Caroll Spinney Caroll Edwin Spinney ( b . December 26 , 1933 ) has performed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on " Sesame Street " for over 45 years . In a 2008 " Washington Times " article , Spinney said that even though performing Big Bird is physically demanding work , he has no intention of stopping , saying , " I can ' t imagine willingly walking away from Big Bird and Oscar . " He has described his experience as Big Bird as " a lot like growing up to be Mickey Mouse . . . only taller ! " Spinney was born in Waltham , Massachusetts and was an accomplished artist before he started working as a live performer . After graduating from high school in 1951 , he attended The Art Institute of Boston ' s College of Art & Design . While in the military , he created a comic strip under the name Ed Spinney . In the early 1960s , he created an animated cartoon series called " Crazy Crayon " under the same name . In 1955 , Spinney headed to Las Vegas , Nevada , where he created the show " Rascal Rabbit " . He returned to Boston in 1958 , appearing in the summer series " The Judy and Goggle Show " as a puppeteer opposite Judy Valentine , performing Goggle the bird . When " Judy and Goggle " was moved out of its slot for station WHDH - TV ' s returning programming , both Spinney and Valentine were offered a berth on the Boston broadcast of " Bozo ' s Big Top " in 1959 . Spinney played a variety of hand - puppet creations , usually in one - off skits , and also played Bozo ' s grandmother Grandma Nellie ( in full clown - make - up ) and several recurring costumed characters . These included Flip - Flop the Rag Doll , Kookie Kangaroo ( a failed boxer ) , and Mr . Lion , " the fastest draw alive . " The latter role combined Spinney ' s performing and cartoonist skills , creating quick sketches for the kids . In the 1960s , Spinney created two puppet cats , Picklepuss and Pop , who he performed in various venues , including stage shows and some " Bozo " broadcasts . Picklepuss and Pop would later go on to perform with the Muppets just once , in the 1988 Jim Henson Play - Along Video " Wow , You ' re a Cartoonist ! " . In 1969 , Spinney met Jim Henson at the Puppeteers ' of America Festival at Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City , following an ambitious experimental presentation ( hosted by Picklepuss ) , which combined different live - puppetry techniques with film projections . The show went awry due to various technical issues and other problems , but afterwards , Henson told him that he " liked what you were " trying " to do . " Henson then asked Spinney if he wanted to work with him on a new children ' s show being developed . Spinney went on to star as the man behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch . As Big Bird , Spinney traveled the world - - in the TV specials " Big Bird in China " and " Big Bird in Japan " , and in special " Sesame Street " episodes that took him to New Mexico and Hawaii . He has also starred in a feature film , " Follow That Bird " . Spinney has guest starred as his characters on many other programs , including " The Flip Wilson Show " , " Scrubs " , " Mister Rogers ' Neighborhood " , " 1 vs 100 " , " The Muppet Show " , and over 141 episodes of " Hollywood Squares " . Spinney wrote a 2003 autobiography titled " The Wisdom of Big Bird ( and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch ) : Lessons from a Life in Feathers " . Caroll Spinney also wrote and illustrated " How to Be a Grouch " , a 1976 picture book that explains the world from Oscar ' s point of view . Spinney also drew the picture of Mr . Hooper that Big Bird drew after Mr . Hooper died , and designed one of his characters , Bruno the Trashman . His artwork was featured in a 2010 / 2011 exhibit at ToonSeum . A documentary about Spinney titled " " premiered in 2014 , chronicling the life of Spinney and his wife Debra . Awards & Honors . Dates Unknown 1994 2000 2006 2007 External links . _ _ NOWYSIWYG _ _