Big Bird through the years

First lady Rosalynn Carter and daughter Amy hosted a Christmas party at the White House on Dec. 21, 1978, for children of parents working at embassies in the Washington area, and "Sesame Street's" Big Bird showed up. From left: Amy Carter holding nephew James, 1, and Jason, 3. Standing in back are newscaster Walter Cronkite and Rosalynn Carter.

Joe Namath, quarterback for the New York Jets, chats with Big Bird during taping of the children's television show "Sesame Street" in a Manhattan studio on Sept. 25, 1972.

Jim Henson and some of his famous creations -- Big Bird, Miss Piggy and Kermit -- gather with the other Muppets.

Sesame Street Live's production "Let's Be Friends," featuring Telly Monster, Hoots the Owl, Zoe, Snuffy, Bird Bird, Cookie Monster and Elmo.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and "Sesame Street" characters joined forces in an undated photo. In back, Big Bird and Abelardo; third row, left to right, Celinba, Carlo and Luis from "Sesame Street"; second row, left to right: Fidel, a member of Lincoln Center Kids' Chorus, "Sesame Street's" Rosita, Judith Clurman a music director for Lincoln Center, and Ari from the Lincoln Center's Kids' Chorus. Front row: Comedian Ruth Buzzi and Josh, a member of Lincoln Center Kids' Chorus.

Big Bird on "Sesame Street" on Aug. 29, 1988.

Big Bird, of the children's television show "Sesame Street," arrives at the Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Aug. 30, 2009.

Ford Motor Co. and Children's Television Workshop -- the producer of "Sesame Street" -- announced they were teaming up to teach about vehicle safety. With the messages, "Buckle up with Big Bird" and "Ford and 'Sesame Street' Educate Families Together," the partnership encouraged kid to always wear safety belts and sit in the back seat.

Shanghai children with "Sesame Street's" Big Bird. The Shanghai TV station and United States announced that they would jointly produce a Chinese version of Sesame Street on March 12, 1997.

Daphne Rubin-Vega of the Broadway hit "Rent" performed in the "Sesame Street" video "Quiet Time."

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton enjoys her time with Big Bird from the Chinese-language version of "Sesame Street" during a dedication ceremony at the new Shanghai Children's Medical Center on June 30, 1998.

Big Bird and Snuffleupagus on the set of "Sesame Street."

Big Bird takes a break during production.

Bert and Ernie with Big Bird.

Peter Jennings interviews Big Bird for a special relating to the 30th year anniversary of "Sesame Street" on public television on Dec. 2, 1998.

Denver Broncos' running back Terrell Davis and Big Bird salute each other during the taping of "Sesame Street" in Manhattan. As a part of "Sesame Street's" 30th season celebration, Davis made a guest appearance to recite the alphabet, admitting that his favorite letters were "T" and "D," and "M, V and P." The episode aired Dec. 15, 1998.

A 33-cent U.S. stamp honoring "Sesame Street'' and featuring Big Bird was released as part of the Celebrate the Century series honoring the 1970s.

The Big Bird balloon before being inflated for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 27, 2002.

The "Sesame Street" characters on stage.

Bird Bird and Tony Bennett.

Big Bird in Manhattan at the "Sesame Street" Workshop on Feb. 6, 2003.

First lady Laura Bush visits with "Sesame Street's" Elmo and Big Bird after taping a segment on the children's show in Manhattan. Bush read a book with Elmo, Big Bird and a few children as part of the show's Reading Is Fundamental program on Sept. 19, 2012.

The 35th birthday party for "Sesame Street."

Joe Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), tapes a video with Big Bird and Rosita in Manhattan. The video is part of a project between FEMA and the Sesame Street Workshop to develop educational materials that help children cope with stress and trauma related to the attacks on the World Trade Center, Feb. 6, 2003.

This undated photo supplied by the Sesame Workshop shows Caroll Spinney and his alter ego, "Sesame Street" icon Big Bird. Spinney, who also plays the role of Oscar the Grouch, received the lifetime achievement award at the 2006 Daytime Emmy Awards, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Big Bird making his way through Times Square in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23, 2006.

Big Bird joined the festivities as Bette Midler and Mayor Michael Bloomberg plant a tree to kick off Million Trees NYC in this undated photo.

Big Bird from "Sesame Street" with Catherine Rice, 7, of Smithtown, and Matthew Galante, 4, of West Babylon, at the Helen Mills Theater on Oct. 25, 2007.

Big Bird arrives at the 36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 30, 2009.

"Sesame Street" character Big Bird, with performer Christopher Ellis ahead of an undated "Sesame Street Live" production of "Elmo's Healthy Heroes" at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.