Sesame Street Mr. Handford David Smyrl DIES

David Smyrl, who is perhaps best known for his role as Mr. Handford, on Sesame Street, has died. He was 80.

Smyrl’s wife, Cheryl said the Emmy award-winning actor was diagnosed with lung cancer in January. He died Tuesday at Lankenau Medical Center outside Philadelphia.

“He was funny,” Cheryl Smyrl said. “I could say so many good things about him. He was loved by so many people. He was a mentor to a lot of children. He was a family man, loyal, true and faithful.” h/t thr

A north Philadelphia native born on Sept. 12, 1935, Smyrl performed as a poet in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, his wife said. His television career also began in New York in the 1970s, on the show Express Yourself.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Smyrl’s family and friends at this difficult time.