It's Official: Caroll Spinney retires from Sesame Street after nearly 50 years

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/arts/television/sesame-street-big-bird.html

An outstanding performer...and a wonderful friend.

 

We all knew this would be coming at some point.

 

He's earned it. It will be nice to see him as an ambassador for Sesame Street

 

I am glad Carroll Spinney has given us this great entertainment for fifty years.

 

At least now he can enjoy the rest of his life in his well-deserved retirement.

 

Yeah...it was pretty inevitable it would happen. It is amazing that he's played the two for 50 years. That is a huge milestone.

That's a fantastic article, might I add. Love the images of the SS memorabilia at their house.

 

I won't lie; I almost cried reading that article.

 

Sesame Workshop did this tribute:

 

Nearly 50 years of such hard work and dedication... that's quite impressive, and shows just how much he loves working with Sesame Street.

Carroll has more than earned his retirement, and he will definitely be missed on the Street. Thank you, Carroll Spinney, for completing my childhood and for being such a wonderful man.

 

I prefer to be happy for him than dwell on the thought of his leaving.

 

I'm so happy that the show managed to find performers as amazing as Matt Vogel and Eric Jacobson to take on his characters. The characters are in very capable hands.

One thing that's amazing about Caroll is how he just totally embodied his characters. He was an amazing character performer, you never once doubted that Oscar and Big Bird were alive.

From what I hear, Caroll is just as genuine and sweet as Big Bird. I'm very happy to be one of the few people to have known who the man inside The Bird is for several years, and I'm just as happy to have grown up watching him on TV. A real living TV legend, one that deserves to be recognized and celebrated like Carol Burnett and Norman Lear. He's influenced my life and my art more than anything I can think of.

 

Thank you for all of the memories and 50 great years Caroll.

 

It's actually amazing if you think about it - the man performed two television icons for nearly 50 years... I don't know about you but that's an astounding feat if there is one!

Thank you so much for all you've done, Caroll Spinney! You'll be missed...

 

Oops, sorry for spelling Caroll's name with two R's. My bad.

 

I recall him mentioning that he officially planned on retiring after the show's 50th, and wouldn't you know it? He managed to accomplish that phase!

Like most people, I knew he would eventually be at the point where he'd be ready for retirement, and I'm thoroughly amazed that he made it. It's also nice to know that his characters are now in good hands...well, OK, yeah they have been for a while now, but still.

So, I guess this leaves me to say Thank You, Caroll for all 50 years of entertainment you've given to fanatics around the globe- whether they were as or or Bruno, or...you get the idea! You are a true legend, and I'm sure I speak for everyone, when I say you will truly be missed. I hope you enjoy your well-earned retirement!

 

Wow... yea that was touching.

 

My local news mentioned his retirement very briefly this afternoon.

 

Caroll has more than earned his retirement. Meeting him at DragonCon was one of the highlights of my life. Thank you for all the work you've done, Caroll, and best of luck to Matt and Eric for continuing your legacy.

 

I don't know what to say that others haven't said already - he's earned it and it was an immense pleasure to be able to actually meet him (and get his autograph/an original doodle).

 

I cried a bit when I heard the news, but I realized that he truly deserved this given his role in the overall series. Honestly 50 years being two polar opposite characters in an educational series. Just wow. That alone makes me speechless.

Thanks for the great childhood memories Mr. Spinney.