Caroll Spinney

[Bill Pierce]

Caroll Spinney, the exceptional puppeteer behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has died. I was lucky enough to photograph Sesame Street and the Muppets at a time when many of us had arrived relatively recently in New York City. Sesame Street was just beginning. There were many Muppets, but Bird was one of the few who interacted with grown ups and children who lived on the street. Even Oscar’s garbage can was empty.

All of us on the street learned. I learned a good puppeteer, like any good actor, brings a lot of himself to the roles he performs. There was a goodness in Bird. Even a Grouch that lived in a garbage can had a goodness. It was Caroll’s goodness.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/08/...vPib7Qspyg93Pu51xGMYZL328nCCtE0pyVRBzFwlTJ51c

 

[Timmyjoe]

Caroll was a very sweet man, as well as a real character. I built animatronic puppets in the Muppet Workshop for a couple years in the 1990's. It was a magical place, because of magical people like Mr. Spinney.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Pentode]

I crossed paths with Mr. Spinney a few times during the 1990s as well. Yes, a real character and, yes, a very sweet man. R.I.P.