Lloyd Morrisett Net Worth
Lloyd Morrisett was one of the co-founders of Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street and other educational children’s TV programs, serving as president from 1969-1998. Additionally, he served on both boards for which Sesame Workshop was responsible.
Morrisett observed his three-year-old daughter’s intense interest in television and began considering ways it could be used as a learning medium for children. Along with Joan Ganz Cooney, they co-founded Children’s Television Workshop which ultimately produced Sesame Street when it premiered in 1969.
Early Life and Education
Lloyd Morrisett, co-creator of Sesame Street for children on television, passed away at 93. He graduated with a philosophy degree from Oberlin College before going on to earn his doctorate degree in experimental psychology from Columbia University. Additionally, he co-founded Children’s Television Workshop which later evolved into Sesame Workshop.
His work was greatly inspired by his experiences with his daughter, especially her memorization of catchy television commercial jingles which helped him understand how television could be used as an educational tool. From 1969-1998 he also served as president of the Markle Foundation where his focus shifted from medicine towards mass communication and information technology research support; one graduate student tracked him down years after her graduation to thank him personally!
Professional Career
Lloyd Morrisett was an experimental psychologist and co-founder of Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street and Electric Company television programs for children. Additionally, he served on Oberlin College’s Board of Trustees and as director for Tucows (an Internet services provider).
Morrisett is best known for his groundbreaking collaboration with Joan Ganz Cooney to develop the innovative children’s show Sesame Street, now reaching over 120 million children globally each year and featuring beloved puppets like Big Bird. Morrisett was instrumental in its creation; Michael Davis chronicles this experience in 2021 with Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street.
Morrisett passed away peacefully at Sesame Workshop at age 93 on January 23, 2023, prompting their Facebook page to post a moving tribute saying that without him they’d no longer exist as an organization.
Achievement and Honors
Lloyd Morrisett co-founded Sesame Street and the Children’s Television Workshop along with Joan Ganz Cooney in 1969 and served as chairman of its board until 2000, while being present for Sesame Street being honored at the Kennedy Awards 2019.
He worked on television series for over 50 years and helped create numerous educational programs for children. Over his career he received many honors and awards.
Morrisett passed away at age 93. According to Sesame Workshop’s statement about him, he left an “outsized legacy that will impact children for generations.” He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Personal Life
Morrisett spent much of his youth living between Yonkers and Los Angeles. His father Lloyd Newton Morrisett served as assistant schools superintendent in Yonkers before later becoming professor of education at UCLA. At first Morrisett followed in his father’s footsteps by enrolling at Oberlin College to obtain a bachelor’s degree in philosophy before eventually switching over to experimental psychology studies.
Morrisett made his mark early on in cognitive psychology. He founded the Sesame Organization, a non-profit venture responsible for producing Electric Company and Sesame Street educational programs geared toward children. Morrisett is survived by his wife Mary Pierre and daughters Julie and Sarah; at his death at age 93 he served as chairman of Children’s Television Workshop from 1969 to 1998 and president of Markle Foundation – moving away from medical research towards supporting studies of mass communications and technology.
Net Worth
Morrisett was one of the co-creators of Sesame Street, an iconic children’s television series, and has died at 93 years old. A teacher by profession, Morrisett started at Oberlin College before attending UCLA for graduate work in psychology before eventually earning a doctorate degree in experimental psychology from Yale.
He went on to establish the Children’s Television Workshop, helping develop iconic shows such as Sesame Street and Electric Company. From 1969 until 1998 he served as president of the John and Mary Markle Foundation where he helped transition its focus from medicine towards communications and information technology.
He served on the Board of Oberlin College from 1975-1981 as Chairman. Additionally, he was a board member of RAND Corporation and director at Tucows (an Internet service provider).
