Bob McGrath, one of the original “Sesame Street” cast members, has died at the age of 90, his family announced Sunday.
“Our father Bob McGrath passed away today,” the family said Posted on Facebook. “He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.”
McGrath, who is from Illinois, was one of four original actors hired to start the children’s show in 1969. He played a character named Bob and was on the PBS show for 460 episodes until 2017. according to his IMDb profile.
Other original cast members included Matt Robinson as Gordon, Loretta Long as Gordon’s wife Susan, and Will Lee as Mr. Hooper.
“I think we got the kids we wanted to get,” McGrath said in a 1998 interview. Sun-Times.
“They have grown up. They are now 30 years old. They have their own children, our sesame seeds, and they come to me and say, “Thank you very much. This has made a big difference in our lives.”
McGrath’s singing career began at a young age, and before joining Sesame Street, she performed classical and contemporary pieces, according to her website bio.
In the early 1960s, he was a singer on NBC’s Sing Along With Mitch, which ran for four years and was picked up in Japan. When the show was cancelled, the band left for a 30-concert tour of Japan.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind the show, called McGrath “a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for more than 50 years.”
“Bob embodies the melodies of Sesame Street like no other, and his performances have brought joy and wonder to generations of children around the world, whether it’s teaching them the ABCs, teaching people in their neighborhood, or the simple joy of feeling music in their hearts.” “, the organization wrote in a series of tweets.
“A world-renowned performer, Bob’s rich tenor has filled the airwaves and concert halls from Las Vegas to Saskatchewan to Tokyo.
“We are forever grateful for his many years of passionate creative contributions to Sesame Street and honored that he shared so much of his life with us.”
One of the current cast members is Alan Muraoka, who plays the owner of Hooper’s Store. He called McGrath a coach, friend and role model. The last time he saw McGrath was at his 90th birthday party.
“His kindness and wicked sense of humor were such a joy and I loved him so much,” Muraoka said in a Facebook post.