From Brandon Maggart to Loretta Long: Where is the cast of ‘Sesame Street’ Season 1 now?
'Sesame Street' is one of the favorite series of children worldwide. This television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry is well appreciated by parents and children.
Meanwhile, on Monday, December 4, the show veteran Bob McGrath died at 90. McGrath had always created content to educate children through the arts, from producing music to writing books throughout his career. Here's a quick check on where are the actors who depicted human roles in the show.
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Bob McGrath
Bob McGrath enacted the role of Bob Johnson in Sesame Street from the show's inception in 1969 till 2019. He has been passionate about music since he was five and attended the University of Michigan as a voice major. He was most keen on music in the earlier days. However, he signed the show along with Matt Robinson, Will Lee, and Loretta Long. He also enacted in 'Follow That Bird' and 'The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.' He also contributed to the show by lending voice to the trumpet player in 'I Am A Fine Musician,' and one of the brothers in 'Five People In My Family.' However, by 2011 his portions were limited in the show, and said in an interview, "It's like a hobby, quite frankly. But I don't mind, because it's still fun and still a great place to go to work. There's much less a sense of the neighborhood. They're using many fewer live people per segment. I don't mean to be negative. I'm just being realistic. The show is still great, but it's done differently for a different audience," reported Muppet Wiki.
Matt Robinson
Matt Robinson is a Philadelphia-born artist. He worked as a writer, producer, and actor who enacted Gordon in the show. Matt carried out the role from 1966 to 1972. He was a 1958 Pennsylvania University graduate who also wrote the CBS slave revolt drama Rained All Night. In the book 'All About Sesame Street,' he claimed about his role, "a black kid is going to learn he’s black. He’s going to learn that’s positive or negative. What I want to project is a positive image." Meanwhile, he also played Gordon in stage appearances and records. The actor also penned the 1972 volume of Matt Robinson's Gordon of 'Sesame Street' Storybook. However, he created the character of Roosevelt Franklin and performed Roosevelt's voice. Though he resigned from the role in 1972. Roosevelt continued to do the role of Roosevelt in the show, reported Muppet Wiki. However, he died at 65 on August 5, 2002.
Dr Loretta Long
Dr Loretta Long is the actor who enacted the role of Susan on Sesame Street since the show's debut in 1969. She is a Michigan-born woman who graduated from Western Michigan University, earning an undergraduate education degree and taking theater classes on the side. Long began her career in 1967 on the variety series Soul. She has appeared on 'Guys and Dolls' and 'Sweet Charity and sung in The Vaudeville '80 tour.' Meanwhile, she earned a PhD in Urban Education in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts. Currently, she assumes the role of a motivator and life coach and provides online courses to her followers on her Facebook page.
Will Lee
Will Lee is a Brooklyn-born artist. He enacted the role of Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street from 1969 to 1982. He began his acting career by developing Worker's Laboratory Theater. He also became one of the founders of the Theater of Action. Later, he assumed the role of a member of the Federal Theater Project, a government-funded group sponsored by the WPA. He also acted in films such as 'A Song is Born,' 'They Live By Night, ' and The Life of Riley. The actor also enacted the role of Grandpa Hughes in the first season of 'As the World Turns.' Lee also took acting classes at the New School for Social Research, Boston University. He died on December 7, 1982.
Jada Rowland
Jada Rowland enacted the role of Jennie in the series' first season. She was a child artist in theatrical performances. In 1949, she debuted at the age of six in a theatre drama called 'Broadway.' Rowland also played juvenile roles on old-time radio soap operas such as 'The Second Mrs. Burton' and 'Road of Life.' She also played characters as Amy Ames on 'The Secret Storm off' and on for the entire run of the series, from 1954 until 1974. She retired from acting in 1983 and concentrated more on writing and art. Meanwhile, her watercolor drawing have been featured in many New York region galleries. Further, she has written 13 books to date. As an artist, she sells her portraits and occasionally hosts art exhibitions.
Brandon Maggart
Brandon Maggart played the role of Buddy in the series. He also enacted the role of postal carrier George in Episode 0030 and the gruff-voiced hot dog vendor Mr. Glopper in Episode 0036. He was educated at the University of Tennessee in Opera. He was also popular for his musical performances including 'Kelly' and 'Leonard Sillman's New Faces.' Maggart also received a Tony-award nomination for his role in Applause (1970), and with James Catusi. Brandon currently lives at Tennessee, leading a peaceful life. He has also authored books including, 'My Father's Mistress,' 'Behind These Eyes Such Sweet Madness Lies,' and 'Whisky, Women, and Banana Peels: That Way (sweet) Madness Lies.'
James Catusi
James Catusi enacted the role of Jim in the iconic duo of Buddy and Jim. He served as associate producer, along with ' Buddy and Jim' partner Brandon Maggart, for the 1970 Broadway revival Hay Fever. He played the part of a Swiss Cheese in the 1963 play 'Mother Courage and Her Children.' 'The Doctors for one season' is another soap opera that he was a part of. Catusi passed away on March 23, 2009.