Caroll Spinney

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.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

male

Known Credits

105

Birth Date

1933-12-26 00:00:00

Birth Place

Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

Known For

• 

  Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration
• 

  Follow That Bird
• 

  I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
• 

  Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
• 

  One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure
• 

  Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?

Credits

• actors (104 credits)

  • Sesame Street: Ernie's Little Lie

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Sesame Street: Big Bird's Favorite Party Games

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Jerry Nelson: A Celebratory Birthday Animatic

    Big Bird (voice) / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2022
  • Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration

    Self / Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting

    Big Bird / Various Characters

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Mister Rogers: It's You I Like

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • In Their Own Words: Jim Henson

    Self - Muppet Performer

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • Sesame Street: Play All Day with Elmo!

    Big Bird/Oscar

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Self

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

    - Jonathan Karl, Brandi Carlile (2021) ... Big Bird (archive footage) actor actors
    2015
  • Drew: The Man Behind the Poster

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2013
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbers

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Michael Bublé: A Michael Bublé Christmas

    Oscar the Grouch

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Sesame Street: The Best Pet in the World

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2010
  • Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: All About Faces

    Oscar The Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmo

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Being Green

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Old School Vol. 1 (1969-1974)

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Old School Vol. 2 (1974-1979)

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Old School Vol. 3 (1979-1984)

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Abby in Wonderland

    Oscar the Grouch as the Grouch of Hearts (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Summer Vacation

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Elmo's Christmas Countdown

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: What Makes You Happy?

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • A Sesame Street Christmas Carol

    Oscar the Grouch / Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Sesame Street: A Celebration of Me, Grover

    Big Bird / Oscar (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?

    Big Bird / Oscar

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: Sesame Sings Karaoke

    Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Big Bird Gets Lost

    Big Bird / Oscar (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Firehouse

    Oscar The Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play

    Oscar the Grouch (voice) (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs 2

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Adventure: The Story of Peter and the Wolf

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Sesame Street: Let's Make Music

    Big Bird / Oscar

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch ("Music" segment)

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and Play

    Big Bird/Oscar the Grouch (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • CinderElmo

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Sesame Street: Fiesta!

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Sesame Street: Quiet Time

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance

    Big Bird / Oscar (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Sesame Street: Imagine That!

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Sesame Street: Elmocize

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Learning to Share

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • The World of Jim Henson

    Self / Big Bird (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Sesame Street Stays Up Late!

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!

    Big Bird and Oscar

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

    Dog in Pound (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Getting Ready to Read

    Big Bird / Oscar (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Sesame Street: Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street Animals

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Jim Henson's Memorial Service

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Sesame Street: Monster Hits!

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989

    Self – Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Wow, You're A Cartoonist!

    Picklepuss / Pop

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie

    Big Bird/Oscar the Grouch/Bruno the Trashman (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Big Bird in Japan

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • A Muppet Family Christmas

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • Sesame Street: Sing Along

    Big Bird and Oscar

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • Sesame Street: Big Bird's Story Time

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • Sesame Street: Learning About Letters

    Big Bird/Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • Follow That Bird

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Bruno the Trashman (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • Night of 100 Stars II

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • Big Bird in China

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • The Great Muppet Caper

    Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Bob Hope on the Road to China

    Self - Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • The Muppet Movie

    Big Bird (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • A Special Sesame Street Christmas

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • Bob Hope's World of Comedy

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1976
  • Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • Out to Lunch

    Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1974
  • Julie on Sesame Street

    Big Bird/ Oscar the Grouch (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • This Way to Sesame Street

    Big Bird

    actor

    actors
    1969
  • Sesame Street

    - Tee Ball Trouble (2025) ... Big Bird actor actors

    - New School Scaries (2025) ... Big Bird actor actors

    - Rudy Plays Ball (2025) ... Big Bird actor actors

    - No Wrong Way to Be You (2025) ... Big Bird actor actors

    - Sesame Street's Lost And Found (2025) ... Big Bird actor actors
    1969

• writing (1 credits)

  • Big Bird in China

    story

    writing
    1983