Bob McGrath

Bob McGrath was an American actor, singer, musician, and children’s author best known for playing the original human character Bob Johnson. He played long-term running educational television series Sesame Street.

Robert Emmett McGrath | Image by MPRNEWSBob gained fame, his career eventually came to be a success. His performance made McGrath famous in the United States of America, as well as in other countries around the world.

Early life

Bob McGrath was born in Ottawa, Illinois on June 13, 1932.  McGrath would sing for his family while his mother would play the piano as he was a child. Bob’s mother enrolled him in the Roxy Theater’s Amateur Program, where he came in second place. In 1954, Bob graduated from the University of Michigan where he was in the School of Music. Bob was also a member of the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club and of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, where during fraternity events. McGrath washed dishes while fraternity brother David Connell waited tables, a connection which Connell would use when casting began for Sesame Street. Bob was inducted into the U.S. Army, where he spent 2 years in Germany after graduating. In 1959, McGrath obtained a Master of Music degree in Voice, from the Manhattan School of Music.

Bob McGrath Career

Bob McGrath served as the program’s leading tenor for all four seasons of Miller’s NBC-TV television singalong series “Sing Along With Mitch.” Bob also played the role of Bob Johson on Sesame Street regularly from 1969 to 2016, which gave him fame around the world. His favorite moments on Sesame Street were Christmas Eve in 1978 and the 1983 series that addressed the death of Mr. Hooper, a longtime character. McGrath has also written many children’s books such as Uh Oh! Gotta Go! And OOPS! Excuse Me Please!

Achievements

McGrath was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for children’s album of the year for the song he wrote “Sing Me a Story”. Bob was awarded a grant in 1995 from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award. On April 10, 2010, he was the first to receive the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club Lifetime Achievement. Bob served at the Glee Club’s 150th anniversary celebration weekend as a master of ceremonies.

Bob McGrath’s Net Worth

He has been so popular and successful. McGrath’s net worth is estimated at $1 Million to $5 Million Approx.

Personal Life

McGrath married Ann in 1988. He had five children, five granddaughters, and three grandsons. The couple lived in Teaneck, New Jersey, before relocating to a ranch near Norwood from 1958 through 2017.

Cause of Death

He died on December 4, 2022, at the age of 90. Bob McGrath had died of complications from a stroke according to their family.

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