In addition to puppeting, Caroll has been drawing and painting since he was a child. He has drawn comic strips, been an animator, sketched portraits, illustrated books, designed training aids for the Air Force and painted for his own pleasure. Art continues to be an important part of Caroll's life.

About Caroll Spinney
Caroll Spinney has performed Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street since the show's inception in 1969. Prior to that, he performed on Bozo's Big Top in Boston for ten years, was a commercial artist and animator, and served in the Air Force.

Some of the highlights of Caroll's career include: international appearances in China, Japan, Australia, and Europe; several visits to the White House; conducting orchestras across the US and Canada; starring in Follow that Bird; and winning four Emmys, two Grammys, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Library of Congress's Living Legend award.

Caroll lives with his wife, Debra, in New England. They have three children.

Caroll Spinney - Author:

After almost thirty-five years inside Big Bird and Oscar, not to mention the thirty-five years it took him to get to Sesame Street, Caroll has written his inspirational memoirs--The Wisdom of Big Bird. Publisher's Weekly calls it "charming and uplifting."

Synopsis
Caroll Spinney has spent half of his life inside a giant puppet. He has also brought joy to millions of children (and their parents) all over the world. Enclosed in this gem of a book are the stories that Big Bird and his alter-ego, Oscar the Grouch, have taught Caroll Spinney, in 34 years of performing on Sesame Street.

Each chapter illustrates a piece of useful wisdom Caroll has gleaned from a career in feathers. The lessons Big Bird teaches children every day on Sesame Street are the very same ones that have brought him happiness in his own life.

Caroll Spinney - Speaker:
As anybody who knows Caroll will attest, he loves to talk and to tell stories from his life. Now, he has put his loquaciousness to good use and has embarked upon giving lectures and talks. He is available through his speaking agent, the Greater Talent Network.

Caroll Spinney - Puppeteer:

Beginning with a second-hand monkey puppet and a stuffed green snake, Caroll has been putting on puppet shows since he was eight years old. Puppets have given Caroll the career he dreamed of as a child--his first television show, which led to Bozo in Boston, and ultimately to Jim Henson and Sesame Street.

Big Bird
Designed and built by Jim Henson and his team as a combination of a puppet and a costume. Caroll created Big Bird's character, and has voiced and performed the Bird since the first episode of Sesame Street in 1969.

Oscar the Grouch
Caroll has also been playing Oscar from the first Sesame show-from inside the trashcan! The puppet has undergone a couple of drastic transformations (he used to be orange) but he has always had the same eyebrows.

Picklepuss & Pop
Seen on Bozo's Big Top in the 1960s and at festivals around the country. Caroll designed both puppets

Goggle
Starred on The Judy and Goggle Show with Judy Valentine in 1958.

Mr. Lion
"The fastest draw alive!" Not a puppet, but a walkabout character, Mr. Lion let Caroll use his art skills on television, creating a picture out of a child's name in thirty seconds.