Bob McGrath, R.I.P.

Bob McGrath, an original cast member of Sesame Street, passed away today at the age of 90. No cause of death was released. 

McGrath is the second Sesame Street cast member to pass away in 2022. Emilio Delgado, who played Luis, died back in March of multiple myeloma at the age of 81.

Before joining Sesame Street, McGrath had worked as a tenor on Mitch Miller's Sing Along with Mitch and also enjoyed a recording career in Japan. But it was his portrayal of Bob on Sesame Street for nearly half a century which made him a familiar sight to generations of children all over North America until 2016 when he, Delgado and Roscoe Orman (who played Gordon) were unceremoniously dumped by the show although would reprise his role on the show's 50th anniversary in 2019.

McGrath was also beloved in Canada, particularly in the province of Saskatchewan where for nearly 40 years he appeared in the Kinsmens' annual TeleMiracle telethon until retiring in 2015. I leave you with Bob singing the "Rainbow Connection" at the 2007 edition of TeleMiracle. R.I.P.