Sesame Street actor Bob McGrath has died
New Jersey - Actor and singer Bob McGrath, best known for his role on Sesame Street, passed away on Sunday at the age of 90.
Bob McGrath's family took to Facebook to announce the actor's passing Sunday: "The McGrath family has some sad news to share. Our father Bob McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family."
McGrath was 90. His daughter told NPR that he died of complications following a stroke.
A tenor, McGrath was part of the original Sesame Street cast and played the friendly human neighbor character, Bob Johnson. The character, who just happened to share McGrath's first name, was the easygoing music teacher who dispensed advice for almost 50 years.
McGrath was part of the Sesame Street premiere in 1969 and made is final appearance on the show in 2017. Fans were outraged when HBO took over broadcasting rights to Sesame Street in 2016 and fired McGrath and two other long-time cast members.
McGrath himself took the news graciously and, per the New York Times, was grateful to have worked on the show for 47 years.
Bob McGrath mourned by his Sesame Street family
The Sesame Workshop also mourned Bob McGrath's passing in a tweet, saying, "Bob embodied the melodies of Sesame Street like no one else, and his performances brought joy and wonder to generations of children around the world, whether teaching them the ABCs, the people in their neighborhood, or the simple joy of feeling music in their hearts."
McGrath grew up in Illinois. He studied music at the University of Michigan and Manhattan School of Music. Before he joined Sesame Street in the 1960s, he was a soloist in the series Sing Along With Mitch. After the show ended in 1964, he went on a 30-show tour in Japan and became something of a teen idol there.
Bob McGrath is survived by his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, their five children, and eight grandchildren.
Cover photo: KRIS CONNOR / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP