Danny Seagren, First Live-Action Spider-Man and Jim Henson Puppeteer, Dead at 81

Born in Minneapolis in 1943, Bob Seagren moved to New York City to build his career. There, he met Jim Henson, who was just starting out and looking for someone to learn puppetry. Henson gave Seagren a puppet and asked him to practice for appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. After training with Henson, Seagren worked on promotional events for Sesame Street, and even stepped in as Big Bird when the original performer, Caroll Spinney, couldn’t make it – including appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and in parades. He also appeared on other children’s programs like Captain Kangaroo and Miss Peach of the Kelly School (which he created and won an Emmy for), as well as Who’s Afraid of Opera. In 1974, while working with Henson on The Muppets, he learned that PBS’ The Electric Company needed someone to play a silent Spider-Man.







