Hartford, Conn. • Carroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on “Sesame Street,” died Sunday at the age of 85 at his home in Connecticut, according to the Sesame Workshop.
The Sesame Workshop said in a statement that the legendary puppeteer lived for some time with dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions.
Muppets creator Jim Henson first discovered Spinney in Salt Lake City, where they were attending a puppet festival. According to Tribune archives, Henson was impressed with Spinney’s ability to improvise under difficult circumstances and invited him to try out for “Sesame Street.