OUR Bob McGrathactor, musician, and children’s book author, known for portraying one of the original characters in the series”sesame street“, died at the age of 90.

The news of McGrath’s death was confirmed by his family in a Facebook post on Sunday: “McGrath’s family has sad news. Our father Bob McGrath passed away today at home surrounded by his family.”

The independent nonprofit Sesame Workshop tweeted Sunday afternoon that it “mourned the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame Street family for over 50 years.”

McGrath was in the original cast of Sesame Street when the show premiered in 1969, where he played neighbor Bob Johnson. His last appearance on the show was in 2017.

The actor grew up in Illinois and studied music at the University of Michigan and the Manhattan School of Music. In addition, he was a singer in the 1960 TV series Sing Along with Mitch and made a career as a singer in Japan.

“Everyone’s favorite performer, tenor Bob filled concert halls from Las Vegas to Tokyo. We will be grateful to him for the many years he has dedicated to Sesame Street and we are honored that he has shared so much with us.”

McGrath was married and had five children.

According to the Los Angeles Times