Bob McGrath, an actor who played a wise music teacher on the original Sesame Street, has died. He was 90.
McGrath died at home in New Jersey yesterday (Dec. 4), according to a post on his Facebook page. His daughter Cathlin confirmed to The New York Times that McGrath died of stroke complications, telling the outlet that he had been surrounded by family who had decorated his home for Christmas and sang and danced with him the evening before he died.
“We just knew that he wanted to go the way he lived,” she told the Times.
McGrath starred on Sesame Street from the very beginning, and appeared on the popular children’s program for decades. His character, who was also named Bob, was a staple on the show from its first episode in 1969 until 2016, when McGrath — plus cast members Emilio Delgado and Roscoe Orman — were fired after HBO declined to renew their contracts.
In a statement shared on Twitter yesterday, Sesame Workshop mourned McGrath’s death, calling him “a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years.”
“A founding cast member, 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,” Sesame Workshop shared.
“A revered performer worldwide, Bob’s rich tenor filled airwaves and concert halls from Las Vegas to Saskatchewan to Tokyo many times over,” their statement continued. “We will be forever grateful for his many years of passionate creative contributions to Sesame Street and honored that he shared so much of his life with us.”
McGrath was born on June 13, 1932, in Ottawa, Ill., and competed in music competition as a child, later attending the University of Michigan, where he majored in voice. After earning his master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, McGrath performed with various groups and in freelance gigs for years before getting recruited by a fellow Michigan alum to join Sesame Street.
While McGrath was hesitant to join at first, hoping to pursue his own show aimed at teenage viewers, he was convinced by tapes of Jim Henson’s work, per NPR. He recalled in 2016, “I thought, to heck with that teenage thing, this is what I want to do. Because it was obvious from the very, very beginning this was going to be a very unique and incredible show.”
McGrath is survived by his five children, eight grandchildren, and his wife, Ann Sperry.
