 However, Jim Henson (Kermit, Ernie) died, with Steve Whitmire playing Ernie (Kermit no longer appears); Frank Oz, busy as a director, now only puppets Grover, Bert, and Cookie Monster a couple of times each season (David Rudman and Eric Jacobson have largely taken over his characters); and Caroll Spinney retired in 2018, handing over the role of Big Bird to Matt Vogel, and Oscar the Grouch to Jacobson.On July 28, 2016, it was announced that Gordon would be dropped from the show as Orman's contract was not renewed as part of Sesame Workshop's re-tooling for the series.Following his departure, the workshop stated that Orman would continue to represent them at public events.