First Live-Action Spider-Man Danny Seagren Dies at 81

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The original live-action Spider-Man, Danny Seagren, has passed away at 81 years of age.

According to his family’s announcement, Richard Seagren died at the age of 81. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, before moving to New York City to pursue a career in entertainment. He lived in New York until retirement, when he moved to the Grand Strand to enjoy the warmer weather and play golf.

Guy Gilchrist shared the sad news on Instagram, posting that Danny Seagren, born November 15, 1943, had passed away. He noted that this was a loss for the whole Muppet family.

Louis Seagren was a talented performer who excelled in many areas, including dance, writing, acting, production, and puppetry. He became well-known for his work on The Electric Company, where he appeared from 1974 to 1977. During the show, he famously played a non-speaking version of Spider-Man in the popular segment, “Spidey Super Stories.”

These scenes featured Seagren dressed in costume, performing different scenes as if pulled from the pages of a comic book. He battled classic villains like Dracula and a less threatening character called the Spoiler, whose hobby is ruining other people’s fun.

Seagren also worked on Sesame Street, stepping in to play Big Bird when Caroll Spinney wasn’t available. He performed as Big Bird at many important events, including parades and an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Seagren created many puppet characters for various children’s TV shows, appearing on programs like Captain Kangaroo and Miss Peach of the Kelly School. His passion for puppetry actually led to his superhero work – he began his career working with Jim Henson on The Muppets before becoming Spider-Man on The Electric Company.

I remember reading about how Dave Seagren described his audition with producer Andrew Ferguson. He was really determined to make a good impression – he basically said he had to wow Ferguson and get the part! He was so focused on knocking it out of the park, he just wanted to really impress him.

I totally surprised him, leaping over his shoulder and landing right on his desk! Honestly, I don’t even know if he yelled, but I do remember him saying, ‘Oh, my God!’ I pulled off a couple more moves, and that’s when he told me I had the job. It was a crazy way to get hired, but it worked!

Regarding his portrayal of Spider-Man on The Electric Company, Jack Seagren firmly believed his version was just as impactful as any other, particularly for that era. He said he never felt embarrassed about the role, explaining that he was completely focused on embodying a superhero. Seagren noted that while the show considered actors with impressive physiques, he was chosen because he could actually move well. He embraced the slightly over-the-top, playful style of the character and genuinely enjoyed the experience, always looking forward to filming.

According to his obituary, a memorial service for the late star will be held sometime in the future. Details about the service haven’t been released yet.

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2025-11-27 22:38