Caroll Spinney

 CAROLL   EDWIN   SPINNEY  ( born December 26 t h, 1 9 33 ) has perform ed both  OSCAR THE GROUCH  & BIG BIRD on  SESAME STREET  for 4 6 y ear s. In a 2 00 8  Washington Time s  article,  SPINNEY  said that even though performing BIG BIRD i s physically demanding work , the 8 2 - y ear - old has no intention of stopping , s ay in g , " I can ' t imagine willingly walk ing a way from BIG BIRD &  OSCAR  . " He has describe d his experience as BIG BIRD as " a l o t like growing up to be Mickey Mouse . . . only taller ! "

 SPINNEY  was born in Waltham, MA & was an accomplished artist before he started working as a live performer. He attended The Art Institute o f Boston ' s College o f Art & Design. While in t he military, he created a comic strip under t he name  ED   SPINNEY . In the early 1 9 6 0 s he create d an animated cartoon series called  Crazy   Crayon  under the same name.

I n 1955,  SPINNEY  headed to Las Vegas , Nevada , where he create d the show  Rascal Rabbit . He returned to Boston in 1958, appearing in the summer series  The   Judy   &   Goggle Show  as a puppeteer opposite Judy Valentine , performing Goggle t he bird.

When  Judy   &   Goggle  was moved out of it s slot for station WHDH - T V ' s returning programming, both  SPINNEY  & Valentine were offered a berth on the Boston broadcast of  Bozo ' s   Big   Top  in 1 9 5 9.  SPINNEY  played a variety o f hand - puppet creations, usual ly in 1 - o ff s kit s , & also played Bozo ' s grand mother Grandma Nellie ( in full clown - make - up ) & several recurring costumed characters. These included Flip - Flop the Rag Doll, Kookie Kangaroo ( a fail ed boxer ) , & Mr. Lion, " the fast es t draw a live . " The latter role combined  SPINNEY  ' s performing & cartoon ist s kill s , creating quick sketches f or the ki ds.

In the 1 9 6 0 s,  SPINNEY  create d 2 cat puppets , Pickle puss & Pop , who he performed i n various venue s , including stage shows & some  Bozo  broadcast s. Picklepuss & Pop would later go on to perform with the Muppets just once, in the 1988  Jim Henson  Play - Along video ''[http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Wow,_You're_a_Cartoonist! Wow, You ' re a Cartoon i st ! ]'' . In 1 9 6 9,  SPINNEY  met  Jim HENSON  at the Puppeteers ' of A m e r i c a Festival i n Salt Lake City , following an ambitious experimental presentation ( hosted by Picklepuss ) , which combine d different live - puppetry technique s with film projection s. The show went awry due to various technical issues & other problems, but afterwards ,  HENSON  told him that he  " like d what you were  trying  t o d o . "  HENSON  then asked Spinney if he wanted to work with him on a new  chil dren ' s show  be in g developed.  CAROLL  went on to star a s t he man behind both  OSCAR THE GROUCH  & BIG BIRD.

A s BIG BIRD,  SPINNEY  traveled the world - - in the TV special s  BIG   BIRD  i n China &  BIG   BIRD  i n Japan , & in special  SESAME STREET  episodes that took him to New Mexico & Hawaii. He has also starred in a feature film, Follow That  BIRD .

 SPINNEY  has guest starred as his c h a r ac ter s on many other program s, including The Flip Wilson Show , Scrubs , Mister Rogers ' Neighborhood , 1 vs 100 , The Muppet Show , & over 141 episode s o f Holly wood Square s.

 SPINNEY  wrote an autobiography in 2003 titled  T he  WISDOM  o f  BIG   BIRD  ( & the Dark  GENIUS  o f  OSCAR   THE   GROUCH  ) : Lessons from a Life in  FEATHERS .  CAROLL   SPINNEY  al so wrote & illustrate d   How to be a  GROUCH , a 1976 picture book that explain s the world from  OSCAR  ' s point o f view. Spinney also drew the picture o f [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Hooper Mr. Hooper ] that BIG BIRD dr e w after [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Hooper Mr. Hooper ] died, & designed 1 of his characters ,  BRUNO THE TRASH MAN  , the character who always carried  OSCAR  in his   TRASH CAN  when  OSCAR  had to b e carried some place.  SPINNEY  also perform s the voice of GRANNY BIRD, BIG BIRD ' s grandmother & favorite relative. The puppet used for GRANNY BIRD is actually a spare BIG BIRD puppet, &  SPINNEY  provide s her voice. Al so, as GRANNY BIRD ' s appearances are most often alongside BIG BIRD , ( who i s also , a s she state d , her " favorite grandson " ) , her voice is usually p re - record ed , letting  SPINNEY  perform BIG BIRD. His artwork was featured in a 2010/2011 exhibit at Toon Se um. A new documentary about Spinney titled  I  Am  BIG   BIRD  : The  CAROLL   SPINNEY  Story premiered in Spring 2013.

 SPINNEY  currently reside s in Wood s tock, Connecticut , w / his w i fe , Debra. The couple h as 3 children.

Muppeteer Credit s

 *  SE SAME STREET  : BIG BIRD ( 1 9 6 9 - pre sent ),  OSCAR THE GROUCH  ( 19 69 - present ) , GRANNY BIRD ,  Bruno t he Trash man  ,  BIG   BIRD  (  animate d  ) , ( T h e  Street  W e L i ve On ) ,  OSCAR   THE   GROUCH  ( animate d ) ( Th e S t r e e t W e L i v e O n ) , Baby Monster ( 1 969 ) , Bennett Snerf ( Anything Muppet version ) , Hip pie , Lefty the Salesman ( occasion all y ) , Shivers the Penguin ( early 80 s ) , Squeaky the Elf , Yellow Submarine Pumpkin pilot , Granny Fanny Nesselrode , various Anything Muppet characters
 * W ow, You ' re a Cartoon ist ! : Picklepuss & Pop
 * Christ mas Eve on  Sesame   Street  :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 * The Muppet Movie :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 * The Great Muppet Caper :  Oscar the Grouch 
 * The Muppet s Take Manhattan :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 * Follow That  Bird  :  Oscar the Grouch , Big Bird &  Bruno the Trash man 
 * A Muppet Family Christ mas :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 *  SESAME   STREET  : 2 0 & Still  Count  ing :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 * Jim Henson ' s memorial service : Himself & as both  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 * The Muppets Celebrate  Jim   Henson  : Big Bird
 *  Elmo  Save s Christ mas :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 *  The Adventure s of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land  :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 * Friend s to t he Rescue :  Oscar the Grouch , Big Bird & Granny Bird
 *  Elmo  ' s Chris t mas  Count  dow n :  Oscar the Grouch  & Big Bird
 * The Muppets : Operation S T S ( Save the Swamp ) :  Oscar the Grouch  ( maybe )
 * You can also see Big Bird Filmography &  Oscar the Grouch  Filmography  for a l l other film s, guest appearance s & special s.

Award s & Honor s
 Date s   UN know n  1994 2000 2006 2007
 * Spinney has earned 4 Daytime Emmy Awards, 2 Gold Records , & 2 Grammy Awards.
 * A s Big Bird, Spinney was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
 * A s Big Bird,  SPINNEY  was awarded the Library of Congress Living Legend Award in April 2000 . According to the Library o f Congress web site , " the award is selected by the Library ' s curators & subject specialist s to honor artist s , writer s  , activist s , film maker s , physicians , entertainers , sports figures & public servants who have made significant contributions to Am eri ca ' s diverse cultural , scientific & social heritage . "
 * Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Award
 * Outstanding Performer In A Chil dren ' s S e r i es ( tie ) :, Spinney a s  Oscar the Grouch  & Kevin Clash  a s Elmo ( tran script )

T V / Movie s  /  Special s

 *  SESAME STREET   ( 1 9 69  - present )


 * Episode 0 1 3 1 (  19 7 0  )
 * Episode 2 4 8 3 (  1 9 88  )
 * Episode 2 4 8 5 (  19 88  )
 * Episode 2 9 77 (  1 99 2  )
 * Episode 3 1 5 8 (  1 99 3  )
 * Episode 3 6 5 6 (  1 99 7  )
 * Episode 3 66 4 (  1 99 7  )
 *  EPISODE 3 6 9 8  ( 1 99 8  )
 * Episode 3 6 99 (  1 99 8  )
 * Episode 3 7 9 0 (  1 99 8  ) (  MATT VOGEL  operating the  BIG BIRD   puppet  to a vocal track b y  CAROLL   SPINNEY  )
 * Episode 3 7 9 7 (  1 99 8  )
 * Episode 3 8 0 4 (  1 999  )
 * Episode 3 8 3 1 (  1 999  ) (  MATT VOGEL  operating the  BIG BIRD   puppet  to a vocal track by  CAROLL   SPINNEY  )
 *  EPISODE 3 8 3 8  ( 1 999  ) (  MATT VOGEL  operating the  BIG BIRD   puppet  to a vocal track by  CAROLL   SPINNEY  )
 * Episode 3 8 4 5 (  1 999  )
 * Episode 3 8 6 3 (  2 000  )
 *  EPISODE 3 8 66  ( 2 000  )
 * Episode 3 8 7 9 (  2 000  )
 * Epi sode 3 9 5 8 (  2 00 1  ) (  re peat  o f  3 7 9 0  (  1 99 8  ) ) (  MATT VOGEL  operating the  BIG BIRD   puppet  to a vocal track b y  CAROLL   SPINNEY  )
 * Episode 3 9 8 6 (  2 00 2  )
 * Episode 3 99 1 (  2 00 2  )
 * Episode 3 99 2 (  2 00 2  )
 * Episode 3 99 5 (  2 00 2  )
 * Episode 3 99 6 (  2 00 2  )
 *  EPISODE 3 99 7  ( 2 00 2  ) (  MATT VOGEL  operating the  BIG BIRD   puppet  to a vocal track by  CAROLL   SPINNEY  )
 * Episode 3 99 8 (  2 00 2  )
 * Episode 4 00 4 (  2 00 2  )
 *  EPISODE 4 0 3 0  ( 2 00 2  )
 *  EPISODE 4 0 4 1  ( 2 00 2  )
 * Episode 4 0 5 7 (  2 00 4  )
 * Episode 4 0 6 5 (  2 00 4  )
 * Episode 4 0 8 1 (  2 00 4  )
 * Episode 4 1 3 1 (  2 00 6  )
 * Episode 4 1 4 1 (  2 00 7  )
 * Episode 4 1 4 2 (  2 00 7  )
 *  EPISODE 4 1 8 1  ( 2 00 8  )
 *  EPISODE 4 2 5 3  ( 2 0 1 0  ) (  repeat  of  EPISODE 4 1 8 1  (  2 00 8  ) )
 * Episode 4 2 66 (  2 0 11  )
 * Episode 44 1 2 (  2 0 1 3  )
 * Episode 4 6 2 5 (  2 0 1 6  )
 *  SESAME STREET  Theme Intro  (  Episode 4 1 8 7  (  2 00 9  ) - present )
 *  Christ mas Eve on  SESAME   STREET  ( 1 9 7 8  )
 *  A Special  SESAME   STREET  Christ mas  ( 1 9 7 8  )
 *  DON ' T  Eat t he P i c t u r e s  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  BIG   BIRD  in China  ( 19 8 3  )
 *  Follow That  BIRD  ( 1 9 8 5  )
 *  The Muppet s : A Celebration of 30 Year s  ( 1 9 8 6  )
 *  SESAME   STREET  Home Video Visit s t he Hospital  ( 1 99 1  )
 *  SESAME   STREET  Home Video Visit s the F i r e house  ( 1 99 1  )
 *  BIG   BIRD  ’ s Birth day or Let  ME  Eat Cake  ( 1 99 1  )
 *  Elmo  Save s Christ mas  ( 1 99 6  )
 *  Quiet Ti me  ( 1 99 7  )
 *  Learning to Share  ( 1 99 7  )
 *  Elmo  pa looza  ( 1 99 8  )
 *  The Adventure s of  Elmo  in  GROUCH  land  ( 1 999  )
 *  What ' s t h e Name of That Song ?  ( 2 0 0 4  )
 *  A Celebration of  Me ,  Grover  ( 2 00 4  )

Book s

 *  SESAME   STREET  ( comic book )  ( 1 9 7 0 s  - present )
 *  OSCAR  ’ s Book  ( 1 9 7 5  )
 *  How t o B e a  GROUCH  ( 1 9 7 6  )
 *  Ernie  ’ s Work of Art  ( 1 9 7 9  )
 *  A Day in the Life of  OSCAR   THE   GROUCH  ( 1 9 8 1  )
 *  OSCAR  ’ s  ROTTEN  Birth day  ( 1 9 8 1  )
 *  Bert  &amp; the Missing Mop Mix - Up  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  Ernie  ’ s Little Lie  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  Count  All the Way t o  SESAME   STREET  ( 1 9 8 5  )
 *  BIG   BIRD  Can Share  ( 1 9 8 5  )
 *  It ’ s a De a l !  ( 1 9 8 6  )
 *  O h, Bro th e r !  ( 1 9 8 7  )
 *  Imagine T hat !  ( 1 9 8 7  )
 *  Friend s to t he Rescue (  BIG BIRD  Story Magic )  ( 1 9 8 7  )
 *  A Birth d a y Sur prise (  SESAME   STREET  )  ( 1 9 8 7  )
 *  Don ’ t B e Shy  ( 1 9 8 7  )
 *  T h e Day  Snuffy  Had the Sniffle s  ( 1 9 88  )
 *  Oh,  I  Am So Embarrassed !  ( 1 9 88  )
 *  A  GROUCH  ’ s Christ mas  ( 1 99 0  )
 *  A  BIRD  ' s Best Friend  ( 1 99 0  )
 *  BIG BIRD  Play s the Violin  ( 1 99 0  )
 *  BIG   BIRD  Is  YELLOW  ( 1 99 0  )
 *  The Poky Little Puppy Come s to  SESAME   STREET  ( 1 99 7  )
 *  SESAME   STREET  color ing book s ( Sony )  ( 2 0 1 0 s  )
 *  BIG   BIRD  at Home  ( 2 0 11  )

Audio

 *  Camping in Canada  ( 1 9 8 1  )

Song s

 *  Ju st Three Co lo r s  ( 1 9 7 2  )
 *  Simple Son g  ( 1 9 7 2  )
 *  Singing in the Shower  ( 1 9 8 6  )
 *  Itch &amp; S c r a t ch  ( 1 99 3  )
 *  Great  BIG  Beautiful World  ( 1 99 8  )
 *  If You ’ re Happy &amp; You Know It  ( 2 00 1  ) from  K i d s ' Favorite Songs 2 ( album ) 
 *  I s I t A live ?  ( 2 00 2  )

SESAME STREET  Live

 *  Around the World  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  Save Our  STREET  ( 1 9 8 5  -  1 9 8 6  ;  1 9 8 6  -  1 9 8 7  )
 *  Sill y Dancing  ( 1 9 8 9  )
 *  When I Grow U p  ( 1 99 3  -  1 99 4  ;  1 99 5  -  1 99 6  )
 *  Elmo  ’ s Coloring Book  ( 1 99 7  )
 *  When  Elmo  G row s Up  ( 2 00 7  )
 *  Elmo  ’ s  GREEN   THUMB  ( 2 00 8  )

CAROLL  SPINNEY  /  MARTY ROBINSON  Muppet  Pairings

 *  BIG BIRD  /  Snuff y 
 *  BIG BIRD  /  Tell y Monster 
 *  BIG BIRD  /  MRS . GROUCH 
 *  BIG BIRD  / Gary  GROUCH 
 *  BIG BIRD  /  SLIMEY 
 *  BIG BIRD  /  Rocky  (  c at  )
 *  BIG BIRD  / Buster the Horse
 *  BIG BIRD  / Shelley the Turtle
 *  BIG BIRD  / Monty
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Tell y Monster 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Snuffy 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  SLIMEY 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  FLUFFY 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Walter Cranky 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Donald Grump 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Ronald Grump 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  IRVINE 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  MRS . GROUCH 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  SCRAM - I - Am 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Romeo Scuggs 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Mr . Greasemonkey 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  / Tan colored  GROUCH  Explorer
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  / Buster the Horse
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  / Sullivan
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  / Monty
 *  GRANNY BIRD  /  Snuffy  ( soon )
 *  GRANNY BIRD  /  Tell y Monster  ( soon )
 *  GRANNY BIRD  /  MRS . GROUCH  ( soon )
 *  BRUNO THE TRASH MAN  / The orange - haired singer of  BRUNO  & t h  e   TRASH m  en
 *  BRUNO THE TRASH MAN  /  Tell y Monster 

Muppeteer  veteran   MATT VOGEL  can be heard & seen taking  CAROLL   SPINNEY  ’ s place in 3| 3  of these pairing s :


 *  BIG BIRD  /  Snuffy 
 *  BIG BIRD  /  Telly Monster 
 *  BIG BIRD  / Old MacDonald

CAROLL  SPINNEY  /  PAM ARCIERO  Muppets  Pairings

 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  GRUNDGETTA 
 *  OSCAR THE GROUCH  /  Nani Bird  ( soon )
 *  BIG BIRD  /  GRUNDGETTA 
 *  BIG BIRD  /  Nani Bird 
 *  BIG BIRD  /  Pammy 
 *  GRANNY BIRD  /  Nani Bird 
 *  GRANNY BIRD  /  GRUNDGETTA  ( soon )

External l ink s

 * Official site
 * Official Fansite
 * Fansite
 * NPR Interview
 * Tribute song to  CAROLL   SPINNEY 
 * New Yorker inter view w it h  CAROLL   SPINNEY 
 *  SESAME  Work shop B log : An Inter view w it h  SESAME   STREET  ' s  CAROLL   SPINNEY 
 * CAROLL SPINNEY on IMDb
 * Red dit " Ask  ME   ANY THING  " with  CAROLL   SPINNEY