Danny Seagren

Born Nov 15, 1943 · Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA

Danny Seagren (born 15 November 1943) is an American puppeteer and trained dancer who worked for Jim Henson from 1968 in the early 1970s. Seagren performing reindeer in The Ed Sullivan Show rendition of the Christmas "Reindeer Bit." with Jim Henson in 1968. Other appearances on Ed Sullivan would include performing Big Bird in a dance number with birdwatchers. Seagren also filled in as Big Bird on Sesame Street for Episode 0083 and 0086 when Caroll Spinney was sick, toured as Big Bird with the human cast around America to promote the second season, and stood in as Big Bird in cast photos. Seagren later performed the pantomime role of Spider-Man on the Children's Television Workshop series The Electric Company. This was the first live-action depiction of the Marvel Comics character.