Caroll Spinney - Actor Profile

Caroll Spinney

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Dec 26, 1933
Birth Place: Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.

About Caroll Spinney

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Caroll Edwin Spinney, sometimes credited as Carroll Spinney or Ed Spinney (December 26, 1933 – December 8, 2019), was an American puppeteer most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children's television show Sesame Street. Description above from the Wikipedia article Caroll Spinney, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Caroll Spinney reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Family

The majority of Caroll Spinney's filmography leans towards the Family genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 72% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Caroll Spinney remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Firehouse, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Caroll Spinney Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Caroll Spinney's career based on audience ratings.

★10.0
Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Firehouse (2002) movie poster
★10.0

Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Firehouse — Elmo learns fire safety from Firefighter Bill. This all comes about because he was scared after being in a fire at Mr. H

Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Firehouse

2002•Family
★10.0
Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings! (2005) movie poster
★10.0

Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings! — Big Bird may not be able to fly, but he can sing. He joins Snuffy to spend some time looking through Bird's scrapbook an

Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!

2005
★10.0
Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance (1997) movie poster
★10.0

Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance — Big Bird decides to hold a birthday party for Radar in the dance studio around the corner. More kids than Sesame Street

Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance

1997•Family
★10.0
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies (1997) movie poster
★10.0

Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies — In a spoof of Siskel and Ebert's Sneak Previews, Telly and Oscar are seen in a movie theater, reviewing the silliest son

Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies

1997•Family
★10.0
Jim Henson's Memorial Service (1990) movie poster
★10.0

Jim Henson's Memorial Service — Following Jim Henson's passing on May 16th 1990, two public memorial services were held. The first (featured here) was h

Jim Henson's Memorial Service

1990•Documentary

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Caroll Spinney.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2021 Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street Self Super Hit Similar →
2019 Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration Self / Big Bird Super Hit Similar →
2019 Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting Big Bird Hit Similar →
2018 Mister Rogers: It's You I Like Self Super Hit Similar →
2016 Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Hit Similar →
2015 In Their Own Words: Jim Henson Self - Muppet Performer Hit Similar →
2015 I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Self Hit Similar →
2013 Drew: The Man Behind the Poster Self Hit Similar →
2011 Michael Bublé: A Michael Bublé Christmas Oscar the Grouch Hit Similar →
2011 Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey Self Hit Similar →
2010 Sesame Street: Elmo's World: All about Faces Oscar The Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
2009 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Oscar the Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
2007 Elmo's Christmas Countdown Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
2007 Sesame Street: Elmo's World: What Makes You Happy? Big Bird Hit Similar →
2006 A Sesame Street Christmas Carol Oscar the Grouch / Big Bird (voice) Hit Similar →
2005 Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings! Big Bird (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2004 Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On! Big Bird Hit Similar →
2003 Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Big Bird Gets Lost Big Bird / Oscar (voice) Average Similar →
2002 Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Firehouse Oscar The Grouch (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2002 Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play Oscar the Grouch (voice) (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1999 The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
1999 CinderElmo Big Bird (voice) Average Similar →
1997 Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies Oscar the Grouch (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1997 Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance Big Bird / Oscar (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1996 Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet Big Bird (voice) Average Similar →
1996 Sesame Street: Elmocize Big Bird (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1994 The World of Jim Henson Self / Big Bird (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1994 Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Hit Similar →
1993 Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration! Big Bird and Oscar Hit Similar →
1993 Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
1993 Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey Dog in Pound (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1990 The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson Big Bird (voice) Hit Similar →
1990 Jim Henson's Memorial Service - Super Hit Similar →
1990 Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
1990 Sesame Street: Monster Hits! Oscar the Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
1988 Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie Big Bird/Oscar the Grouch/Bruno the Trashman (voice) Average Similar →
1988 Big Bird in Japan Big Bird (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1987 A Muppet Family Christmas Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Hit Similar →
1987 Sesame Street: Sing Along Big Bird and Oscar Average Similar →
1986 The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Hit Similar →
1985 Follow That Bird Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch / Bruno the Trashman (voice) Average Similar →
1985 Night of 100 Stars II Big Bird Super Hit Similar →
1984 Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets Caroll Spinney (self) Hit Similar →
1983 Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Hit Similar →
1981 The Great Muppet Caper Oscar the Grouch (voice) Hit Similar →
1979 The Muppet Movie Big Bird (voice) Hit Similar →
1978 A Special Sesame Street Christmas Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Average Similar →
1978 Christmas Eve on Sesame Street Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (voice) Hit Similar →
1973 Julie on Sesame Street - Super Hit Similar →
N/A Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch Super Hit Similar →

Caroll Spinney - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Caroll Spinney?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Caroll Spinney is "Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Firehouse" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Caroll Spinney acted in?

Caroll Spinney has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Caroll Spinney?

Other notable films include "Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!", "Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance", and "Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Sillier at the Movies".