In 1983, Sesame Street faced a heartbreaking question: how do you explain the death of a beloved friend? When actor Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, passed away, Sesame Street chose honesty. This special episode helped generations of children and families understand and talk about grief with empathy and honesty. 42 years later, we look back at this moment and are reminded that even when someone we love is gone, the memories and love we shared remain. 💛 | Sesame Street

Mr. Harold Hooper (played by Will Lee) was one of the first four human characters to appear on the television series Sesame Street. After Will Lee died on December 7, 1982, the writers and producers of Sesame Street decided to have the character of Mr. Hooper die, instead of recasting or writing the character off. They created an episode to teach their young audience about death. The episode aired on Thanksgiving Day 1983. . . . #bigbird #sesamestreet #jimhenson #death #loss #grief #lifeafterlos