Caroll Spinney

Caroll Edwin Spinney (December 26, 1933 – December 8, 2019) was an American puppeteer, songwriter, radio host, and speaker.^[1] He was known for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street.

Caroll Spinney
Spinney at the New York Comic Con in Manhattan in October 2010
Born	Caroll Edwin Spinney (1933-12-26)December 26, 1933 Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	December 8, 2019(2019-12-08) (aged 85) Woodstock, Connecticut, U.S.
Other names	Ed Spinney
Occupations	Puppeteer cartoonist author speaker
Years active	1955–2018
Known for	Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
Spouse(s)	Janice Spinney ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1971)​ Debra Jean Gilroy ​ ​ (m. 1979⁠–⁠2019)​
Children	3
Website	Official website
Signature

He announced his retirement from acting in October 2018, with his last performances airing on the show's 50th season special.^[2]

Spinney died at his home in Woodstock, Connecticut, on December 8, 2019, at the age of 85.^[3] He had dystonia, a neurological disorder, at the time of his death.^[4]