Big Bird is one of the most iconic and beloved characters on Sesame Street. The 8-foot tall yellow canary has been a mainstay of the show since its first episode in 1969. However, some viewers have noticed differences in Big Bird’s appearance and voice over the years, leading to speculation that he has been replaced by multiple actors in the Big Bird suit. In this article, we’ll examine the history of Big Bird and the talented performers who have brought him to life over the past 50+ years.
Origins of Big Bird
Big Bird was originally designed and built by puppeteer Jim Henson. Henson based the character on a simple costume he used in a 1967 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The Sullivan appearance featured a 7-foot tall yellow bird that barely moved. For Sesame Street, Henson wanted a similar looking bird, but one that could walk around and interact with the human cast members.
Big Bird stands 8 feet 2 inches tall and has an enormous puppeteering apparatus inside to control his head and facial movements. The initial Big Bird suit was built by Kermit Love, who constructed many of the original Sesame Street puppets. Love used turkey feathers to create Big Bird’s distinctive yellow plumage. Big Bird’s facial features, including his oversized eyes and wide flapping beak, were designed to convey a childlike innocence.
Caroll Spinney – The Original Big Bird (1969-2018)
The first actor to take on the role of Big Bird was Caroll Spinney. Spinney auditioned for Henson and was selected based on his singing, dancing, and comedic skills. Spinney’s first scenes as Big Bird were filmed in 1969 for the show’s inaugural season.
Spinney played Big Bird from the character’s debut in 1969 up until 2018. That amounts to nearly 50 years of portraying the same character on television! Spinney described the role as “a career, not a job.” He traveled the world making public appearances as Big Bird and educated generations of children through his performances.
Playing Big Bird required tremendous physical stamina. Spinney operated the heavy Big Bird puppet while crouched down and monitoring a small TV monitor inside the costume. Despite the challenges, Spinney persevered and defined the role of Big Bird for decades with his warmth, humor, singing voice, and limitless compassion.
Other Performers as Big Bird
While Caroll Spinney was the primary actor behind Big Bird, a few other performers have played the character occasionally:
– Daniel Seagren – Seagren was Spinney’s understudy and portrayed Big Bird in scenes that would have been too physically demanding for Spinney. He played Big Bird from 1970 to 1972.
– Richard Hunt – Occasionally filled in for Spinney from 1970 to 1991. Hunt also performed many other beloved Sesame Street characters like Gladys the Cow and Placido Flamingo.
– Matt Vogel – Vogel became Spinney’s apprentice in 1996 and began performing as Big Bird’s puppeteer in-frame in later seasons of the show. This allowed Spinney to provide just the voice while Vogel operated the puppet.
– Colleen Smith – The first female actress to perform Big Bird, filling in for Spinney on and off since 1999.
So while Caroll Spinney remained the definitive Big Bird for nearly 50 years, he did get occasional breaks thanks to his talented understudies. These other performers had to carefully study Spinney’s movements and vocals to ensure their portrayal of Big Bird matched the original.
Caroll Spinney’s Retirement in 2018
After five decades of legendary performances, Caroll Spinney announced his retirement from Sesame Street in 2018. He was 84 years old at the time. Spinney made his final on-set appearance as Big Bird in late 2018, recording episodes that aired as part of the show’s 50th season in 2019.
By this point, Matt Vogel had been groomed to take over the principal role of Big Bird full-time. Vogel had joined Sesame Street as an apprentice puppeteer in 1996 and studied directly under Spinney for over 20 years. Spinney hand-picked Vogel as his successor because of his puppeteering talent and ability to match Big Bird’s signature voice.
Spinney’s last filmed scenes as Big Bird included a touching duet with himself as the character Oscar the Grouch, reflecting on their half-century of friendship. It was a fitting finale showing that while Spinney was retiring, his legacy as Big Bird would live on. The beloved yellow bird had new wings to soar.
Matt Vogel as Big Bird (2018-Present)
Since 2018, Matt Vogel has assumed the mantle of portraying Big Bird on a full-time basis. Vogel had over two decades to prepare for the role under Spinney’s mentorship. In his first season as the primary Big Bird, Vogel received positive reviews for capturing the character’s essence. Vogel told the New York Times, “I just feel such a responsibility to the character. I have the deepest respect for it.”
While Vogel now physically portrays Big Bird on set, Caroll Spinney’s voice was still heard as the bird for a short transitional period. Pre-recorded audio of Spinney from archival recordings was used in the first season without him to help maintain continuity. But since 2020, Vogel has provided both the physical portrayal and speaking voice of Big Bird.
Big Bird remains in good wings with Vogel guiding the character into a new era. The producers of Sesame Street have praised his performance and commitment to honoring the spirit of Big Bird. Vogel has said that Spinney handed him “the most important part of my career,” and he doesn’t take the responsibility lightly.
Reflections on Big Bird’s Legacy
For over 50 years and spanning multiple performers, Big Bird has remained a symbol of childhood wonder on Sesame Street. While the human cast has changed over the decades, Big Bird’s essential traits of innocence, curiosity, and heart have endured.
Big Bird was originally written as a 4-6 year old child. Over the years, his age has bounced around a bit, but his childlike perspective remains central to the role. Big Bird asks the questions that children viewing at home might ask. He learns lessons and reflects the emotional experience of facing a big wide world as a small, gentle soul.
The fact that multiple talented performers have embodied this character speaks to the strength of Big Bird’s universal appeal. Caroll Spinney always stressed that he was simply playing a part created with “a team of writers, designers, and puppet builders.” The creators built a character that could touch generations of children, and the performers lived up to that vision.
While the humans around him aged, Big Bird stayed eternally young. In that sense, Big Bird will continue hatching new adventures and conveying timeless wisdom to children for as long as Sesame Street’s doors remain open.
Farewell to Caroll Spinney
After his retirement in 2018, Caroll Spinney remained in good health and occasionally made public appearances at events related to Sesame Street. Sadly, Spinney passed away in December 2019 at age 85.
Spinney’s death was widely mourned by generations who grew up with his warm and playful portrayal of Big Bird. Sesame Street hosted a memorial service for Spinney at the New York Public Library in early 2020, attended by friends, family, and past cast members who shared their cherished memories of working alongside him.
Before his death, Spinney already saw his legacy passed on to the capable hands of Matt Vogel. When asked about moving on from playing Big Bird, Spinney said: “It’s sort of like saying goodbye to a part of yourself… But I know the character is right where it belongs with my dear friend Matt Vogel.”
The actors behind Big Bird may change, but what matters most is the spirit of the character living on. In that spirit, Caroll Spinney’s 50-year trek down Sesame Street will never be forgotten. The journey continues aided by a faithful yellow feathered companion who reminds us all to spread kindness and see each day through youthful eyes.
Conclusion
While Caroll Spinney originated the role and embodied Big Bird for nearly half a century, a handful of talented performers have stepped in occasionally over the years to portray the feathered child. This ensured that the Beloved yellow eight-foot-two bird could remain on Sesame Street through many generations of children. Now with Matt Vogel as Big Bird’s primary puppeteer and voice, the iconic character moves forward to educate, entertain, and spread messages of hope. No matter who provides the wings, Big Bird’s spirit of innocent joy endures as a treasured icon of children’s television.