RIP Bob McGrath

 Bob McGrath, ‘Sesame Street’ cast member, dies at 90 

One of the show’s original performers, Illinois native acted and sang on the groundbreaking children’s PBS series for 45 seasons.

 

Chicago Sun Times

By Darel Jevens

December 4, 2022

Bob McGrath, the Illinois native who was one of the original stars of “Sesame Street,” died Sunday at age 90, his family announced.

“He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family,” said a post on the entertainer’s Facebook page.

As a young singer who grew up near Ottawa, Illinois, McGrath was one of four cast members hired for the launch of “Sesame Street” in 1969, playing a character named Bob alongside Matt Robinson as Gordon, Loretta Long as Susan and Will Lee as Mr. Hooper.

The public television show used the colorful, humorous, fast-paced style of TV commercials to relay lessons on letter and numbers as well as heavier subjects like children’s emotional health. Young viewers even learned about mortality when they were informed of Mr. Hooper’s death.

“The kids we were meant to reach, I think we’ve reached,” McGrath told the Sun-Times in 1998. “They’ve grown up. They’re in their 30s now. They have kids of their own, our Sesame Seeds, and they come up to me and say: ‘Thank you very much. It made a major difference in our lives.’”

McGrath interacted with humans and Muppets for 45 seasons, until he was let go in 2016.

He was a frequent Chicago area visitor on his performing tours, singing popular tunes from the show including “Rubber Duckie,” “People in Your Neighborhood,” “Bein’ Green,” “Sing, Sing a Song” and the iconic theme song.

Before “Sesame Street,” McGrath sang the hits of the week as part of the vocal ensemble on the NBC series “Sing Along With Mitch.”

McGRATH, Bob (Robert Emmett McGrath)

Born: 6/13/1932, Ottawa, Illinois, U.S.A.

Died: 12/4/2022, Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A.

 

Bob McGrath’s western – voice:

3:10 to Yuma – 2007 (singer on radio)