I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

20142014
Not RatedNot Rated
1h 26min

7.5/10

Documentary Biography Drama

Caroll Spinney has been Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969; at 78-years-old, he has no intention of stopping.Caroll Spinney has been Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969; at 78-years-old, he has no intention of stopping.Caroll Spinney has been Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969; at 78-years-old, he has no intention of stopping.

7.5/10

1.5K

Directors
- Dave LaMattina
- Chad N. Walker
Writer
- Dave LaMattina
Stars
- Caroll Spinney
- Jim Henson(archive footage)
- Frank Oz

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations

Videos2

Trailer 1:41

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

Trailer 1:41

Official Trailer

Caroll Spinney and Debra Spinney in I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014)

Jim Henson and Caroll Spinney in I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014)

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014)

Think you know everything there is to know about Sesame Street? You don't. You might know that Frank Oz turned down an offer to play Big Bird, but you probably don't know that until a last minute change of heart by NASA, Big Bird was supposed to go to space aboard the Challenger. Or you may know that Oscar the Grouch got his voice from a cantankerous cabbie, but you'd be surprised to learn that a fire in his trash can almost led to Caroll's untimely demise. Caroll's stories are the stuff of legend. He has been a constant presence in our lives for over 40 years, his path weaving through American history like that of Forrest Gump. His time inside the Bird has taught him about the world and about himself. I AM BIG BIRD will peel away the instances in Caroll's life that inspired his creation of characters that influenced generations of children. And, as the yellow feathers give way to gray hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart. —CPP

sesame street year 2014 2010s caroll spinney reference to caroll spinney 4 more

Taglines
- Big Bird guided you through childhood. Let Caroll take you the rest of the way.
Genres
Certificate
- Not Rated
Parents guide

Trivia
The film was partially funded by fan donations. More than $120,000 was raised for the film after people donated amounts between $1 and $10,000.

Quotes
Sonia Manzano: I have always loved Big Bird because he's... complicated. So he has a lot of emotional qualities that a lot of the Muppets don't have.

Alternate versions
A segment about an incident where a caretaker of the Spinney property hit a jogger with his car and hid the body in a shed without the Spinney's knowledge was removed from the film when it was released on VOD and iTunes.

Connections
Features Bozo (1960)

Top review

8/10

DON'T watch this is you're dealing with depression....though it is wonderful.

This film is all about the life and work of Carroll Spinney, the puppeteer responsible for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch from "Sesame Street". Unlike many of the other Muppet folks, Spinney generally did not do other characters (like on "The Muppet Show") and a major portion of the documentary is about the life and history of Big Bird. It's all very interesting and touching--especially if you grew up with these characters. It's also depressing, as the film also talks about the untimely death of Jim Henson--and I challenge any Muppet fan to watch this with dry eyes. Because of that, at times, the film is a bit depressing to watch...which isn't a problem unless you are already depressed.

By the way, this film is NOT captioned...which really sucks as my youngest wasn't able to enjoy the film unless I sat there translating it into sign language.

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