Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on the children's show "Sesame Street" is retiring after 44 yaers.
Manzano announced her plans to quit the long-running show at the American Library Association Annual Conference, reported Variety.
Manzano first appeared on "Sesame Street" in 1971, and became a series regular in 1974.
Manzano, with TV-husband Luis, are known to "Sesame Street" viewers for running the Fix-It Shop, which specializes in toaster repair.
Along with acting on the show, Manzano also served as a writer. She won 15 Emmys for her writing work on the show, and was nominated twice for her acting. Manzano also has a memoir releasing soon, "Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx."
Her retirement news sent fans into mourning, who poured their grief online but Manzano assured them that all will still be well for Big Bird and the gang without her.
