‘Sesame Street’ Star, NJ’s Bob McGrath, Dies At 90

NEW JERSEY - “Sesame Street” star and longtime New Jersey resident Bob McGrath died Sunday, his family announced via social media.

“The McGrath family has some sad news to share,” a statement posted to his Facebook page said. “Our father Bob McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.”

McGrath, an Illinois native who lived in Teaneck for many years (and later relocated to a ranch in Norwood in 2017), appeared on hundreds of episodes of “Sesame Street” since the children's television show debuted in 1969. McGrath played Bob Johnson, a musical teacher, until 2016, though he returned to make an appearance in "Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration" special in 2019.

He most recently appeared in the documentary film "Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street" in 2021.

“Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years,” the nonprofit production company said in a Sunday evening statement.

“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 whether teaching them the ABCs, the people in their neighborhood, or the simple joy of feeling music in their hearts. A revered performer worldwide, Bob’s rich tenor filled airwaves and concert halls from Las Vegas to Saskatchewan to Tokyo many times over. 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.”