Roscoe Orman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roscoe Orman
Orman at the 2007 Texas Book Festival
Born	Roscoe Hunter Orman (1944-06-11) 11 June 1944 (age 81) The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Other names	Roscoe H. Orman Roscoe H Orman
Education	High School of Art and Design
Occupation	Actor writer artist child advocate
Years active	1962–present
Notable work	Sesame Street
Spouse(s)	Kimberley LaMarque Orman ​ (m. 2012)​
Partner(s)	Sharon Orman (1970–2010)
Children	4

Roscoe Hunter Orman (born June 11, 1944) is an American actor, writer, and artist. He is also a strong supporter of children's causes. He is most famous for playing Gordon Robinson on the popular children's TV show Sesame Street. Gordon was one of the main human characters on the show.

Early Life and Acting Career

Roscoe Orman started acting when he was a student at New York City's High School of Art and Design. His first play was in 1962. In the mid-1960s, he joined the Free Southern Theater in New Orleans. He also helped start the New Lafayette Theatre in Harlem, New York. There, he acted in and directed many plays.

Orman has performed in many other plays. These include "Julius Caesar" and "Coriolanus" at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. He also appeared in "Fences," a play that won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize. He has won two Audelco Theatre Awards for his stage work.

He first appeared in a movie in 1973, playing the main character in Willie Dynamite. Since then, he has been in several other films. These include F/X, Striking Distance, and New Jersey Drive. He also appeared in Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. On TV, he has been in shows like All My Children, Kojak, Sanford and Son, and Law & Order. He also appeared in the HBO mini-series The Night Of.

Joining Sesame Street

Roscoe Orman joined the Sesame Street cast in 1974. He became the third actor to play the character Gordon. The first actor was Matt Robinson, and the second was Hal Miller. Orman played Gordon for many years, becoming a beloved face on the show.

In June 2006, Orman released his book called Sesame Street Dad: Evolution of An Actor. In September 2007, he released a children's book titled Ricky and Mobo.

In October 2008, he became the Chief Storyteller for AudibleKids.com. This website helps parents, teachers, and children find and listen to audiobooks. In this role, Orman narrates audiobooks and talks with kids and adults online and at events. The Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, even named October 8, 2008, "AudibleKids Day" in New York City. This was to celebrate Orman's work in encouraging children to read.

In 2016, his main contract with Sesame Street ended. However, the show's creators said he would still represent them at public events. He returned to play Gordon in Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration. He also appeared in some online videos and a CNN town hall about racism. He returned for a TV special called "The Power of We," which also discussed racism. Roscoe Orman has continued to appear as Gordon in recent seasons of Sesame Street.

Personal Life

Roscoe Orman has five children with his former partner, Sharon Orman. He is also a grandfather to eight grandchildren. His son, Miles Orman, played Gordon and Susan's adopted son Miles Robinson on Sesame Street from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Roscoe Orman and his wife, Kimberley LaMarque Orman, live in New Jersey.

Notable Works

Roscoe Orman has had a long career in film, television, and theater. Here are some of his most well-known roles:

Film and Television Roles

• Willie Dynamite (1973) – Willie
• Sesame Street (1974–2016; 2023–present) – Gordon Robinson
• Sanford and Son (1975) – Al Robinson
• All My Children (1976) – Tyrone
• Kojak (1977) – Lieutenant Connors
• Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978) – Gordon Robinson (Television film)
• Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985) – Gordon Robinson
• F/X (1986) – Captain Wallenger
• Striking Distance (1993) – Sid
• New Jersey Drive (1995) – Judge
• The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999) – Gordon Robinson
• Cosby (1999) – Mr. Mason
• Law & Order (2001–2004) – Various roles
• ... and the City (2002) – Train Waiter
• The Wire (2008) – Officer Oscar Requer
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2008–2013) – Various roles
• Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (2011) – Dr. Grady
• The Night Of (2016) – Jury Foreman
• Holiday Rush (2019) – Reginald Miller

Stage Performances

• If We Grow Up (1962)
• Julius Caesar
• Coriolanus
• Fences
• The Sirens
• The Last Street Play
• The Talented Tenth
• The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit
• Bud, Not Buddy (2017) – Jimmy, etc.
• Fetch Clay, Make Man (2014) – Stepin Fetchit
• The Fabulous Miss Marie (2014) – Bill
• Jitney (2012) – Jim
• The Last Fall (2010) – Neville
• Driving Miss Daisy (2010) – Hoke