In a 2021 interview, Emilio Delgado spoke about his time on Sesame Street and how, as a Mexican-American actor, it gave him a chance to play an ordinary, non-stereotypical Latino character." Most of the roles I went for were either for bandits or gang members," he said at the time.
Sesame Street has paid tribute to "beloved" actor Emilio Delgado, known by fans of the show as Fix-It shop owner Luis Rodriguez, after his death at the age of 81.
Delgado held the role for 45 years, joining the children's series as Luis in its third season in 1971.
His wife, Carol Delgado, told the Associated Press news agency that he died of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer at their home in New York.
We are heartbroken to report the passing of Emilio Delgado; best known as Luis Rodriguez on Sesame Street, who joined the series in 1971
— Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) March 10, 2022
Thank you for all of the wonderful memories ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nORrST50A5
Paying tribute, the show said that their "warmth and humor invited children to share a friendship that has echoed through generations".
Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, said in a tribute: "Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of Emilio Delgado, known around the world for his role as Luis on Sesame Street.
A beloved member of the Sesame family for more than 50 years, his warmth and humor invite children to share a friendship that has echoed through generations.
"At the forefront of representation, Emilio proudly claims the record for 'longest running role for a Mexican-American in a TV series'." We are so grateful that he shared his talent with us and with the world.
'There really was no representation of real people'
Delgado was born in Calexico, California, near the US-Mexico border in 1940, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
As Luis, Delgado got to play a generic, non-Orthodox Latino character at a time when such portrayals were rare on TV.
But Sesame Street features Jim Henson's much-loved masterpieces Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and Grover, as well as a diverse cast of adults and children.
"There really was no representation of real people," Delgado said in a 2021 interview on the YouTube series Famous Cast Words. "Most of the roles I went outside were either for bandits or gang members."
Delgado said the producers adopted his suggestion to include some Spanish words in his dialogue - including "pajaro" for Big Bird.
Luis married Sesame Street's other prominent Latin star, Maria Figueroa, played by Sonia Manzano, in a ceremony that aired in 1988.
After a brief break from the program that same year, Delgado returned and continued to act until 2016.
He continued to appear with the cast at public events after his departure and returned in 2019 for Sesame Street's 50th anniversary celebrations.