September 14, 2024

‘Sesame Street’ co-creator Lloyd Morrisett dies at 93 : NPR

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Sesame Avenue co-creator Lloyd Morrisett attends the 42nd once-a-year Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Middle on Dec. 8, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Morrisett died at 93, Sesame Workshop declared Monday. Greg Allen/Invision/AP hide caption

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Greg Allen/Invision/AP

Sesame Street co-creator Lloyd Morrisett attends the 42nd once-a-year Kennedy Heart Honors at the Kennedy Middle on Dec. 8, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Morrisett died at 93, Sesame Workshop declared Monday.

Greg Allen/Invision/AP

Lloyd Morrisett, the co-creator of the beloved children’s Tv set program Sesame Street, has died at 93, Sesame Workshop introduced on Monday.

“Devoid of Lloyd Morrisett, there would be no Sesame Street,” co-founder Joan Ganz Cooney wrote in Sesame Workshop’s announcement. “It was he who initially came up with the notion of employing television to train preschoolers fundamental techniques, such as letters and numbers. He was a trustworthy companion and loyal friend to me for in excess of fifty yrs, and he will be sorely missed.”

Morrisett co-founded the Sesame Workshop, originally the Kid’s Tv Workshop, with Ganz Cooney in 1968. He served as a board member until his death.

The impetus for Sesame Road, which 1st aired in 1969, was the two the civil rights motion and the truth that young children from disadvantaged backgrounds ended up getting into faculty months at the rear of grade amount, Morrisett said in a 2019 job interview with member station WBUR.

“We hoped to obtain a way ⁠— using television ⁠— that we might assist those people little ones who would if not not do well in faculty, do far better,” Morrisett mentioned.

The present won’t just teach letters and numbers. During its historical past, it also has taught small children about tolerance and working with the tough components of existence, with storylines about all the things from divorced or incarcerated mothers and fathers to the demise of cherished kinds.

It was amongst the very first demonstrates on television to display Black and white youngsters participating in with each other, and just after the murder of George Floyd, Sesame Road partnered with CNN to host a town hall about racism.

Aspect of the show’s function was to “exhibit children that they could be friends with persons who were not like them,” Morrisett reported.

The Sesame Workshop wrote that the present was “only the most obvious tribute to a lifetime of influence” from a “intelligent, thoughtful, and type leader.”

Born in 1929, Morrisett gained a Bachelor of Arts diploma from Oberlin Faculty and a doctorate in experimental psychology from Yale University. From 1969-1998, he served as president of the John and Mary R. Markle Basis and released its method in communications and information technological know-how. Right before his time at the Markle Foundation, he served as vice president of the Carnegie Company of New York and of the Carnegie Basis for the Progression of Teaching.


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Source hyperlink It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Lloyd Morrisett, co-creator of the beloved children’s show “Sesame Street.” Morrisett, who was 93 at the time of his death, has left behind an amazing legacy in the world of children’s and family entertainment.



Morrisett, who worked as the president of the philanthropic organization the Carnegie Corporation from 1971 to 1984, was a pivotal force behind the creation of “Sesame Street” and can be credited with bringing the show to the masses. When the show first premiered in 1969, it was a groundbreaking success, introducing preschoolers to the joys of educational television.



With his help, the show was truly able to reach out and teach its young viewers, exposing them to a range of issues and topics which have come to form the foundation of their knowledge. Morrisett was an advocate for the need of a deeper understanding of educational resources and his influence on the show has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of generations of viewers.



From his work on “Sesame Street,” Morrisett went on to help launch the Children’s Television Workshop, which went on to produce shows such as “The Electric Company” and “3-2-1 Contact.” He also worked with the National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education in order to develop more resources and programming for children. His work and dedication to using the power of media to educate young minds will surely continue to be remembered and honored.



Morrisett was an incredible force in the world of children’s television and his contributions to the arts will definitely continue to be celebrated for many years to come. We offer our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this time.