--- title: 'Sesame Street's Maria Is Departing After More Than 40 Years on Show description: Sonia Manzano would be leaving the children’s series Sesame Street after 45 years canonical: https://time.com/3944289/sesame-street-maria-sonia-manzano/ author: Entertainment Weekly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-02T06:13:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:41:20.529Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: 'Sesame Street's Maria Is Departing After More Than 40 Years og:description: Sonia Manzano would be leaving the children’s series Sesame Street after 45 years og:url: https://time.com/3944289/sesame-street-maria-sonia-manzano/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4ca0991c7abb1e56/6988596be20a87dcbfa8c21c/gettyimages-458748716.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: "SiriusXM's Sesame Street Town Hall," Featuring Original Cast Members From The Series, Celebrates The Show's 45th Anniversary og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 'Sesame Street's Maria Is Departing After More Than 40 Years twitter:description: Sonia Manzano would be leaving the children’s series Sesame Street after 45 years twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4ca0991c7abb1e56/6988596be20a87dcbfa8c21c/gettyimages-458748716.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # _Sesame Street_’s Maria Is Departing After More Than 40 Years > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Sesame Street's Viral Ambitions [Watch (HLS stream): Sesame Street's Viral Ambitions](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kZ0ZhYFn.m3u8) (4:34)  _Published 2010-11-09. With video parodies of viral ads and TV shows like Mad Men, Sesame Street is getting kids' attention online while hooking in their parents, too_ by [C. Molly Smith / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## C. Molly Smith / Entertainment Weekly Jul 2, 2015 6:13 AM UTC  Sonia Manzano "Maria" attend SiriusXM's Town Hall with original cast members from Sesame Street commemorating the 45th anniversary of the celebrated series debut on public television moderated by Weekend TODAY co-anchor Erica Hill on Oct. 9, 2014 in New York City Sonia Manzano "Maria" attend SiriusXM's Town Hall with original cast members from Sesame Street commemorating the 45th anniversary of the celebrated series debut on public television moderated by Weekend TODAY co-anchor Erica Hill on Oct. 9, 2014 in New York CityRobin Marchant—Getty Images by [C. Molly Smith / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## C. Molly Smith / Entertainment Weekly Jul 2, 2015 6:13 AM UTC It’s time to say goodbye to _Sesame Street_’s Maria. It was announced at the American Library Association Annual Conference that Sonia Manzano would be leaving the children’s series. “After 45 years on Sesame Street, @SoniaMManzano will no longer appear on the next season,” American Libraries tweeted on Monday. > [](https://twitter.com/amlibraries/status/615598035867844608) The actress-author’s turn as the lovable character — who ultimately became a wife, mother, and Fix-It Shop owner — earned her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series. She also wrote for the program starting in 1981, and won a whopping 15 writing Emmy Awards. Given Manzano’s extended time with Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar, and friends, it comes as no surprise that many felt emotional about the news. > [](https://twitter.com/TheAVClub/status/616383310952988672) > [](https://twitter.com/robdelaney/status/616383522677329920) > [](https://twitter.com/Mbtoon05/status/616002550035271680) > [](https://twitter.com/NKCoverGrrl/status/615971539238940672) ### Meet the Man Behind Sesame Street's Big Bird  Caroll Spinney joined Sesame Street in its inaugural 1969 season playing both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Courtesy Robert Fuhring  In the first year of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch was orange. Courtesy Debra Spinney  Caroll Spinney and Jim Henson are seen on the set of Sesame Street in 1969, the first year of the show. Courtesy Bill Pierce  Caroll Spinney with Oscar the Grouch and Picklepuss, one of his first puppet creations. Courtesy Debra Spinney  Caroll Spinney tests a puppet in the concept stage. Courtesy Debra Spinney  Caroll Spinney filming Big Bird in China with Lisa Ouyang. Courtesy Debra Spinney  Caroll Spinney with his children and Oscar the Grouch at his child's birthday party. Courtesy Debra Spinney  Caroll Spinney and Oscar the Grouch shooting Sesame Street in Hawaii. Courtesy Gary Miller  Caroll Spinney takes a break from shooting a cameo in The Muppet Movie. Courtesy Debra Spinney  Caroll Spinney with First Lady Hillary Clinton on Sesame Street. Spinney has worked with all the first ladies since the Nixon administration. Courtesy Sesame Workshop  Caroll Spinney is seen with First Lady Michelle Obama. Spinney is a distant cousin of President Barack Obama. Courtesy Richard Termine—Sesame Workshop  Caroll Spinney performs on a recent season of Sesame Street and continues to perform as Big Bird and Oscar to this day. 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