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How did Emilio Delgado die? Fix-It Luis from 'Sesame Street' dead at 81

Emilio Delgado worked on Sesame Street for 40 years aiming to encourage positive and mainstream portrayal of Latino characters
UPDATED MAR 11, 2022
Emilio Delgado played the role of Fix-It Luis on Sesame Street (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)
Emilio Delgado played the role of Fix-It Luis on Sesame Street (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

'Sesame Street' star Emilio Delgado, who played the role of Fix-It shop owner Luis Rodriguez, has tragically died at the age of 81. Delgado died on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at his home in New York City. His wife Carol and his family were by his side when he passed away. The veteran actor's death was mourned by 'Sesame Street' fans across the world. 

Delgado was associated with the iconic children's show for more than 40 years, turning into a fan-favorite character. He started his journey on 'Sesame Street' in 1971 and appeared on stage shows for the franchise alongside the TV episodes. Delgado's character Luis had an on-screen romance with Maria, played by Sonia Manzano, and the two characters eventually got married. Besides 'Sesame Street', Delgado also worked extensively in theater and TV shows including 'Lou Grant', 'Falcon Crest', 'House of Cards', 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' and others. In fact, the passionate actor was playing the lead role in a theatrical production called 'Quixote Nuevo' before the pandemic shutdown. 

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Born in Calexico, California, Delgado grew up in Mexico with his grandparents. Before playing a fix-it shop owner on Sesame Street, he worked in a fix-it shop in real life as well. His debut role was on the 1968 Mexican soap opera 'Cancion de la Raza'. 

Throughout his four-decade-long stint on 'Sesame Street', Delgado had strived to portray Latino characters in a positive light and bring it to the mainstream. Speaking about the same in an interview, Delgado had noted, "I'd been trying all my professional life to be somewhere I can change that, whether I was talking about it or trying to get into a project that showed Latinos in a good light. That's why Sesame Street was such a good thing. For the first time on television, they showed Latinos as real human beings."

He further emphasized, "We weren't dope addicts. We weren't maids or prostitutes, which were the way we were being shown in television in film. Here, on Sesame Street, there were different people who spoke different languages and ate interesting foods, and they were all Americans."

How did Emilio Delgado die?

In December 2020, Delgado was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer. He was in hospice care at the time of his death. 

Sesame Street's charity wing Sesame Workshop issued an elaborate statement mourning his tragic demise. "Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of Emilio Delgado, known the world over for his role as Luis on Sesame Street. A beloved member of the Sesame family for over 50 years, his warmth and humor invited children to share a friendship that has echoed through generations," they noted on Twitter. 



 

It further added, "At the forefront of representation, Emilio proudly laid claim to the “record for the longest-running role for a Mexican-American in a TV series.” We are so grateful he shared his talents with us and with the world."

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