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Grouch on children's TV show Sesame Street, has died at the age of 85.
He passed away at his home in Connecticut after living with dystonia for some
time, a Sesame Workshop statement said.
Spinney had portrayed the characters - including providing their voices - since the
show's start in 1969.
"Caroll was an artistic genius whose kind and loving view of the world helped
shape and define Sesame Street from its earliest days in 1969 through five
decades, and his legacy here at Sesame Workshop and in the cultural firmament
will be unending," the statement said.
"Before I came to Sesame Street, I didn't feel like what I was doing was important,"
he said. "Big Bird helped me find my purpose."
Spinney developed a love for puppetry at the age of five after watching a
performance of Three Little Kittens.
He explored puppeteering throughout his childhood and teenage years and used
his performances to raise money for college tuition.
Spinney later joined the cast for the show's inaugural series in 1969.
Spinney's work on the children's programme has earned him two Grammy honours
and six Emmy awards, plus a Lifetime Achievement Emmy award which he
received in 2006.
The puppeteer also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994 and
the Library of Congress' Living Legends award in 2000.
His life and career have been documented in the widely acclaimed 2014 film, I Am
Big Bird.
And perhaps one of his greatest achievements was meeting his wife of 40 years,
Debra, on the Sesame Street set in 1973.