Sesame Street's Luis and LGBTQ+ Ally, Emilio Delgado, Dies At 81

Emilio Delgado, the actor who played Luis, the best pal to all of the Sesame Street characters for 44 years, died on Thursday in Manhattan at age 81. Delgado’s wife, Carole, told the New York Times the cause of death was multiple myeloma.

Delgado was a strong LGBTQ+ ally. He joined Sesame Street in 1971 and held the longest rol Mexican-American actors in TV history. He was devoted to bringing positive Latinx representation to TV and was an advocate for social and racial justice. He held a seat on the board of directors for the New-Jersey based Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice; supported the United Farm Workers; and protested the Vietnam War.

He also appeared in Canción de la Raza; Law & Order; Hawaii Five-O; Falcon Crest; House of Cards; and Lou Grant. He also performed at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.

Delgado was artistic director of the Barrio Theater Ensemble of East Los Angeles and played in several productions.