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\"PHOTO:
Mark Lennihan/AP, FILE
PHOTO: Puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who played Big Bird, is interviewed during a break from taping an episode of "Sesame Street" in New York, April 10, 2008. After nearly 50 years on the show Spinney is retiring.
>

After more than 4,000 episodes voicing characters and embodying Big Bird, the balance and physical stamina required to play the characters became a bit too much. He stopped puppeteering Big Bird three years ago and relegated himself to just the voice of the \"Sesame Street\" legend.

Long-time puppeteer Caroll Spinney has announced that he is stepping down from the roles of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Spinney is pleased that his iconic roles will be carried on by puppeteers Matt Vogel and Eric Jacobson. Learn more: https://t.co/BALgkIPI5q pic.twitter.com/sGMDjqLklQ

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) October 17, 2018
\"PHOTO:
Mark Lennihan/AP, FILE
PHOTO: Big Bird reads to Connor Scott and Tiffany Jiao during a taping of Sesame Street in New York, April 10, 2008. Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who has played Big Bird on "Sesame Street" is retiring after nearly 50 years on the show.
>

Jeffrey Dunn, president of Sesame Workshop, said Spinney's work over the past half century has been a gift to the world.

\"I think it's fair to say,\" Dunn said, \"that Caroll's view of the world and how we should treat each other has shaped and defined our organization.\"

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