American psychologist Lloyd Morrisett, the co-founder of Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind the children’s program Sesame Street, has died at the age of 93, reported his organisation.
"Lloyd leaves a huge and indelible legacy for generations of children around the world," Sesame Workshop said.
Morrisett was head of the production company for decades. He was reportedly fascinated by the power of technology and always thought about how that power could be used for education.
"Without Lloyd Morrisett, Sesame Street would not be here," said TV producer Joan Ganz Coony, Morrisett’s business partner and co-founder of Sesame Street. "He first came up with the idea of teaching preschoolers basic skills like letters and numbers through television. He was a trusted partner and good friend to me for more than 50 years."
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Morrisett saw the light of day in Oklahoma, USA, in 1929. Together with Ganz Cooney, he founded the nonprofit Children’s Television Workshop in 1968, later renamed Sesame Workshop. The organisation develops other series and educational programs for children besides Sesame Street.
The Dutch-language version of the program, Sesamstraat, was televised between 1976 and 1983, thanks to a collaboration between the then BRT, later VRT, and the Dutch broadcaster NOS.
