Caroll Spinney

Caroll Edwin Spinney (1933–2019) was an American puppeteer, cartoonist, author, artist, and speaker. He gained fame for his iconic roles as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street from 1969 to 2018. Born in Waltham, Massachusetts, on December 26, 1933, Spinney discovered his passion for puppeteering at a young age. He began performing with a monkey puppet at the age of eight and received a Punch and Judy puppet theater from his mother. Spinney continued to hone his puppeteering skills throughout his childhood and used his performances to fund his college education. With his memorable characters and decades-long dedication, Spinney became an integral part of the Sesame Street legacy.