Lloyd Morrisett, the co-founder of the popular children’s television show Sesame Street, has died at the age of 93.
The psychologist was praised for having left an “outsized and indelible legacy” for generations of children around the world.
Dr Morrisett was one of the pioneers of using technology to educate, and was reportedly the first person to consider using television to teach young children basic skills.
His death was announced via the Sesame Workshop on Tuesday, though no further details were given.
“Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of our esteemed and beloved co-founder Lloyd N Morrisett, PhD, who died at the age of 93,” read a statement on the organisation’s Twitter page.
“A Lifetime Honorary Trustee, Lloyd leaves an outsized and indelible legacy among generations of children the world over, with Sesame Street only the most visible tribute to a lifetime of good work and lasting impact.”
The statement continued: “A wise, thoughtful, and above all kind leader of the Workshop for decades, Lloyd was fascinated by the power of technology and constantly thinking about new ways it could be used to educate.”
Sharing a quote from Morrisett’s co-founder and close friend Joan Ganz Cooney, they added: “Without Lloyd Morrisett, there would be no Sesame Street.
“It was he who first came up with the notion of using television to teach preschoolers basic skills, such as letters and numbers.
“He was a trusted partner and loyal friend to me for over fifty years, and he will be sorely missed.”
Sesame Street first premiered on public television stations on 10 November 1969 and still airs today with celebrity guests such as John Legend, Jessica Alba, Beyoncé, Cameron Diaz and Zac Efron having appeared on the show.
The news comes just less than two months after the death of Bob McGrath, one of its first non-Muppet regular characters on the show, who died at the age of 90.
His family shared the sad news on his official Facebook, where they wrote: "Our father Bob McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.”
Paying tribute to the late actor, the charity Sesame Workshop said: "Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years.
"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."
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