Caroll Edwin Spinney (sometimes credited as Carroll Spinney or Ed Spinney; December 26, 1933 – December 9, 2019) was an American puppeteer most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children's television show Sesame Street. Caroll Edwin Spinney (sometimes credited as Carroll Spinney or Ed Spinney; December 26, 1933 – December 9, 2019) was an American puppeteer most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the children's television show Sesame Street.