Sesame Street puppeteer retires

The puppeteer who has played Big Bird on Sesame Street is retiring after nearly 50 years on the show. Caroll Spinney tells The New York Times that Thursday will be his last day on the program, which he joined from the start in 1969. In addition to Big Bird, the 84-year-old was also Oscar the Grouch. He stopped doing the puppeteering for Big Bird in 2015 and now only provides the voices for him and Oscar. Matt Vogel will succeed him.