Bob McGrath, an actor, musician and children鈥檚 author widely known for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the children鈥檚 show 鈥淪esame Street鈥� has died at the age of 90.
McGrath鈥檚 passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on Sunday: "The McGrath family has some sad news to share. Our father Bob McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.鈥�
Sesame Workshop tweeted Sunday evening that it 鈥渕ourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years.鈥�
McGrath was a founding cast member of "Sesame Street" when the show premiered in 1969, playing a friendly neighbor Bob Johnson. He made his final appearance on the show in 2017, marking an almost five-decade-long figure in the 鈥淪esame Street鈥� world.
The actor grew up in Illinois and studied music at the University of Michigan and Manhattan School of Music. He also was a singer in the 60s series 鈥淪ing Along With Mitch鈥� and launched a successful singing career overseas in Japan.
鈥淎 revered performer worldwide, Bob鈥檚 rich tenor filled airwaves and concert halls from Las Vegas to Saskatchewan to Tokyo many times over,鈥� Sesame Workshop said. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
He is survived by his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, and their five children.
鈥斺赌�
This story corrects that McGrath studied at the University of Michigan, not Maryland.
The Associated Press
