The puppeteer who has played Big Bird&nbsp;on 

&nbsp;is retiring after nearly 50 years on the show.

Caroll Spinney, 84,&nbsp;announced in a statement Wednesday that he's handing over Big Bird and his other character, Oscar the Grouch, to younger performers.

Thursday will be his last day on the program, which he joined from the start in 1969.

Spinney said&nbsp;he didn't feel like his work was important until Big Bird helped him find his purpose.

"I always thought, 'How fortunate for me that I got to play the two best Muppets'" he said in 

Caroll Spinney, left, and Leslie Carrara Rudolph pose with puppets Oscar the Grouch, left, and Abby Cadabby at the 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, June 23, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP)

The Daytime Emmy Awards Arrivals

Spinney says the physical requirements of performing the characters had become difficult and he developed problems with his balance.

Caroll Spinney, voice of Big Bird and Oscar, takes the spotlight

For decades, Caroll Spinney has been the man behind the two of Sesame Street's icons — Big Bird and Oscar — but the veteran puppeteer takes the limelight himself in the new documentary I Am Big Bird.

The new documentary I Am Big Bird shines a light on the man who has been behind Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969, veteran puppeteer Caroll Spinney.

Caroll Spinney: I Am Big Bird

The puppeteer who has played Big Bird for 4 decades tells the secret of bringing the character to life

Behind Big Bird

Caroll Spinney celebrates 45 years as Sesame Street's Big Bird

Puppeteer Caroll Spinney celebrates 45 years playing two of Sesame Street's most iconic characters - Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

Caroll Spinney discusses Big Bird

Mitt Romney, in one of the presidential debates, threatened to cut funding to PBS public broadcasting, prompting internet meme-makers and political pundits alike to rally behind the image of Big Bird, who may have breathed a sigh of relief with the re-election of President Obama. (Matt Sayles/AP)

Big Bird

He stopped doing the puppeteering for Big Bird in 2015 and now only provides voices for the iconic character, as well as for&nbsp;Oscar.

His apprentice, Matt Vogel, will succeed him in the Big Bird role. Vogel&nbsp;also plays Kermit the Frog.

Caroll Spinney, the veteran puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch for nearly 50 years, has announced he is retiring.

Puppeteer behind Sesame Street's Big Bird for nearly 50 years is retiring

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