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First live-action Spider-Man star Danny Seagren dies aged 81

2025-11-27 21:42
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First live-action Spider-Man star Danny Seagren dies aged 81

RIP.

First live-action Spider-Man star Danny Seagren dies aged 81 Rebecca Cook Rebecca Cook Published November 27, 2025 9:42pm Updated November 27, 2025 9:49pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Daniel Seagren holds Muppet Grandmother Happy during rehearsals for an episode of Sesame Street at Reeves TeleTape Studio Danny Seagren has died aged 81 (Picture: David Attie/Getty Images)

Danny Seagren, who played the first live-action Spider-Man, has died at the age of 81.

The actor was also a proficient puppeteer and worked on Sesame Street, stepping in for Caroll Spinney to play Big Bird on a number of episodes.

Seagren died earlier this month in South Carolina, his family announced in an obituary. His cause of death has not been shared.

The statement, posted to a memorial website, also notes that ‘a celebration of life will be held at a later date’.

‘Danny will be greatly missed by his family, friends and those throughout the community he loved living in,’ his family wrote online.

In the memorial note, he was described as a ‘dancer, writer and producer’ who worked as a puppeteer and puppet maker for Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets.

Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ctw/Kobal/Shutterstock (5854235a) Danny Seagren, Skip Hinant, Luis Avalos, Rita Moreno, Hattie Winston, Judy Graubart, Morgan Freeman, Jim Boyd Rita Moreno - 1971-77 Ctw Film Portrait The Electric Company He played the first live-action Spider-Man, starring alongside Morgan Freeman (Picture: Ctw/Kobal/Shutterstock) NEW YORK - 1970: Puppeteers (L-R) Daniel Seagren holding and Jim Henson working Ernie, and Frank Oz with Bert rehearse for an episode of Sesame Street at Reeves TeleTape Studio in March, 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) He bagged a daytime Emmy for his puppetry work (Picture: David Attie/Getty Images)

Born in 1943 in Minneapolis, Seagren appeared numerous times as Spider-Man during his nearly 400-episode stint on the popular kids’ show The Electric Company, which also starred Morgan Freeman.

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His segments from the show were spun off into a Marvel comic book called Spidey Super Stories.

He created and performed his puppetry in shows including Captain Kangaroo, Who’s Afraid Of Opera and Miss Peach, bagging a daytime Emmy for the latter.

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He is survived by his longtime companion, Kate Vereau, his brother, his wife and their son, as well as his nephew.

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