Geiss (left) on location for production of Sesame Street. (Photo courtesy of Sesame Workshop.)
Obituary
Tony Geiss, Sesame Street writer, composer, Muppet father, 86
Tony Geiss, writer, composer and lyricist for Sesame Street for almost four decades — and creator of two Muppets — died Jan. 21 [2011] in New York City of complications from a fall. He was 86.
Geiss won 22 Emmys for scriptwriting and songwriting. He created the Honkers Muppets and, most recently, Abby Cadabby. He was a co-creator of Sesame's "Elmo's World" segment and composed its theme song (video). He also co-wrote the feature film Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, and worked on several other films.
His writing career included work with David Frost, Bill Cosby and Groucho Marx.
A post on the Sesame Workshop blog called Geiss "a major force on the Sesame Street writing team for 40 years."
Nicholas Anthony Geiss was born in New York City on Nov. 16, 1924, and grew up in the West Village. His wife of 60 years, the former Phyllis Eisen, preceded him in death in December 2009.
His New York Times obituary lists survivors including an extended family as well as "admirers of all ages, who joyfully sang along with his songs without knowing their author, nourished by his creative brilliance."
A memorial service was held Jan. 27 at Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York City.