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'Sesame Street' actor, David Smyrl dies

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
March 25, 2016

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The actor who was the owner of Hooper's Store on the beloved children's show "Sesame Street" has died.

David Smyrl was best known for his role as Mr. Handford on the long-running PBS series, Philly.com reported.

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Smyrl, who was originally from Philadelphia, started as a coffeehouse poet in Greenwich Village in the 1960s. He then got a job on television in the 1970s on a show "Express Yourself."

He eventually started writing for the sitcom "Benson" and moved on to "The Cosby Show" where he was a gag writer, audience warm-up man and an actor, The Associated Press reported.

But he was best known for his stint as Mr. Handford on "Sesame Street" from 1990 to 1998. He won eight Emmy Awards for his contributions to children's programming.

He also did voice work for commercials for companies like McDonald's, Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

Smyrl died of lung cancer at the age of 80.

Watch a clip from the classic show.

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