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Mr. Hooper
Mr. Harold Hooper (played by Will Lee) was one of the first four human characters to appear on the television series Sesame Street. Created by producer and writer Jon Stone, Mr. Hooper is the original proprietor of Hooper's Store, the neighborhood variety store and diner that serves as a place for Muppets and humans to meet and interact. He ranked first among the show's human characters in recognition by young viewers. Mr. Hooper, who has been described as "slightly cranky but good-hearted" and "curmudgeonly", bridges the gap between the older generation and its young audience. Hooper's Store, "an idealized social institution", is an extension of his personality. He had a close relationship with the Muppet Big Bird.
After Lee died on December 7, 1982, instead of recasting the role, or explaining his departure by saying he had moved, quit, or retired, the writers and producers of Sesame Street decided to have Mr. Hooper die as well and created an episode to teach their young audience about the difficult topic of death. Research was conducted to ascertain the messages they wanted to convey and the effect the episode would have on the children who watched it. The writers were advised by experts in child psychology, child development, and religion. Studies conducted after the episode showed that most children understood its messages about death and experienced no long-term ill effects.
The episode, by head writer Norman Stiles, aired on Thanksgiving Day 1983, to allow for parents to answer any resulting questions about the episode. The cast and crew reported that filming it was a touching experience, with Bob McGrath listing it as one of his two favorites. Setting the standard for dealing with difficult topics on children's television, the episode remains a pivotal moment in the show's history.
Mr. Hooper, played by Will Lee from the premiere of Sesame Street in 1969 until his death in 1982, was one of the first four human characters on the show. Created by producer and writer Jon Stone, the role of Mr. Hooper was the first to be cast. Lee came to Stone's attention through writers Bruce Hart and Carole Hart. Mr. Hooper was inspired by Captain Kangaroo, for which Stone had worked and which greatly influenced him as he developed Sesame Street. Mr. Hooper is the original proprietor of Hooper's Store, the neighborhood variety store and diner that serves as a place for Muppets and humans to meet and interact. Stone's original conception of Mr. Hooper was that he would be, like most owners of such establishments at the time, older, male, and Jewish.
I was delighted to take the role of Mr. Hooper, the gruff grocer with the warm heart. It's a big part, and it allows a lot of latitude. But the show has something extra—that sense that you sometimes get from great theater, the feeling that its influence never stops.
Lee was a character actor and acting instructor with a range of roles in the theater. He had been blacklisted from many mainstream acting roles for about five years during the McCarthy era for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee's investigation of Communist influence in show business. According to writer Michael Davis, Lee played Mr. Hooper, known for his bowtie and horn-rimmed glasses, "with such certainty and naturalness he made adults suspend their sense of disbelief". Writer Louise A. Gikow said that Lee was "perfectly cast" as Mr. Hooper. According to cast member Bob McGrath, who also appeared in Sesame Street's first episode with Lee, "Will had a broader dimension to his character than perhaps the rest of us did ... He convinced me that no matter how simple the scene was with a child, you had to bring a tremendous integrity and an honesty and credibility to it". Joan Ganz Cooney, Sesame Street co-creator and president of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), said, "He gave millions of children the message that the old and the young have a lot to say to each other". The New York Times reported that Mr. Hooper ranked first among the show's human characters in recognition by young viewers.
Davis described Mr. Hooper as "slightly cranky but good-hearted". Gikow called him "curmudgeonly". Davis said that since Mr. Hooper's appearance in the first episode of Sesame Street, he had become many things to many young children, "the guy in the apron at the far side of the generation gap, his half-lens glasses slipping down his nose". Davis also said that Hooper's Store, which he called "an idealized social institution", is an extension of Mr. Hooper's personality. Mr. Hooper has a special relationship with Big Bird, who often came into Hooper's Store for a birdseed milkshake and a chat. A running gag in the show was that Big Bird often mispronounced Mr. Hooper's name, although most attempts ended in "ooper", such as "Looper" or "Cooper". Mr. Hooper's first name, Harold, was not revealed until the character earned a GED during night school.
Mr. Hooper's last appearances on Sesame Street aired in 1983, but were taped in November 1982. Lee participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with other Sesame Street characters a few days before he died of a heart attack on December 7, 1982.
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Mr. Hooper
Mr. Harold Hooper (played by Will Lee) was one of the first four human characters to appear on the television series Sesame Street. Created by producer and writer Jon Stone, Mr. Hooper is the original proprietor of Hooper's Store, the neighborhood variety store and diner that serves as a place for Muppets and humans to meet and interact. He ranked first among the show's human characters in recognition by young viewers. Mr. Hooper, who has been described as "slightly cranky but good-hearted" and "curmudgeonly", bridges the gap between the older generation and its young audience. Hooper's Store, "an idealized social institution", is an extension of his personality. He had a close relationship with the Muppet Big Bird.
After Lee died on December 7, 1982, instead of recasting the role, or explaining his departure by saying he had moved, quit, or retired, the writers and producers of Sesame Street decided to have Mr. Hooper die as well and created an episode to teach their young audience about the difficult topic of death. Research was conducted to ascertain the messages they wanted to convey and the effect the episode would have on the children who watched it. The writers were advised by experts in child psychology, child development, and religion. Studies conducted after the episode showed that most children understood its messages about death and experienced no long-term ill effects.
The episode, by head writer Norman Stiles, aired on Thanksgiving Day 1983, to allow for parents to answer any resulting questions about the episode. The cast and crew reported that filming it was a touching experience, with Bob McGrath listing it as one of his two favorites. Setting the standard for dealing with difficult topics on children's television, the episode remains a pivotal moment in the show's history.
Mr. Hooper, played by Will Lee from the premiere of Sesame Street in 1969 until his death in 1982, was one of the first four human characters on the show. Created by producer and writer Jon Stone, the role of Mr. Hooper was the first to be cast. Lee came to Stone's attention through writers Bruce Hart and Carole Hart. Mr. Hooper was inspired by Captain Kangaroo, for which Stone had worked and which greatly influenced him as he developed Sesame Street. Mr. Hooper is the original proprietor of Hooper's Store, the neighborhood variety store and diner that serves as a place for Muppets and humans to meet and interact. Stone's original conception of Mr. Hooper was that he would be, like most owners of such establishments at the time, older, male, and Jewish.
I was delighted to take the role of Mr. Hooper, the gruff grocer with the warm heart. It's a big part, and it allows a lot of latitude. But the show has something extra—that sense that you sometimes get from great theater, the feeling that its influence never stops.
Lee was a character actor and acting instructor with a range of roles in the theater. He had been blacklisted from many mainstream acting roles for about five years during the McCarthy era for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee's investigation of Communist influence in show business. According to writer Michael Davis, Lee played Mr. Hooper, known for his bowtie and horn-rimmed glasses, "with such certainty and naturalness he made adults suspend their sense of disbelief". Writer Louise A. Gikow said that Lee was "perfectly cast" as Mr. Hooper. According to cast member Bob McGrath, who also appeared in Sesame Street's first episode with Lee, "Will had a broader dimension to his character than perhaps the rest of us did ... He convinced me that no matter how simple the scene was with a child, you had to bring a tremendous integrity and an honesty and credibility to it". Joan Ganz Cooney, Sesame Street co-creator and president of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), said, "He gave millions of children the message that the old and the young have a lot to say to each other". The New York Times reported that Mr. Hooper ranked first among the show's human characters in recognition by young viewers.
Davis described Mr. Hooper as "slightly cranky but good-hearted". Gikow called him "curmudgeonly". Davis said that since Mr. Hooper's appearance in the first episode of Sesame Street, he had become many things to many young children, "the guy in the apron at the far side of the generation gap, his half-lens glasses slipping down his nose". Davis also said that Hooper's Store, which he called "an idealized social institution", is an extension of Mr. Hooper's personality. Mr. Hooper has a special relationship with Big Bird, who often came into Hooper's Store for a birdseed milkshake and a chat. A running gag in the show was that Big Bird often mispronounced Mr. Hooper's name, although most attempts ended in "ooper", such as "Looper" or "Cooper". Mr. Hooper's first name, Harold, was not revealed until the character earned a GED during night school.
Mr. Hooper's last appearances on Sesame Street aired in 1983, but were taped in November 1982. Lee participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with other Sesame Street characters a few days before he died of a heart attack on December 7, 1982.