Original Live-Action ‘Spider-Man’ Actor, Dies at 81

Danny Seagren, the puppeteer who brought Spider-Man to life in the first live-action TV portrayal, has passed away at the age of 81, his family confirmed. A resident of Little River, South Carolina, Seagren died on November 10.

Trained by Jim Henson, Seagren’s career spanned decades in children’s television. He performed as a silent Spider-Man on PBS’ The Electric Company, appearing in nearly 400 episodes. His segments, known as “Spidey Super Stories,” encouraged young viewers to read using cartoon thought bubbles while showing Spider-Man’s adventures. He also briefly stepped in for Caroll Spinney to play Big Bird on Sesame Street, both on-screen and at live events including The Ed Sullivan Show.

Seagren’s work extended beyond Spider-Man. He created and operated puppets for shows like Captain Kangaroo, Miss Peach of the Kelly School—which earned him a Daytime Emmy in 1980 for a Thanksgiving episode—and Who’s Afraid of Opera, starring Joan Sutherland. A trained dancer, he first joined Henson in 1968, learning puppetry from scratch. “He said, ‘Here’s a puppet, take it home, come back on Tuesday and we’ll rehearse,’” Seagren recalled in a 2015 interview.

Seagren also performed as Spider-Man at live events, sometimes sharing the stage with Batman actors Adam West and Burt Ward. He said these appearances were “an excellent source of income” and enjoyed meeting fans at comic conventions. “They really remember it and say that I was their favorite character. That’s very flattering. … Who doesn’t like to talk about themselves? It’s a very nice feeling,” he noted in an interview with Mark Elitz.

Daniel Morley Seagren was born in Minneapolis on November 15, 1943. He is survived by his longtime companion Kate Vereau, his brother Stephen, sister-in-law Jill, and nephew Sean. A celebration of life is being planned, and donations in his memory can be made to the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund).

Seagren’s portrayal of Spider-Man introduced generations of children to the beloved superhero and left a lasting mark on television history. His mix of puppetry, physical performance, and charm made him a unique figure in early Marvel adaptations.

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