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12 Most Memorable 'Sesame Street' Milestones

From Mr. Hooper's death to Cookie Monster quitting cookies, check out these unforgettable moments from 40 years of Sesame Street (13 Photos)

Ali Gray and Christine Petrozzo on Sep 24, 2010 at 1:08PM

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12 Most Memorable 'Sesame Street' Milestones

Mr. Hooper Dies

When Will Lee, the actor who played Mr. Hooper, died unexpectedly, the writers of Sesame Street worked hard to explain his death carefully. The producers incorporated Mr. Hooper’s death into the show, providing parents with an invitation to discuss the difficult issue of death with their kids. During the 1983 Thanksgiving Day episode, Big Bird learned Mr. Hooper would never come back, but he could always be remembered.