Roscoe Orman

Where to watch Roscoe Orman

• Sesame StreetTV Show · 1969

Biography

While a student at New York's High School of Art and Design, Orman made his theatrical debut in the 1962 topical revue "If We Grow Up." He was an early member of the Free Southern Theater for two years in the mid-1960s and a founding member of Harlem, New York's New Lafayette Theatre, where he acted in and directed numerous plays. His many other stage appearances have included roles in "Julius Caesar" and "Coriolanus" at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, the Broadway production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fences", and Matt Robison's one-man play "The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit" at the American Place Theatre. Orman is the recipient of an Audelco Theatre Award and a five-time nominee. He made his feature film debut in the title role of Universal Studios' 1974 drama, Willie Dynamite and has also appeared in such films as F/X, Striking Distance, New Jersey Drive, Follow That Bird, Twilight's Last Gleaming,The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, and "Jeremy Fink And The Meaning of Life". His television credits include work on such shows as All My Children, Kojak, Sanford and Son, Cosby, Sex and the City, The Wire, andLaw & Order. He most recently appeared on episode 5 of the Garry Trudeau/Amazon streaming production Alpha House. In June 2006, Orman's memoir Sesame Street Dad: Evolution of An Actor was released. In September 2007, his children's book Ricky and Mobo was released. On October 8, 2008, he became the Chief Storyteller of AudibleKids.com (a service of Audible.com), a website for parents, teachers, and children to connect with one another and download and listen to audiobooks oniPods, MP3 players, and computers. In his role as Chief Storyteller, Orman narrates audiobooks and communicates with children, parents and teachers online and at community, literacy and library events, lectures and conferences, and via other media to encourage the use of audiobooks to help build an interest in reading and develop literacy skills. He commented on being Chief Storyteller on October 8, 2008: “When Sesame Streetbegan, television was a new and even controversial medium. But we showed how that technology, if used correctly, could become a powerful learning tool...I see the same kind of opportunity emerging today as parents and educators increasingly view iPods with skepticism. With AudibleKids.com, I believe we can help turn these players into magnificent storytellers, tools for learning, and a way to promote a lifelong love of stories and language.” His new role was announced at a community event at The Educational Alliance Boys & Girls Club in New York City, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office commended Orman’s life work and willingness to embrace new technology to help encourage children to read books, by naming October 8, 2008 AudibleKids Day in New York City. Orman is a resident of New Jersey. He has four children, Rasheda, Solana, Miles, and Cheyenne. His son, Miles Orman, was on Sesame Street playing Gordon and Susan's adopted son Miles Robinson from the mid-1980s into the early 1990s.

Filmography

1. 2026Original Soundas Fred
2. 2024Jim Henson Idea Manas Self (archive footage)
3. 2022Is That Black Enough for You?!?as Self
4. 2021Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Streetas Self
5. 2020The Power of We: A Sesame Street Specialas Gordon
6. 2020You Can't Take My Daughteras McDevitt
7. 2019Holiday Rushas Reginald Miller
8. 2019Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebrationas Gordon
9. 2019Sesame Street: 50 Years and Countingas Gordon Robinson (archive footage)
10. 2019All These Small Momentsas Dr. Rogers
11. 2018New Amsterdamas Rodger Conway · 1 episode
12. 2016The Night Ofas Jury Foreman · 1 episode
13. 2015Sesame Street: Play All Day with Elmo!as Gordon
14. 2015I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Storyas Self
15. 2013Alpha Houseas Randall · 1 episode
16. 2012Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbersas Roscoe
17. 2012Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Lifeas Dr. Grady
18. 2011Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
19. 2010Sesame Street: C Is for Cookie Monster
20. 2010Sesame Street: P is for Princessas Gordan Robinson
21. 2010Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Daysas Gordon (uncredited) (archive footage)
22. 2009Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales
23. 2009Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmoas Gordon Robinson
24. 2006A Sesame Street Christmas Carolas Gordon (archive footage)
25. 200630 Daysas Jo Jo
26. 2006Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty Timeas Gordon
27. 2004Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!as Gordon
28. 2004Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?as Gordon
29. 2002Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!
30. 2002The Wireas Off. Oscar Requer · 2 episodes
31. 2000American Pimpas Willie Dynamite
32. 1999The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchlandas Gordon
33. 1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unitas Bryant Davis · 1 episode
34. 1999The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and Playas Gordon (archive footage)
35. 1999Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songsas Gordon
36. 1998Sex and the Cityas Train Waiter · 1 episode
37. 1998Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!as Gordon
38. 1996Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmasas Gordon
39. 1995New Jersey Driveas Judge
40. 1994Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!as Gordon
41. 1993Sesame Street Stays Up Late!as Gordon
42. 1993Striking Distanceas Sid
43. 1990Law & Orderas Mr. Cameron · 1 episode
44. 1989Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989as Self – Gordon Robinson
45. 1988Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckieas Gordon
46. 1987Sesame Street: Sing Alongas Gordon
47. 1986F/Xas Captain Wallenger
48. 1986Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Storiesas Gordon Robinson
49. 1985Follow That Birdas Gordon
50. 1983Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Artas Gordon
51. 1979Coriolanusas Adrian
52. 1979A Walking Tour of Sesame Streetas Gordon (uncredited)
53. 1978Christmas Eve on Sesame Streetas Gordon
54. 1974Willie Dynamiteas Willie
55. 1973Kojakas Lieutenant Connors · 1 episode
56. 1972Sanford and Son1 episode
57. 1969Sesame Streetas Gordon Robinson · 3,669 episodes
58. 1969Harlem Theater