Sesame Street ‘Oscar the Grouch’ Puppeteer Caroll Spinney Dies

WOODSTOCK, CT. (THECOUNT) — Caroll Spinney, the Connecticut-based puppeteer who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on “Sesame Street” has died. He was 85.

Spinney, of Woodstock, Connecticut, died at his home on Sunday, according to a statement from the show. Officials said he had been living with Dystonia for some time.

Sesame Street posted on Facebook that “since 1969, Spinney’s kind and loving view of the world help shape and define Sesame Street,” reports NBCCT.

“His enormous talent and outsized heart were perfectly suited to playing the larger-than-life yellow bird who brought joy to countless fans of all ages around the world, and his lovably cantankerous grouch gave us all permission to be cranky once in a while. In these characters, Caroll Spinney gave something truly special to the world,” the post continued.

Geo quick facts: Woodstock is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,964 at the 2010 census – Wikipedia.