Bob McGrath Family shared the news that, he was one of the original cast members of Sesame Street Icon Bob McGrath has passed away at the age of 90.
According to a post that was made on Facebook, the actor, who has been a part of the children’s television show for close to half a century, “passed away quietly at home, surrounded by his family.”
McGrath made his initial appearance on Sesame Street in 1969, playing the role of Bob Johnson, a warm and welcoming music teacher.
Sesame Workshop, which is responsible for the creation of the show, stated that he “embodied the melodies of Sesame Street like no one else.”
“His performances brought joy and wonder to generations of children around the world,” it said in a statement that was shared on social media.
“Whether teaching them the ABCs, the people in their neighborhood, or the simple joy of feeling the music in their hearts,” the statement said, “His performances brought joy and wonder to generations of children.”
Cathlin McGrath, McGrath’s daughter, told The Washington Post and other news sites that her father, McGrath, passed away as a result of complications following a stroke.
Alongside Loretta Long, who played Susan Robinson, the actor, tenor singer, and children’s book author was one of the human characters on Sesame Street who remained on the show for the greatest amount of time.
In 2017, his farewell episode, which was named Having a Ball, was broadcast on television. 2016 saw the broadcast of the final episode of Long.
Through songs like “People in Your Neighborhood,” McGrath and the rest of the Sesame Street family instructed young viewers in everything from counting to being kind to one another. Their furry, friendly, and occasionally cranky muppet friends also joined in on the instruction.
Bob McGrath, Legend of Sesame Street Passed Away at the age of 90
The passing of our father, Bob McGrath, took place today. He passed away in the comfort of his own home, surrounded by his loved ones.
The much-loved children’s program featured the actor in multiple episodes throughout the 1960s and 1970s in the role of a recurrent cast member.
In the first episode, which aired in 1969, he played himself, and he proceeded to appear in episodes for a total of 47 more seasons.
The title of his final appearance on the show, which aired in 2017, was “Having a Ball.”
Throughout the performance, McGrath engaged the puppet characters in activities that were intended to teach the audience’s young viewers something new.
On the other hand, he was also famous for his musical abilities, having contributed to songs such as “People in Your Neighborhood,” “Sing a Song,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” and even the theme song for the show.
Even after leaving his on-screen role in Sesame Street, McGrath remained to work for the Sesame Workshop, the business that is in charge of running the Sesame property.
He continued his efforts as an advocate while also continuing to attend public gatherings.
According to what was written by the Sesame Workshop, Bob was “a revered performer worldwide, and his rich tenor filled airwaves and concert halls from Las Vegas to Saskatchewan to Tokyo many times over.”
“We will be eternally thankful for his many years of passionate creative contributions to Sesame Street, and we will be honored that he shared so much of his life with us,” said the cast of the show.
His wife, Ann Logan Sperry, and their five children are the only ones who remember McGrath after his passing.
McGrath has portrayed Sesame Street characters in a number of different products, such as stand-alone films, Christmas specials, video games, and more.
The documentary film Sesame Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street in 2021 was the venue for his final performance.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, their five children, and their eight grandchildren. He passed away on April 15, 2019.