Danny Seagren, a Jim Henson puppeteer who played Big Bird on Sesame Street and portrayed the first live-action Spider-Man on The Electric Company, has died age 81.
Seagren died on November 10, according to his family. There was no cause of death stated.
Seagren, who was born on November 15, 1943 in Minneapolis, MN, was both a puppeteer and puppet maker for Jim Henson.
Along with being Ernie’s right hand, the Muppet maker also starred as Big Bird on several episodes of Sesame Street, as well as playing the tall bird during live shows as well as on The Ed Sullivan Show.
He also created puppets for series including Miss Peach, the comic that was adapted as an animated segment on ABC preschool series Curiosity Shop, CBS kids show Captain Kangaroo and PBS’ Who’s Afraid Of Opera, which starred Joan Sutherland.
Seagren was also television’s first Spider-Man, starring as the famed web slinger on The Electric Company, the PBS series that starred Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman and was produced by Sesame Workshop predecessor Children’s Television Workshop.
Other credits include Tales from Muppetland, The Great Santa Claus Switch and The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant.
“Danny will be greatly missed by his family, friends and those throughout the community he loved living in,” his family wrote online.
Seagren is survived by longtime companion, Kate Vereau, his brother Dr. Stephen L. Seagren, his wife Jill R. Seagren, and their son, his nephew Sean G. Seagren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.