Roscoe Orman

Performer

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his two-hour interview, Roscoe Orman discusses his childhood in the Bronx and chronicles his theater work at the start of his career. He recounts his participation in the Civil Rights Movement, and recalls meeting Martin Luther King, Jr. Orman then details his three decades playing "Gordon Robinson" on the groundbreaking children's series Sesame Street. He describes how he won the role, which puppets are his favorites, and what he believes the legacy of Sesame Street will be. Orman shares some of his favorite episodes and storylines from the program, including the memorable "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" episode and the adoption of "Gordon's" son, "Milo." He also touches on his television work on All My Children, Sanford and Son, Sex and the City, and Kojak. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 20, 2004 at the Sesame Workshop in New York, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I used to really be shocked when people would tell me that I was their first real teacher, or it was because of me and because of 'Sesame Street' in particular, that they became who they are in terms of choosing their profession or really beginning to love learning....It's still very humbling to hear that kind of thing and to know that I've had a part in it in some way."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Roscoe Orman on his Sesame Street character "Gordon"

03:46

Roscoe Orman on learning to relate to Muppets, and to the kids on Sesame Street

02:39

Roscoe Orman on Jim Henson and how "Ernie" even more so than "Kermit" represented Jim

02:58

Roscoe Orman on Carroll Spinney's "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch"

02:18

Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:13

Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on growing up in the Bronx; on his talent for drawing; on performing in school plays; on performing off-Broadway during his senior year of high school

On attending the Manhattan School of Music; on joining Actors Equity; on his first television appearance - in Philadelphia; on Matt Robinson, the original "Gordon" on Sesame Street

On his early recollections of television; on meeting Roy Rogers; on his awareness of the lack of diversity on television during his childhood; on his early stage performances; on joining the Free Southern Theater and getting arrested in the segregated South for trying to integrate a New Orleans bar; on joining the New Lafayette Theater in Harlem

Chapter 2

On meeting Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Civil Rights Leaders in the South; on acting and directing at the New Lafayette Theater in Harlem; on starring in the film Willie Dynamite in Hollywood

On Morgan Freeman on The Electric Company; on returning to New York Theater; on how he got his start on Sesame Street; on his audition for "Gordon" on Sesame Street; on his first days on Sesame Street and trying to win over the kids on set; on the Muppets/puppets he relates to best

Chapter 3

On Kevin Clash and "Elmo;" on "Grover" being his favorite puppet; on Jim Henson; on Carroll Spinney's "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch; " on "Trash Gordon;" on his character - "Gordon" on Sesame Street

On rules for playing "Gordon;" on feedback from parents; on "Gordon's" relationship with "Susan" on Sesame Street; on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" in which the characters explain to "Big Bird" that Mr. Hooper died; on important Sesame Street storylines;

Roscoe Orman on some of his favorite guests on Sesame Street; on his memory of Ray Charles' appearance on the show

Chapter 4

On the legacy of Sesame Street; on Joan Ganz Cooney; on his role on All My Children; on his role on Sanford and Son; on his appearance on Sex and the City

On his appearance on Kojak; on advice to an aspiring actor; on people recognizing him

Shows

All My Children

Roscoe Orman on his role on All My Children

02:32

Amos 'N' Andy

Roscoe Orman on his awareness of the lack of diversity on television during his childhood

01:19

Cosby Show, The

Roscoe Orman on Matt Robinson, the original "Gordon" on Sesame Street and later head writer for The Cosby Show

02:43

Electric Company, The

Roscoe Orman on Morgan Freeman on The Electric Company

01:00

Kojak

Roscoe Orman on his appearance on Kojak

01:00

Sanford and Son

Roscoe Orman on his role on Sanford and Son

00:43

Sesame Street

Roscoe Orman on how he got his start on Sesame Street

06:56

Roscoe Orman on his first days on Sesame Street and trying to win over the kids on set

03:45

Roscoe Orman on the Jim Henson puppeteers, Muppets he relates to best, and working with Frank Oz and Kevin Clash on Sesame Street

02:53

Roscoe Orman on the puppeteers, puppets, and characters of Sesame Street

28:33

Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:13

Roscoe Orman on the legacy of Sesame Street

02:21

Roscoe Orman on people recognizing him as "Gordon" on Sesame Street

03:18

Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:13

Sex and the City

Roscoe Orman on his appearance on Sex and the City

00:52

Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

Roscoe Orman on his audition for "Gordon" on Sesame Street and meeting with writer Jon Stone

04:38

Roscoe Orman on his Sesame Street character "Gordon"

03:46

Civil Rights Movement

Roscoe Orman on meeting Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Civil Rights Leaders in the South; on TV news coverage of the movement

05:41

Representation on Television

Roscoe Orman on his awareness of the lack of diversity on television during his childhood

01:19

Underrepresented Voices

Roscoe Orman on his awareness of the lack of diversity on television during his childhood

01:19

Roscoe Orman on "Gordon's" relationship with "Susan" on Sesame Street

02:26

Professions

Actor

View Profession

Roscoe Orman on loving performing for a live audience

01:02

Genres

Children's Programming

Roscoe Orman on his first days on Sesame Street and trying to win over the kids on set Orman on

03:45

Roscoe Orman on the Jim Henson puppeteers, Muppets he relates to best, and working with Frank Oz and Kevin Clash on Sesame Street

02:53

Roscoe Orman on his audition for "Gordon" on Sesame Street and meeting with writer Jon Stone

04:38

Roscoe Orman on Kevin Clash, "Elmo," and "Hoots the Owl"

05:17

Roscoe Orman on his Sesame Street character "Gordon" and the characteristics writer Jon Stone told him "Gordon" should have

03:46

Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:13

Roscoe Orman on Carroll Spinney's "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch"

02:18

Roscoe Orman on the legacy of Sesame Street

02:21

Roscoe Orman on people recognizing him as "Gordon" on Sesame Street

03:18

People

Bob McGrath

View Interview Page

Roscoe Orman on learning to relate to Muppets, and to the kids on Sesame Street

02:39

Caroll Spinney

View Interview Page

Roscoe Orman on Carroll Spinney's "Big Bird" and "Oscar the Grouch"

02:18

Frank Oz

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on the Muppets/puppets he relates to best - Frank Oz's

01:11

Jim Henson

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on Jim Henson

02:58

Joan Ganz Cooney

View Interview Page

Roscoe Orman on Joan Ganz Cooney

01:53

Jon Stone

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on his audition for "Gordon" on Sesame Street and meeting with writer Jon Stone

01:53

Roscoe Orman on his Sesame Street character "Gordon" and the characteristics writer Jon Stone told him "Gordon" should have

03:46

Kevin Clash

View Interview Page

Roscoe Orman on Kevin Clash and why people love "Elmo"

00:33

Roscoe Orman on Kevin Clash, "Elmo," and "Hoots the Owl"

05:17

Loretta Long

View Interview Page

Roscoe Orman on learning to relate to Muppets, and to the kids on Sesame Street

02:39

Roscoe Orman on "Gordon's" relationship with "Susan" on Sesame Street

02:26

Martin Luther King, Jr.

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on meeting Martin Luther King, Jr.

01:54

Matt Robinson

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on Matt Robinson, the original "Gordon" on Sesame Street

03:34

Morgan Freeman

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on Morgan Freeman

01:00

Ray Charles

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on some of his favorite guests on Sesame Street

02:27

Richard Hunt

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on Kevin Clash and "Elmo" and Clash taking over the role from Richard Hunt

05:17

Robert Guillaume

View Interview Page

Roscoe Orman on his audition for "Gordon" on Sesame Street - Robert Guillame was another person considered for the role

01:53

Roy Rogers

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on meeting Roy Rogers

00:53

Whitman Mayo

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on his friendship with Sanford and Son's Whitman Mayo - an actor at the New Lafayette Theater

00:22

Will Lee

View Person Page

Roscoe Orman on learning to relate to Muppets, and to the kids on Sesame Street

02:39

Roscoe Orman on Sesame Street's: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

01:13