Bob McGrath, ‘Sesame Street’ Star, Dies at 90 - Variety

Bob McGrath, an histrion and signaling creator who became a generational icon arsenic 1 of the archetypal quality stars of “Sesame Street,” died Sunday. He was 90.

McGrath’s decease was confirmed by his household members done a station connected his Facebook page: “The McGrath household has immoderate bittersweet quality to share. Our begetter Bob McGrath, passed distant today. He died peacefully astatine home, surrounded by his family.”

First appearing successful the bid aviator successful 1969, McGrath played the affable neighbour Bob Johnson, serving arsenic a “Sesame Street” mainstay crossed 5 decades and 47 seasons of broadcast television. His last bid quality came successful 2017, but McGrath did not measurement distant from his relation with the bid aft that, continuing to marque nationalist appearances astatine assorted events tied to “Sesame Street.”

During his clip connected the series, McGrath was featured successful respective of the show’s astir iconic sequences, including philharmonic performances of “People successful Your Neighborhood.”

Beyond the tv series, McGrath was 1 the astir salient quality faces of the spot crossed assorted film, video crippled and sing-a-long productions.

Born June 13, 1932 successful Ottawa, Ill., McGrath studied euphony astatine the University of Michigan and, later, the Manhattan School of Music. McGrath joined his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, successful 1958.

Stepping into entertainment, helium made his debut successful 1962 arsenic a vocalist with Mitch Miller’s PG-rated ensemble. Miller had a deed TV bid and drawstring of records nether the “Sing Along With Mitch” banner that featured wholesome singers delivering popular standards. By the mid-1960s, McGrath pursued his solo signaling vocation arsenic good arsenic acting. In 1966 helium signed with Columbia Records’ Japanese label, Nippon Columbia.

In 1969, McGrath stepped into his signature relation connected “Sesame Street,” which was a popular civilization unit from its debut connected the then-fledging PBS web successful November 1969.