Bob McGrath, the actor who played Bob Johnson on the beloved children’s show “Sesame Street,” has passed away at the age of 90. The news was announced in a statement from his family and Sesame Workshop shared on social media.

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

Sesame Workshop paid tribute to McGrath’s nearly five decades on the show in a Twitter thread. “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, departing in 2017 but still representing it at various events in recent years. He was an accomplished tenor and musician, performing in concert halls around the world. McGrath also helped make several of “Sesame Street’s” best known songs like “People in Your Neighborhood” and “Sing a Song” childhood staples.

“Sesame Street” cast member Alan Muraoka paid tribute to McGrath on Instagram, calling him a “role model” and a “mentor.” In a 2015 interview, McGrath said that being on “Sesame Street” taught him the importance of listening carefully to what children have to say. He is survived by his wife Ann Logan Sperry.

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