the longtime puppeteer behind beloved sesame street characters big bird and oscar the grouch caroll spinney has died at age 85 the sesame street workshop announced in a statement spinney spent five decades with sesame street working with legendary puppeteer jim henson at the start of his career more big bird caroll spinney reveals 7 things you never knew about sesame street caroll spinney gave something truly special to the world with deepest admiration sesame workshop is proud to carry his memory and his beloved characters into the future the workshop announced in a statement our hearts go out to carolls beloved wife debra and all of his children and grandchildren while spinney himself may not have had the widespread recognition of his characters his portrayal of the 8foot yellow bird and trash candwelling oscar skyrocketed both characters to global fame big bird has a star on the hollywood walk of fame his likeness on a us postage stamp and was named a living legend in 2000 by the library of congress puppeteer caroll spinney participates in the 2012 monsterpalooza april 15 2012 in burbank calif albert l ortegagetty images those of us privileged to work alongside him and call him friend saw firsthand that he cared so deeply about what these characters represented and how they could truly create change the jim henson company said in a statement more walter mercado john witherspoon and other notable people who died in 2019