Loretta Long facts for kids

Loretta Mae Long, born on October 4, 1938, is an American actress. Many people know her best as Susan Robinson from the TV show Sesame Street. She played Susan from 1969 until 2016. Loretta Long also works as a consultant and speaker, sharing her ideas about different cultures and education.

Loretta Long's Career

Loretta Long had a busy career in television and theater. While she was acting on Sesame Street, she also earned her Ph.D. in education in 1973. She appeared in musicals like Guys and Dolls. She also joined other Sesame Street cast members on The Flip Wilson Show.

Early TV Work

Before Sesame Street, Loretta Long was a co-host for a TV show called Soul!. This show was on PBS and featured music, culture, and art. She co-hosted from September to December 1968.

At the same time, she was also a substitute teacher in New York City. Sometimes, students would see her on Sesame Street in the morning. Then, they would be surprised to see her as their teacher later that day!

Voice Acting on Sesame Street

In the early years of Sesame Street, Loretta Long also lent her voice to several Muppet characters. She was the voice of Suzetta Something. She also voiced Roosevelt Franklin's mother. You might have heard her as one of the backup singers in the "Mahna Mahna" song. She often provided female voices when needed for different Muppets.

Longest-Running Actor

Loretta Long's character, Susan Robinson, is special. She is the only actor who was not a puppeteer from the very first episode of Sesame Street who is still alive today. Other original cast members like Will Lee (Mr. Hooper), Matt Robinson (the first Gordon), and Bob McGrath (Bob) have passed away.

Education and Learning

Loretta Long is very dedicated to education. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts, from Western Michigan University in 1960.

Earning a Ph.D.

While working on Sesame Street, Loretta Long continued her studies. She traveled to the University of Massachusetts Amherst on her days off. In 1973, she earned her Ph.D., which is a very high degree. Her special project for her Ph.D. was about Sesame Street itself. She studied how the show taught kids in a new and modern way.

Her Role on Sesame Street

Loretta Long's main role on Sesame Street was playing Susan. Susan was the wife of Gordon Robinson. She was a very important character in the show's neighborhood.

Susan's Character Development

When Sesame Street first started, Susan was shown as a housewife. Over time, her role grew. She became a nurse and also the mother of an adopted son named Miles. Loretta Long's voice was also used for other Muppet parts. For example, in the 8th episode of the first season, she was the voice of the mother Muppet in the song "Five People in My Family."

Music Career

Loretta Long also shared her musical talents. She recorded an album and released a single.

Susan Sings Songs from Sesame Street

In 1970, she released an album called Susan Sings Songs from Sesame Street. This album included popular songs like the "ABC Song" and "If You're Happy and You Know It". The album was quite popular and was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1971. It was nominated for Best Recording for Children.

Solo Music

In 1975, Loretta Long released a single record under her own name. It featured a song called "Rainy Day Friend." The other side of the record had a song titled "July the 12th, 1939."

Personal Life

Loretta Long's father worked as a welder. Her mother was a sales representative for cosmetics. In 2010, Loretta Long was involved in a car accident near her home. She suffered some head injuries but thankfully made a full recovery.

Filmography