Emilio Delgado, a Mexican-American actor who appeared on the longtime family TV series “Sesame Street” for 45 years died on Thursday. He was 81.
In late 2020, Delgado was diagnosed with blood cancer, multiple myeloma, but he was still making appearances and giving interviews throughout 2021 until his health started to decline.
“Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of Emilio Delgado, known the world over for his role as Luis on Sesame Street,” Sesame Workshop said in a statement. “A beloved member of the Sesame family for over 50 years, his warmth and humor invited children to share a friendship that has echoed through generations.”
Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit organization behind the TV series, said Delgado claimed “the record for the longest-running role for a Mexican-American in a TV series.”
Born in 1940 in Calexico, California—Delgado joined the show starting with its third season in 1971. He said the producers embraced his suggestion to sprinkle Spanish terms into the script.
“The first time that I saw Big Bird walk on, my line was, ‘Big Bird!’” Delgado said in the 2021 interview. “But I didn’t say ‘Big Bird,’ I said, ‘pájaro!’”
After a quick meeting in which Delgado explained that “pájaro” meant “bird,” the producers decided to keep it in.
Delgado made appearances on the show for 45 years and played Fix-It Shop owner Luis Rodriguez until 2016. The fictional character often sang in the series and sometimes played his guitar. He married Maria Figueroa, played by Sonia Manzano, in a ceremony on the show in 1988. The storyline allowed the show to teach children about marriage, love, and childbirth.
Beyond “Sesame Street,” Delgado also appeared in other popular American TV series such as “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” He also played a recurring character on the newspaper drama “Lou Grant,” and made multiple appearances on “Quincy M.E.,” and “Falcon Crest.”
