Emilio Delgado, Luis on ‘Sesame Street,' dies at 81

Emilio Delgado, the actor best known for playing Luis on the popular PBS kids series "Sesame Street," has died. He was 81.

A representative for "Sesame Street" shared a statement on the actor's death.

"Emilio Delgado, who played Luis on Sesame Street, passed away on March 10, 2022. A beloved member of the Sesame family for over 50 years, his warmth and humor invited children to share a friendship that has echoed through generations. At the forefront of representation, Emilio proudly laid claim to the ‘record for the longest-running role for a Mexican-American in a TV series.’ We are so grateful he shared his talents with us and with the world."

Sesame Workshop also shared a message about the incredible loss.

The beloved Mexican-American actor played Luis, the Fix-It Shop owner, for more than 40 years.

"He was one of the most positive people that I think I'll ever know," Sonia Manzano, who played Delgado's on-screen spouse, Maria, on the hit show, said Friday on "Good Morning America."

She added, "He was fair and he was kind. He was sincerely kind and I think that's why kids all over the world and all over America gravitated towards him the way that we all did."

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She went on, "He and I were both raised at a time when there were no people of color on television at all, I'm sure. And I know for myself that I watched a lot of television and wondered what I was going to contribute to a society that did not see me, and I think that when we eventually got on 'Sesame Street,' we were -- we were what we ourselves needed to see growing up in the United States."

Delgado took a brief hiatus from the show in the late 80s but returned within a year.

In between "Sesame Street" appearances, Delgado appeared in a number of popular primetime TV series, including "Quincy," "Hawaii Five-O," "Falcon Crest," "House of Cards," and three iterations of the "Law & Order" franchise.

He was a recurring cast member of "Lou Grant," appearing in 19 episodes as national editor Rubin Castillo.