Caroll Spinney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caroll Spinney
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Spinney at the 2014 Montclair Film Festival
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| Born |
Caroll Edwin Spinney
December 26, 1933 Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | December 8, 2019 (aged 85) Woodstock, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Other names | Ed Spinney |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1955–2018 |
| Known for | Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch |
| Spouse(s) |
Janice Spinney
(m. 1960; div. 1971)Debra Jean Gilroy
(m. 1979; died 2019) |
| Children | 3 |
| Family | 4 grandchildren |
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Caroll Edwin Spinney (born December 26, 1933 – died December 8, 2019) was an American puppeteer, artist, and writer. He was most famous for bringing two beloved characters to life: Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. He played these characters on Sesame Street from when the show started in 1969 until 2018.
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Caroll Spinney's Early Life
Caroll Spinney was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, on December 26, 1933. His mother named him Caroll because he was born the day after Christmas. From a young age, he loved drawing and painting.
When he was five, he saw a puppet show and fell in love with puppeteering. Three years later, he bought a monkey puppet and put on his own show. The next Christmas, his mother gave him a Punch and Judy puppet theater. He kept performing puppet shows to help pay for college. After high school, Spinney served in the U.S. Air Force.
His Amazing Career
Early Creative Work
While in the Air Force, Spinney wrote and drew a comic strip called Harvey. It was about military life. He also made black-and-white cartoons called Crazy Crayon.
Starting with Puppets
In 1955, Spinney moved to Las Vegas and performed in a show. He later returned to Boston and joined The Judy and Goggle Show in 1958. He played "Goggle" the puppeteer. In the 1960s, he performed on Bozo's Big Top. There, he played characters like Kookie the Boxing Kangaroo and Mr. Lion. He also worked as a commercial artist and animator.
Spinney created two cat puppets named Picklepuss and Pop. He used them in his shows throughout the 1960s.
Becoming a Sesame Street Star
Caroll Spinney first met Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, in 1962. Henson asked him if he wanted to talk about the Muppets. Spinney didn't realize it was a job offer, so they didn't talk much then.
In 1969, Spinney performed at a puppet festival. Jim Henson was there again and liked what Spinney was trying to do. This time, they did talk, and Spinney joined the Muppeteers for Sesame Street later that year.
Spinney started on Sesame Street in its very first season in 1969. He almost left after the first year because of low pay, but Kermit Love convinced him to stay. As Big Bird and Oscar, Spinney traveled the world. He performed in Australia, China, Japan, and many countries in Europe.
He also conducted orchestras in the U.S. and Canada. He visited the White House many times as Big Bird and Oscar. Spinney also provided the voices for these characters on many music albums.
As Oscar, Spinney wrote a picture book called How to Be a Grouch. He also co-wrote The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch) in 2003. His work inspired other puppeteers around the world. For example, the Chinese version of Big Bird, called Da Niao, looks exactly like Big Bird.
Besides Big Bird and Oscar, Spinney played other characters too. He created Bruno the Trash Man, a large puppet who carried Oscar's trash can. Spinney also played Granny Bird, Big Bird's grandmother. He even appeared as Oscar the Grouch in the movie Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
On October 17, 2018, Spinney announced he was retiring from Sesame Street. His last performances as Big Bird and Oscar were for the show's 50th season in 2019. Matt Vogel took over as Big Bird, and Eric Jacobson became the new Oscar.
His Artwork
Caroll Spinney was also a talented artist. In 1996, he painted Luna Bird, which showed Big Bird walking on the moon. In 1997, he painted Autumn, showing Big Bird playing in autumn leaves. Spinney also drew the famous picture of Mr. Hooper that hangs near Big Bird's nest on the show after Mr. Hooper's death.
Caroll Spinney's Personal Life
Caroll Spinney had three children from his first marriage. He also had four grandchildren. He was married to his second wife, Debra Jean Gilroy, from 1979 until he passed away. In his later years, Spinney had dystonia, a condition that affects muscle movement.
His Passing
Caroll Spinney died at his home in Woodstock, Connecticut, on December 8, 2019. He was 85 years old.
Film Appearances
- The Muppet Movie (1979) - Big Bird
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981) - Oscar the Grouch
- Big Bird in China (1983) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) - Big Bird
- Follow that Bird (1985) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bruno the Trashman
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) - Dog in Pound
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) - Oscar the Grouch
Television Appearances
- The Judy and Goggle Show (1958-59) - Goggle
- Bozo's Big Top (1959-69) - Mr. Lion, Kookie the Boxing Kangaroo, Flip-Flop the Rag Doll, various characters
- Sesame Street (1969–2018) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, various characters
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Out to Lunch (1974) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- The Electric Company (1972, 1975) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- The Muppet Show (1979) - Big Bird
- Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (1981) - Big Bird
- Shalom Sesame (1987–1991) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Big Bird's Birthday Celebration (1991) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bruno the Trashman
- Learn Along with Sesame (1996–2001) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Between the Lions (2001) - Big Bird
- Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce (2012) - Big Bird
- Supernatural (2015) - Big Bird (uncredited)
Video Game Appearances
- Sesame Street: Oscar's Letter Party (1988) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Let's Learn to Play Together (1988) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Sesame Street: Big Bird's Hide & Speak (1990) - Big Bird
- Sesame Street: Let's Make a Word! (1995) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Sesame Street: Get Set to Learn! (1996) - Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch
- Sesame Street Sports (2001) - Big Bird
- Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster (2011) - Big Bird
Awards and Honors
Spinney won four Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on Sesame Street. He also won two Grammy Awards for his recordings. Two of his recordings even earned Gold Record status, meaning they sold a lot of copies!
For all his amazing work, Spinney received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. In 2000, the Library of Congress gave him the Living Legend award.
In 2006, Spinney received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He said he was "elated and amazed" to get the honor for doing what he always wanted to do.
A documentary film about his life, called I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story, came out in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Caroll Spinney para niños
