| Harold Hooper | |
|---|---|
| Sesame Street character | |
 Mr. Hooper in his store | |
| First appearance | November 10, 1969 |
| Last appearance | March 18, 1983 |
| Portrayed by | Will Lee |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Mr. Hooper (often mispronounced by Big Bird as "Cooper", "Looper", etc.) |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
Mr. Harold Hooper (played by Will Lee) was one of the first four human characters to appear on the television series Sesame Street. Created by producer and writer Jon Stone, Mr. Hooper is the original proprietor of Hooper's Store, the neighborhood variety store and combination diner/corner store that serves as a place for Muppets and humans to meet and interact. Lee, a character actor and instructor was "perfectly cast" as Mr. Hooper.[1] Mr. Hooper ranked first of all human characters of the show in recognition by young viewers. Mr. Hooper, who has been described as "slightly cranky but good-hearted" and "curmudgeonly", bridges the gap between the older generation and its young audience. Hooper's Store, "an idealized social institution",[2] is an extension of his personality. He had a close relationship with the Muppet Big Bird.
After Lee's death on December 7, 1982, instead of recasting the role, or explaining his departure by saying he had moved, quit or retired, the writers and producers of Sesame Street decided to have the character of Mr. Hooper die. Then, they created a TV episode to teach their young audience about the difficult topic of death. Research was conducted to ascertain the messages they wanted to convey about the topic, as well as the effect the episode would have on the young children who watched it. They were advised by experts in the fields of child psychology, child development, and religion. Studies conducted after the episode was produced showed that most children understood its messages about death, and that they experienced no long-term ill effects.
The episode, written by head writer Norman Stiles, aired on Thanksgiving Day 1983. The cast and crew reported that filming it was an emotional and touching experience, with Bob McGrath listing it as one of his two favorites. Setting the standard for dealing with difficult topics on children's television, the show was called heartbreaking yet affirming, and remains one of the proudest moments in the show's history.