Sesame Street Puppeteer Caroll Spinney to Retire

Caroll Spinney, an Emmy-winning puppeteer on Sesame Street since the show debuted in 1969, is stepping down from the roles of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

Moving forward, Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch will be performed by Matt Vogel and Eric Jacobson, respectively. “Big Bird brought me so many places, opened my mind and nurtured my soul,” said Spinney. “And I plan to be an ambassador for Sesame Workshop for many years to come. After all, we’re a family! But now it’s time for two performers that I have worked with and respected—and actually hand-picked for the guardianship of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch—to take my alter-egos into their hands and continue to give them life.”

Joan Ganz Cooney, co-founder of Sesame Workshop, noted: “Caroll has been one of the leading lights of Sesame Street from the very beginning. His genius and his talent made Big Bird the most beloved yellow feathered friend across the globe. But the sheer artistry of Caroll is that he also brought Oscar to life and made him the most lovable Grouch in the world.”

Jeffrey D. Dunn, Sesame Workshop’s president and CEO, stated: “Since 1969, Caroll’s kind and loving view of the world has helped shape and define this institution. Throughout his unparalleled career, Caroll Spinney gave something truly special to the world. With deepest admiration, Sesame Workshop is proud to carry his legacy—and his beloved characters—into the future.”

Spinney added: “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. 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.”