ACTOR
Caroll Spinney
Known for Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian · The Muppet Movie · The West Wing
Caroll Edwin Spinney (sometimes credited as Carroll Spinney or Ed Spinney; December 26, 1933 – December 9, 2019) was an American puppeteer most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children's television show Sesame Street.
Snapshot 2026-10-16
- Born
- Dec 26, 1933
- Died
- Dec 8, 2019
- Birthplace
- Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
Caroll Edwin Spinney (sometimes credited as Carroll Spinney or Ed Spinney; December 26, 1933 – December 9, 2019) was an American puppeteer most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children's television show Sesame Street.
Advertisement
Known For
MOVIE
Night at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianOscar the Grouch (voice) · 2009
★ 6.2
★ 6.2
MOVIE
The Muppet MovieBig Bird (voice) · 1979
★ 7.2
★ 7.2
TV
The West WingBig Bird (voice) · 1999
★ 8.3
★ 8.3
TV
Saturday Night LiveSelf - Cameo (uncredited) · 1975
★ 6.9
★ 6.9
TV
The Muppet ShowBig Bird · 1976
★ 8.0
★ 8.0
MOVIE
The Great Muppet CaperOscar the Grouch (voice) · 1981
★ 6.9
★ 6.9
TV
The Colbert ReportBig Bird (uncredited) · 2005
★ 7.0
★ 7.0
TV
Sesame StreetCookie Monster · 1969
★ 7.1
★ 7.1
Filmography
Movies
This Way to Sesame StreetBig Bird
1969
Julie on Sesame StreetBig Bird/ Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1973
Out to LunchBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1974
Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?Self
1975BH
Bob Hope's World of ComedySelf
1976
A Special Sesame Street ChristmasBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1978
Christmas Eve on Sesame StreetBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1978
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of DisneyBig Bird
1978
A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1979BH
Bob Hope on the Road to ChinaSelf - Big Bird (voice)
1979
The Muppet MovieBig Bird (voice)
1979
The Great Muppet CaperOscar the Grouch (voice)
1981
Big Bird in ChinaBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1983Big Bird in ChinaStory
1983
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of ArtBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1983
Henson's Place: The Man Behind the MuppetsSelf
1984
Follow That BirdBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Bruno the Trashman (voice)
1985
Night of 100 Stars IIBig Bird
1985
Sesame Street: Learning About LettersBig Bird/Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1986
Sesame Street: Learning About NumbersBig Bird (voice)
1986
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & StoriesBig Bird (voice)
1986
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 YearsBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1986
A Muppet Family ChristmasBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1987
Sesame Street: Big Bird's Story TimeBig Bird
1987
Sesame Street: Sing AlongBig Bird and Oscar
1987
Big Bird in JapanBig Bird (voice)
1988
Sesame Street: Put Down the DuckieBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Bruno the Trashman (voice)
1988
Wow, You're A Cartoonist!Picklepuss / Pop
1988
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989Self – Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch
1989
Jim Henson's Memorial Service
1990
Sesame Street: Monster Hits!Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1990
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1990
The Muppets Celebrate Jim HensonBig Bird (voice)
1990
Sesame Street: Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street AnimalsBig Bird (voice)
1991
Getting Ready to ReadBig Bird / Oscar (voice)
1992
Homeward Bound: The Incredible JourneyDog in Pound (uncredited)
1993
Sesame Street Stays Up Late!Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1993
Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical CelebrationBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1993
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!Big Bird and Oscar
1993
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1994
The World of Jim HensonSelf / Big Bird (archive footage)
1994
Sesame Street: Do the AlphabetBig Bird (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: Elmo Saves ChristmasBig Bird (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: ElmocizeBig Bird (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: Imagine That!Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Learning to ShareBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch
1996
Sesame Street: Fiesta!Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1997
Sesame Street: Get Up and DanceBig Bird / Oscar (voice)
1997
Sesame Street: Quiet TimeBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1997
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Sillier at the MoviesOscar the Grouch (voice)
1997
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1998
CinderElmoBig Bird (voice)
1999
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite SongsBig Bird (voice)
1999
The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
1999
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and PlayBig Bird/Oscar the Grouch (archive footage)
1999
Sesame Street: Elmo's WorldBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch ("Music" segment)
2000
Sesame Street: Let's Make MusicBig Bird / Oscar
2000
Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Adventure: The Story of Peter and the WolfBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
2001
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs 2Big Bird (voice)
2001
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word PlayOscar the Grouch (voice) (archive footage)
2002
Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the FirehouseOscar The Grouch (voice)
2002
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!
2002
Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Big Bird Gets LostBig Bird / Oscar (voice)
2003
Sesame Street: Sesame Sings KaraokeBig Bird, Oscar the Grouch
2003
Sesame Street: A Celebration of Me, GroverBig Bird / Oscar (voice)
2004
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best BitesBig Bird (voice)
2004
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
2004
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?Big Bird / Oscar
2004
Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!Big Bird (voice)
2005
A Sesame Street Christmas CarolOscar the Grouch / Big Bird (voice)
2006
Elmo's Christmas CountdownBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
2007
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: What Makes You Happy?Big Bird
2007
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s AdventureBig Bird
2008
Sesame Street: Abby in WonderlandOscar the Grouch as the Grouch of Hearts (voice)
2008
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Summer VacationBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
2008
Sesame Street: Old School Vol. 1 (1969-1974)Big Bird
2008
Sesame Street: Old School Vol. 2 (1974-1979)Big Bird
2008
Sesame Street: Old School Vol. 3 (1979-1984)Big Bird
2008JH
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story
2009
Night at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianOscar the Grouch (voice)
2009
Sesame Street: Bedtime with ElmoOscar the Grouch (voice)
2009
Sesame Street: Being GreenOscar the Grouch (voice)
2009
Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical TalesBig Bird
2009
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: All About FacesOscar The Grouch (voice)
2009
Sesame Street: The Best Pet in the WorldBig Bird
2010
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's JourneySelf
2011
Michael Bublé: A Michael Bublé ChristmasOscar the Grouch
2011
Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor AdventuresBig Bird
2011
Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic NumbersBig Bird
2012
Sesame Street: Singing with the StarsBig Bird (voice)
2012
Drew: The Man Behind the PosterSelf
2013
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney StoryBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Self
2015
In Their Own Words: Jim HensonSelf - Muppet Performer
2015
Sesame Street: Play All Day with Elmo!Big Bird/Oscar
2015
Once Upon a Sesame Street ChristmasBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
2016
Mister Rogers: It's You I LikeSelf
2018
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary CelebrationSelf / Big Bird
2019
Sesame Street: 50 Years and CountingBig Bird / Various Characters
2019
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetSelf
2021
Jerry Nelson: A Celebratory Birthday AnimaticBig Bird (voice) / Oscar the Grouch (voice)
2022
Sesame Street 1986 Wrap PartyBig Bird / Oscar the Grouch
Sesame Street: Big Bird's Favorite Party GamesBig Bird
Sesame Street: Ernie's Little LieBig Bird
Television
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1968PA
Peter Alexander präsentiert SpezialitätenSelf · 1 eps
1969
Sesame StreetCookie Monster · 3118 eps
1969Sesame StreetSam the Robot · 3248 eps
1969Sesame StreetBig Bird · 3656 eps
1969Sesame StreetBennett Snerf · 3248 eps
1969Sesame StreetOscar the Grouch · 3248 eps
1969
Saturday Night LiveSelf - Cameo (uncredited) · 1 eps
1975
The Muppet ShowBig Bird · 1 eps
1976
Presenting Susan Anton1 eps
1979
Sesame Unpaved67 eps
1999
The West WingBig Bird (voice) · 1 eps
1999
ScrubsOscar the Grouch (voice) · 1 eps
2001
The Colbert ReportBig Bird (uncredited) · 1 eps
2005
1 vs. 100Oscar the Grouch · 7 eps
2006
PortlandiaOscar the Grouch (voice) · 1 eps
2011Photos
Advertisement
Catalog data and artwork by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.