Caroll Spinney, the man who has played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch in Sesame Street since the show started in 1969 is retiring at age 84.
Spinney has been both Oscar and Big Bird on television for 49 years but is now ready to hand the to someone younger. Caroll was 35 when he started the job. It is estimated that he appeared in over 4400 Sesame Street episodes.
Caroll Spinney will visit the Sesame Street studios in Astoria, Queens for the final time today (18 October 18). He said he has difficulty performing the role at age 84. Since 2015 he has not worn the Big Bird suit, instead just providing the voices of the two characters.
Spinney will be recording one last time for the Sesame Street 50th anniversary show to air in 2019.
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