Bob McGrath was one of the original human cast members of “Sesame Street” and appeared on the children’s TV classic for more than 45 years.
- Died: December 4, 2022 (Who else died on December 4?)
- Details of death: Died of complications from a stroke at his home in New Jersey at the age of 90.
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Sesame Street
Before joining “Sesame Street,” McGrath was a featured tenor on “Sing Along with Mitch,” the 1960s singalong show. When “Sesame Street” launched in 1969, McGrath joined the cast playing Bob Johnson, the music teacher. He was one of four non-Muppet characters at the time of the show’s debut, and he remained with “Sesame Street” until the show was retooled in 2016. McGrath sang some of the show’s most beloved songs, including “The People in Your Neighborhood” and “Sing, Sing a Song,” and he was known for his friendship with Oscar the Grouch. McGrath was one of the two longest-running cast members of “Sesame Street.” After 2016, he continued to appear in special events for “Sesame Street,” including their 2019 50th anniversary celebration TV special. McGrath also wrote children’s books, including “Uh Oh” Gotta Go! Potty Tales from Toddlers.”
Notable quote
“It’s sometimes hard to separate the muppet from the person that’s running it. I always felt that way whenever I was dealing with Oscar in the trashcan. We were sort like Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in ‘The Odd Couple’ with Oscar being the grumpy one and me being ‘Mr. Nice Guy.’” —from a 2015 interview for Kids Can Groove
Tributes to Bob McGrath
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
