus, according to the Associated Press.

Raya The Muppet Talks About Poop And Is Proud Of It

Raya might tickle Elmo with toilet paper if he doesn't use it properly. John Barrett/Courtesy of Sesame Workshop hide caption

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John Barrett/Courtesy of Sesame Workshop

Goats and Soda

Raya The Muppet Talks About Poop And Is Proud Of It

October 1, 2014 • She's an aquamarine puppet with a mission: Stop the practice of open defecation. That's a tall order for a 6-year-old Muppet. But she's up for the job: "Let's face it. We all got to go."

The 6-year-old Muppet has her mind on the toilet.

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