Danny Seagren, a Jim Henson puppeteer who played Big Bird in Sesame Street and portrayed the first live-action Spider-Man on The Electricity Company, died at the age of 81.
Seagren died Nov. 10, according to his family. No cause of death was given.
Seagren, born November 15, 1943, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was both a puppeteer and puppet maker for Jim Henson.
In addition to being Ernie’s right-hand man, the Muppet creator also played the role of Big Bird in several episodes of Sesame Streetas well as playing the big bird during live shows as well as on The Ed Sullivan Show.
He also created puppets for series like Miss Peaceh, the comic strip adapted into an animated segment in the ABC preschool series Curiosity shopCBS children’s show Captain Kangaroo and PBS’ Who is Fear of operawith Joan Sutherland.
Seagren was also television’s first Spider-Man, playing the famous web-slinger in The Electricity Company, the PBS series starring Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman and was produced by Sesame Workshop’s predecessor, Children’s Television Workshop.
Other credits include Tales from Muppetland, Santa’s Big Switch And The story of Babar, the little elephant.
“Danny will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all those in the community he loved to live in,” his family wrote online.
Seagren is survived by his 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 take place at a later date.
