Danny Seagren, the master puppeteer, who worked behind the scenes on many beloved shows over the years, has passed away at the age of 81. While he had a long career in children’s programming, he holds a very special place in pop culture history for one unforgettable role that put him directly in the spotlight.Seagren was the very first person to bring Spider-Man to life in a live-action, costumed role on television. Back in the early 1970s, he suited up as Spider-Man for the educational children's show, The Electric Company. His work gave generations of young viewers their first glimpse of a real-life Spider-Man on TV.Danny Seagren, the original TV Spider-Man and Sesame Street performer, passes away at 81Danny Seagren’s career was defined by his incredible versatility, moving seamlessly between bringing beloved characters to life on screen and designing the puppets himself.Seagren’s career began in performance arts. He was intially a professional dancer before he joined the team surrounding Jim Henson. This led to his notable work on Sesame Street, where he not only performed various characters but also filled in as Big Bird during the first season when the main performer was unavailable.Seagren became the primary Big Bird for major live events and parades, including appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, showcasing his command of full-body puppetry.However, the role he’s most remembered for is the debut live-action version of Spider-Man on the educational show The Electric Company in the mid-1970s. When auditioning for the part, Danny Seagren reportedly used his dance background and improvisational skills.In the Spidey Super Stories segments, Seagren never spoke aloud; he relied entirely on his movement and body language to convey the superhero's actions and personality. This portrayal was so popular that it even inspired a tie-in comic book series by Marvel. He often spoke about how flattering it was to meet fans who grew up watching him. He stated:“I meet people who are in their late 40s who are big fans of the show. They really remember it and say that I was their favourite character. That’s very flattering.”Beyond performing, Danny Seagren was reportedly also a talented puppet maker and creator. He designed and operated characters for shows like Captain Kangaroo and Who’s Afraid of Opera. His work on the puppet characters for Miss Peach even earned him a Daytime Emmy Award, building his status as a true all-rounder artist.His family remembered his lasting impact on the world, noting that in his later years, he enjoyed attending comic conventions to meet the now-adult fans who adored him. They wrote:"Danny will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and those throughout the community he loved living in."