Bob McGrath, a pioneer of Sesame Street, passes away at age 90. Let’s see what happened to him and Bob McGrath cause of death in detail.
What happened to Bob McGrath?
According to posts made on social media by his family and Sesame Workshop, Bob McGrath, a beloved “Sesame Street” original cast member, has passed away. He was 90.
“The family of McGrath has some bad news to offer. Bob McGrath, our father, passed away today. His family was by his side when he passed away quietly at home, according to a Facebook post from his family.
Bob McGrath cause of death
At the age of 90, Bob McGrath was a well-known member of the Sesame Street cast. McGrath made his television debut in the iconic children’s program’s 1969 pilot episode, becoming one of the show’s first human stars.
His family shared a Facebook post on Sunday informing people of his passing. “Our father Bob McGrath passed away today,” they stated. He passed away quietly at home, surrounded by his loved ones. According to his daughter Cat McGrath, who spoke with NPR, McGrath passed away as a result of stroke complications.
McGrath made his debut on Sesame Street and went on to star in an incredible 47 seasons after that. In the 2017 episode titled “Having A Ball,” he made his last appearance.
He was regarded as one of the show’s human adults who had been a cast member the longest. McGrath is survived by his wife Ann, their five children, and three grandchildren.
Who was Bob McGrath?
American actor, singer, musician, and children’s book author Robert Emmett McGrath (June 13, 1932 – December 4, 2022) is most known for creating and portraying the human character Bob Johnson on the enduring educational television program Sesame Street.
On June 13, 1932, McGrath was born in Ottawa, Illinois. His given name is Robert Emmet, an Irish nationalist. He used to sing for his family as a child as his mother played the piano.
Early Life
His mother enrolled him in the amateur program at the Roxy Theater, where he placed second. He received his high school diploma from Marquette.
In 1954, McGrath earned his degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Music. He participated in the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity while a student at Michigan. During fraternity functions, he washed dishes while fraternity brother David Connell waited tables, which Connell would use when Sesame Street casting began.
Career
He joined the U.S. Army after graduating, serving for two years in Germany and booking and conducting performances for the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra. In 1959, McGrath graduated with a Master of Music in Voice from the Manhattan School of Music.
During the four seasons of Miller’s NBC-TV television singalong series Sing Along with Mitch from 1960 to 1964, McGrath collaborated with Mitch Miller and served as the show’s featured tenor. On the Walt Kelly CD Songs of the Pogo, he sang.
Midway through the 1960s, McGrath established himself as a well-known recording artist in Japan by putting out several popular albums of Japanese-sung versions of Irish and other folk songs and ballads.
When he appeared in the game series, To Tell the Truth in 1966 and I’ve Got a Secret in 1967, this facet of his professional life served as the foundation of his “secret.”
Sesame Street
McGrath played the role of Bob Johnson as a regular cast member on Sesame Street from 1969 to 2016. McGrath was one of the two human characters that had been on the program the longest since it began, the other being series matriarch Susan Robinson, who was portrayed by Loretta Long.
When promoting Sesame Street on that network, a Noggin program noted Bob’s 40 years. Because the series would be retooled, Sesame Workshop confirmed in July 2016 that McGrath would not return for its 47th season. However, the corporation did note that McGrath would continue to represent the Workshop at public events. Later, Sesame Workshop revealed that there would be discussions about having him return.
He would continue to represent Sesame Street, according to Sesame Workshop. McGrath later made appearances in the show’s internet videos, even though he had not starred in any fresh material since season 45. He came back again for the Sesame Street 50th Anniversary Celebration TV special that will air in 2019.
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, a 1978 holiday special that featured a parody of “The Gift of the Magi,” and the 1983 scene that openly addressed the passing of enduring character Mr. Hooper, played by his close friend Will Lee who had passed away the year before, were McGrath’s two favorite episodes of Sesame Street.
Tributes were poured on social media for Bob McGrath’s demise
The Sesame Workshop paid tribute to McGrath’s nearly five decades on the show in a thread on Twitter.
“A founding cast member, Bob embodied the melodies of Sesame Street like no one else, and his performances brought joy and wonder to generations of children around the world,” the statement read in part. “We will be forever grateful for his many years of passionate creative contributions to Sesame Street and honored that he shared so much of his life with us.”
McGrath appeared in the “Sesame Street” pilot in 1969 and went on to work on 47 seasons of the show as Bob Johnson, departing the series in 2017 but still representing it at various events in recent years.
Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/juhlmbHo23
— Sesame Workshop (@SesameWorkshop) December 5, 2022
“Sesame Street” cast member Alan Muraoka paid tribute to his “role model.”
“Words cannot begin to 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,” Muraoka wrote on Instagram. “Rest well my friend. You did well.”
“You can’t help but be influenced by all of the wonderful research and good messages that are shown on ‘Sesame Street,’” McGrath said in a 2015 interview about some of his takeaways from being on the landmark program. “I learned how important it is to listen, really listen, carefully to what your children have to say.”
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Jeanne Taylor Hard said,
So sorry to hear this news. He was the nicest man. RIP Bob. my condolences to his family.
Dale said,
I thought Bob would live forever. I’m a first-generation Sesame Street kid. Premiered when I was four. I’m a PreK teacher now. Still watching my old friend Bob. I’m crushed.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.