Sesame Street Star Dies of Cancer

Big Bird's pal Alaina Reed Hall, who was also a neighbor on 227, has died at 63

By Breanne L. Heldman Dec 21, 2009 4:11 PMTags

Somewhere, behind a building, Big Bird is weeping.

He may be 40 now and have long since learned the meaning of death, but that doesn't make the passing of his Sesame Street pal Alaina Reed Hall any easier.

The actress, who starred as Olivia for 12 years on the PBS show, died of breast cancer on Dec. 17 in Los Angeles, reports Springfield, Ohio's WHIO Radio. She was 63 years old.

In addition to working with Muppets, Hall starred on the sitcom 227. She also graced the Great White Way as Matron Mama Morton in the original production of Chicago and the 1977 revival of Hair.

________

Did you see Jake Gyllenhaal's timely appearance on Sesame Street last week?