Caroll Spinney

 CAROLL   ED WIN   SPINNEY  ( bor n  D E C E M B E R   2 6  t h, 1 9 33  ) has perform ed both  OSCAR THE GROUCH  &  BIG BIRD  on  SESAME STREET  for 4 8 y ear s. I n a 2 00 8   Washington Time s  article,  SPINNEY  said t hat even though perform in g  BIG BIRD  i s physically demand i n g work , t h e 8 4 - y ear - old has no intent i on of stop p i n g , s a y i n g , " I can ’ t imagine willingly walk in g a way from  BIG BIRD  &  OSCAR  . " He has describe d his experience as  BIG BIRD  as " a l o t like grow in g up to be  Mickey Mouse  . . . only taller ! "

 SPINNEY  was born in Waltham, M A  & was an accomplished artist before he started work in g 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 1 9 55 ,  SPINNEY  headed to Las Vegas ,  Nevada  , where he create d the show  Rascal   Rabbit . He returned to Boston in 1 9 5 8 , appear in g in t he summer series  The   Judy   &   Goggle Show  as a puppeteer opposite Judy Valentine , perform in g Goggle t he bird.

When  Judy   &   Goggle  was moved out of it s slot for station W H D H - T V ' s return in g programming, both  SPINNEY  & Valentine were offered a berth on the Boston b road cast of  Bozo ’ s   Big   Top  i n 1 9 5 9.  SPINNEY  played a variety o f hand - puppet creation s, usually in 1| 1 - o ff s kit s , & also played Bozo ’ s grand mother Grandma Nellie ( in full clown - make - up ) & several recurring costumed character s. These include d Flip - Flop the Rag Doll, Kookie Kangaroo ( a fail ed boxer ) , & Mr. Lion, " the fast es t draw a live . " The latter role combine d  SPINNEY  ’ s perform in g & car too n is t s kill s , creating quick sketches f or t he k i d s.

In the 1 9 6 0 s ,  SPINNEY  create d 2| 2  cat puppets ,  Pickle puss & Pop  , who he performed i n various venue s , including stage show s & some  Bozo  b road cast s. Pickle puss & Pop would later go on to perform with  the Muppet s  just once, in the  1 9 88   Jim HENSON   Play - Along video   Wow , You ’ re a Cartoon i st ! . In 1 9 6 9 ,  SPINNEY  met  JIM HENSON  at the Puppeteer s ' 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 issue s & other problem s, but after ward s ,  HENSON  told him that he  " like d what you were  try in g  to do . "  HENSON  then asked  SPINNEY  if he wanted to work with him on a new  c h i l d r e n ’ 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  episode s  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 a c ter s  on many other program s, including  The Flip Wilson Show  ,  Scrubs  ,  Mister Roger s ' Neigh b or hood  ,  1 vs 1 00  ,  T he Muppet Show  , & over 1 4 1 episode s o f  Holly wood Square s .

 SPINNEY  wrote an auto biography in 2 00 3  title d  T he  WISDOM  o f  BIG   BIRD  ( & the Dark  GENIUS  o f  OSCAR   THE   GROUCH  ) : Less on s from a Life in  FEATHER S .  CAROLL   SPINNEY  al so wrote & illustrate d   How to be a  G R O U C H , a  1 9 7 6  picture book that explain s the world from  OSCAR  ’ s point o f view.  SPINNEY  also drew the picture  o f  Mr . Hooper  that  BIG BIRD  d r e w after  M r . Hooper  die d, & designed 1| 1  of his  character s  ,  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 grand mother  & 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 appearance s are most often along side  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 feature d in a 2 0 1 0  /  2 0 11  exhibit at  Toon S e um. A new documentary about  SPINNEY  title d  I  Am  BIG   BIRD  : The  CAROLL   SPINNEY  Story  premiere d i n Spring 2 0 1 3.

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

Muppeteer Credit s

 *  SESAME STREET  :  BIG BIRD  ( 1 9 6 9  - pre sent ),  OSCAR THE GROUCH  (  1 9 6 9  - present ) ,  GRANNY BIRD  ,  BRUNO T H E 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 9 6 9  ) ,  Bennett Snerf  (  Anything Muppet  version ) ,  Hippie  ,  Left y t he Sale s man  ( occasion ally ) ,  Shivers the Penguin  ( early  8 0 s  ) ,  Squeaky the Elf  ,  Yellow   Submarine  Pumpkin pilot  ,  Granny Fanny Nesselrode  , various  Any thin g Muppet   character s
 *  W ow, You ' re a Cartoon ist !  : Pickle puss & Pop
 *  Chris t 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 Chris t 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 
 *  T he Muppet s Celebrate  JIM   HENSON  :  BIG BIRD 
 *  Elmo  Save s Chris t mas  :  OSCAR THE GROUCH  &  BIG BIRD 
 *  The Ad venture s of  Elmo  in  G R O U C H  l and  :  OSCAR THE GROUCH  &  BIG BIRD 
 *  Friend s to t h e Rescue  :  OSCAR THE GROUCH ,  BIG BIRD  &  Granny Bird 
 *  Elmo  ’ s Chris t m as  Count  dow n  :  OSCAR THE GROUCH  &  BIG BIRD 
 * You can also see  BIG BIRD  film o graph y  &  OSCAR THE GROUCH   film o graph y  for a l l other film s, guest appearance s & special s.

Award s & Honor s
 Date s   UN know n   1 99 4   2 000   2 00 6   2 00 7 
 *  SPINNEY  has earned 4| 4  Day time Emmy A war d s , 2| 2  Gold Record s , & 2| 2   Grammy Award s.
 * A s  Big Bird ,  SPINNEY  was honored w it h a star on the Hollywood   Walk of Fame.
 * A s  BIG BIRD ,  SPINNEY  was awarded the Library of Congress Living Legend Award in April 2 000  . Accord in g to the Library o f Congress web site , " the award is selected by the Library ’ s curator s & subject special is t s to honor artist s ,  w rite r s  , activist s , film make r s , physician s , entertainer s , sport s figure s & public servant s who have made significant contribution s to  Am eri ca  ’ s diverse cultural , scientific & social heritage . "
 * Day time Emmy s Life time Achieve men t Award
 * Out stand in g Performer In A C h i l d r e n ’ s S e r i es ( t i e ) :,  SPINNEY  a s  OSCAR THE GROUCH  &  KEVIN CLASH  a s  Elmo  ( t ran script  )

Note s

 *  SPINNEY  i s right - handed.
 *  SPINNEY  explained in a 2 00 7  inter view that w hen there ’ s ever a  scene  with both  OSCAR  &  BIG BIRD  that "if  I  ’ m do in g t he  BIRD ,  I  ’ ll have my assistant move  OSCAR  , but I ’ ll do both voice s . Usually , we pre - record the one that my assistant i s moving . Once i n a while , if it ’ s  OSCAR  ’ s scene &  he  has a lot more word s than  BIG BIRD  , then I have my assist ant stand in for  BIG BIRD  & I record  BIG BIRD  ’ s voice digitally . That way ,  t h  e y  can b e talk in g t o  e a  c h   o t h  e r  . "
 * While  SESAME STREET  was still i n plan n i n g s t age s,  CAROLL   SPINNEY  suggest ed t o h is friend & boss ,  JIM HENSON  that the show  have  unscripted conversation s  between  Muppet s  &  real - l i v e c h i l d r e n.
 *  SPINNEY  almost left  SESAME STREET  be fore sea s on 2 , due to a low salary , the expense of living i n  New York   & an offer to produce his own  Pickle puss  show in  Boston  during the break between  sea s on s  . How eve r ,  Kermit Love  convinced  SPINNEY  to give the  show  another month before deciding t o quit , & soo n decide d t o stay o n t he  show.
 * F or some time, his name was spelled a s  CAR  R  OLL   SPINNEY  , w / 2| 2 R| r  ' s in his fir s t name.
 * During the first 2| 2 sea s on s of  SESAME STREET ,   SPINNEY  would often perform right - hand s & 1 - time  character s  , but did n ’ t really enjoy it , so he eventually stopped , limiting his perform in g primarily to  BIG BIRD  &  OSCAR  , with only a handful of other recur ring  character s  l at e r on (  BRUNO  ,  Shiver s the Penguin  ,  GRANNY BIRD  ).
 * Since 2 0 1 5 ,  SPINNEY  h as cease d puppeteer in g  OSCAR   &   BIG BIRD  due t o physical set back s .  ERIC JACOBSON  &  MATT VOGEL  manipulate the  character s  ( respectively ) &  SPINNEY  supplies the voice in post product i on . This is primarily done for t he  main series  &  T V special s  ;  JACOBSON  &  VOGEL  perform both the voice & puppetry for all other media & appearance s . How ever ,  SPINNEY  continue s to sporadically perform  OSCAR  f or various public appearance s.

== Case s where  CAROLL   SPINNEY  ’ s most famous character s  from  SESAME STREET ,  OSCAR THE GROUCH   &   BIG BIRD  have appeared  together   in   the   same   scene ==

T V / Movie s  /  Special s

 *  SESAME STREET   ( 1 9 6 9  - 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  ) (  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  )
 * 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 )
 *  Chris t m as Eve o n  SESAME   STREET  (  1 9 7 8  )
 *  A Special  SESAME   STREET  Chris t m a s  ( 1 9 7 8  )
 *  DO N ’ T  Eat t h e P i c t u r e s  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  BIG   BIRD  in China  ( 1 9 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 Chris t m as  ( 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  G R O U C H  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  G R O U C H  ( 1 9 7 6  )
 *  Ernie  ’ s Work o f 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 L ie  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  Count  All t he 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  )
 *  Do n ’ 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 Chris t m as  ( 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  )
 *  T he 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 Song s 2 ( album ) 
 *  I s I t A live ?  ( 2 00 2  )

SESAME STREET  Live

 *  Around the World  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  Save O ur  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 Color in g 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  Pair in g s

 *  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 Fan site
 * Fan site
 * NPR Interview
 * Tribute son g to  CAROLL   SPINNEY 
 * New Yorker inter view w it h  CAROLL   SPINNEY 
 *  SESAME  Work s hop B log : An Inter view w it h  SESAME   STREET  ’ s  CAROLL   SPINNEY 
 * CAROLL SPINNEY on IMDb
 * Red dit " Ask  ME   ANY THIN G  " with  CAROLL   SPINNEY