Beloved Sesame Street puppeteer Caroll Spinney died at his home on Sunday, December 8, 2019. He was 85 years old.

Spinney brought the sweet, bright yellow Big Bird and the grumpy, green Oscar the Grouch into family homes for five decades. As Big Bird, he could be optimistic and innocent, embodying childlike qualities that related to his audience. Then as Oscar, he took on the gruff attitude of one annoyed by everyone, that could be used to teach lessons and incite giggles.

A Massachusetts native, Spinney was born on December 26, 1933. He became a fan of puppeteering at age 5 when he saw a puppet performance of Three Little Kittens. Three years later he bought a puppet monkey and began doing his own puppet show, which prompted his mother to buy him a Punch and Judy puppet theater. Spinney would continue performing through his teen years.

After serving in the US Air Force, Spinney returned to performing in Las Vegas and in Boston. He met Jim Henson at a puppeteering festival in 1962 and the pair reconnected in 1969 when Spinney performed a puppet and live-action show, which impressed Henson. It wasn’t long before Spinney joined the Muppeteers full-time and became a resident of Sesame Street.

For 50 years, Spinney starred in the popular children’s show, appearing in 374 episodes as Big Bird, Oscar, and on a few occasions as Granny Bird and Bruno the Trash Man. He starred in many Muppet and Sesame Street movies and TV specials, as well as making cameos in shows, movies, and other programs. He performed in live events around the world, including several trips to the White House, performed characters’ voices for dozens of albums, and appeared in several documentaries.

Spinney retired in October 2018, recording his farewell performance during Sesame Street’s 50th season, which aired in 2019.