So long, Big Bird! The puppeteer who has played the giant walking, talking, singing Big Bird on “Sesame Street” is retiring after nearly 50 years on the show. Caroll Spinney says today is his last day on the program. Spinney has been Big Bird’s body and voice from the show’s beginning in 1969.
Being an eight-foot two-inch tall bright yellow canary isn’t easy. For almost half a century, Spinney has worked while completely enclosed inside the hot and stuffy Muppet costume. He must stretch his right arm over his head to move the puppet’s head and neck. His left hand operates the left wing. Big Bird’s stuffed right wing dangles from a fishing line. The line attaches to Spinney’s left wrist. Most of the time, Spinney “sees” using a camera attached to his chest. Sometimes the Muppeteer team must put eye holes in the costume. That’s when Big Bird wears a bow tie—to cover up the holes.
In 2000, the U.S. Congress named Big Bird a Living Legend for its contributions to American Life.
In addition to Big Bird, the 84-year-old Spinney also operated the puppet and did the voice for Oscar the Grouch. Spinney says, “I always thought, how fortunate for me that I got to play the two best Muppets?”
Spinney says the physical requirements of performing the characters had become difficult, and he developed problems with his balance. He stopped doing the puppeteering for Big Bird in 2015 and now provides only the voices for him and Oscar.
Don’t worry, Big Bird will be back. Apprentice Matt Vogel will succeed Spinney in the Big Bird role. Vogel also plays Kermit the Frog.
Often misunderstood on the show, Big Bird usually offered this advice: “If everyone in the whole wide world makes mistakes, then why can’t you?”
(AP Photo: Lynn Finkel, stage manager for “Sesame Street,” slates a taping with Big Bird in New York.)
