'Sesame Street' puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who brought Big Bird, Oscar to life, dies at 85

In this file photo taken on Nov 8, 2019, Sesame Street's Big Bird and puppeteer Caroll Spinney light the Empire State Building in New York City. Spinney, the big-hearted Muppeteer who played the Sesame Street character Big Bird for almost a half-century, died on Dec 8, 2019, Sesame Workshop announced. He was 85. Photo: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP): Puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who brought Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch to life on the iconic children's television show "Sesame Street" for half a century, died on Sunday (Dec 8) at the age of 85.

Spinney died at home in Connecticut after living for some time with the movement disorder dystonia, which causes uncontrollable muscle contractions, according to a statement from Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organisation that produces the show.