The on-screen wife of Luis, the Fix-it Shop owner, is saying goodbye to the PBS long-running children's show after 44 years.
- July 3, 2015
AceShowbiz -
One of "Sesame Street" residents is leaving as Sonia Manzano will not return for the upcoming season. The 65-year-old actress announces at the American Library Association Annual Conference that she is retiring from the long-running PBS children's show after playing Maria for 44 years.
Manzano first joined the show in 1971. Her character, Maria, is married to Emilio Delgado's Luis, the friendly Fix-it Shop owner. Besides acting on the children's show, she also served as a writer. She won multiple Emmys for her writing work and was nominated twice for her acting.
After 45 years on Sesame Street, @SoniaMManzano will no longer appear on the next season. #alaac15 pic.twitter.com/Jiz7tn9dAI
— American Libraries (@amlibraries) June 29, 2015
"Sonia Manzano has announced her retirement from 'Sesame Street', but she will always be a part of the fabric of our neighborhood," says Sesame Workshop. "During her 44-year career as the iconic 'Maria' and the first leading Latina woman on television, she was a role model for young girls and women for generations."
"Sonia's talents on 'Sesame Street' extend beyond her groundbreaking role on camera; she also earned 15 Emmy awards as a member of 'Sesame Street's' writing team. We'll always be grateful for her many years on Sesame Street as a champion of diversity and helping millions of kids grow up smarter, stronger and kinder."
