The 90-year-old star played Bob Johnson on the children’s educational show.
WASHINGTON — Bob McGraw, who starred on ‘Sesame Street’ for five decades, died Sunday at age 90.
McGrath’s family shared the news of his death on the star’s official Facebook page on Sunday.
“Our father Bob McGrath passed away today,” The family shared in a statement on Facebook. “He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.”
The 90-year-old star played Bob Johnson, one of the few human characters on the educational children’s show. He first appeared in the pilot episode of “Sesame Street” in 1969 and was a mainstay of the show, starring for 47 seasons.
According to deadline, The actor and singer left the show in 2017 with its last episode “Having a Ball”.
The star contributed original songs like “People in Your Neighborhood” and even the show’s theme song, Deadline reports.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind “Sesame Street.” Tributes to McGrath took to Twitter.
“We will forever be grateful for his many years of passionate creative contributions to Sesame Street and honored that he shared so much of his life with us,” the organization shared on Twitter.
Alan Moravacka, who also stars on “Sesame Street,” also shared. A tribute to the 90-year-old star.
“Just heard the news that dear Bob McGrath has passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family,” Muraoka said in his Facebook post. “Words cannot express what Bob meant to me: a role model, a mentor, a friend. His kindness and wicked sense of humor were such a joy, and I loved him so much. “
In addition to “Sesame Street,” McGrath starred as a tenor on the NBC singalong series “Sing Along With Mitch” from 1960 to 1964.