Sesame Street and Beyond: Loretta Long
Loretta Long (born June 3, 1940) is an American actress, singer, and educator, best known for playing Susan Robinson on Sesame Street, having starred on the show since its debut in 1969.
Born in Paw Paw, Michigan, she earned her Ph.D. in Urban Education in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, while she was starring on Sesame Street. She has acted in musicals (such as Guys and Dolls) and appeared on the Flip Wilson Show with other Sesame Street cast members during its first season.
Loretta Long on the set of Sesame Street
On Sesame Street, Dr. Long’s character Susan, along with Bob (Bob McGrath) and Big Bird / Oscar the Grouch (Caroll Spinney), is one of only three remaining cast members who were on the first show and have been played by the same actors since the show began. She has performed a couple of puppet voices on the show, including Suzetta and Roosevelt Franklin’s mother.
Dr. Long, in addition to starring on Sesame Street, is a consultant and public speaker on issues of multiculturalism and education.
Earlier Years
Dr. Loretta Long’s career as an entertainer was born on the roadside of her family farm some 60 years ago. At nine years, Loretta would stand on the side of the road with her basket of strawberries, singing and dancing to attract patrons. It was here she first learned the value of following your passion; A lesson that would serve her well for the rest of her life.
During those early years in Paw Paw, Michigan, Loretta always knew she wanted to be a star. Unfortunately, in those days there were not too many role models for a young African American female born on a farm in a small mid-western town, Loretta explains “You look around for affirmation. We had one movie (theater), which played cowboy movies. There were no cowgirls except for Dale Evans-and she was white.”
Loretta and her family
It wasn’t just the world at large that Loretta had to overcome. Loretta’s loving parents were not thrilled with the thought of her pursuing a career in entertainment. “You don’t tell black parents that you’re going to be in the theater mommy’.” Loretta’s parents envisioned her becoming a teacher, a nurse, maybe even a doctor if civil rights continued to progress-but an actress? Loretta’s parents would have preferred just about anything else. It’s not that they wanted to hold her back from her dreams, Loretta’s parents were always loving and supporting, it’s simply that at a time when money was tight, they were looking for a more stable career choice for their daughter. Loretta compromised and attended college at the University of Massachusetts, with a major in Education.
After graduating college, Loretta took a job as a substitute teacher in the rough and tumble Bronx public school system. Never one to lose sight of her dreams, Loretta still remained focused. “I was an actor and a singer who happened to be teaching. I wasn’t a teacher who wanted to be in show business.”
Her choice to be a substitute teacher and not a full time employee, speaks highly of both her drive and her integrity. “I would not take a permanent job and pretend that I would be there for a year. If I got the right phone call, I was history.” When she wasn’t working as a teacher, Loretta was out and about every day looking for acting gigs. She never lost her focus. Her mind never faltered.
Career
Despite facing tremendous adversity during a time when women (especially African-American women) were seldom given opportunities in the entertainment industry, Loretta would not be denied. Spend some time around Loretta, and you’re bound to hear these words: “You must occupy your dreams first…..” It was these words that helped Loretta overcome every form of adversity imaginable. Determined and driven, Loretta never allowed the outside world to interfere with the success she envisioned in her life.
“If you can’t see yourself doing it, forget it…That vision has to be so strong that you drown out all the people goin’, ‘You? Are you kidding? You’re too tall. You’re too old. You’re too fat. You’re too black. You’re too white.’…You have to hold onto it so tight that you don’t hear all that.”
In 1969, Loretta’s vision began to come to fruition. At a time when African-American acts were never featured on mainstream television, Loretta landed a hosting gig on Sunday nights on Channel Thirteen’s Soul! It was through this work experience where she met Charlie Rosen, the man who would set her up on an audition for the marquee role of her career. Rosen, aware of Loretta’s credentials as a teacher, encouraged her to audition for a new educational children’s television show that he, along with Jim Henson and John Stone, were developing. Rosen was Sesame Street’s initial set designer, and failed to mention to Loretta that the audition was of a musical nature.
Young Loretta
During her career on Sesame Street, Ms Long has preformed in musical theater, recorded original music, and appeared on Broadway and several TV shows.
Throughout her career, Loretta never gave up her dedication to education and helping today’s youth. She continues with this ongoing mission as a consultant and guest lecturer around the world. An educator and innovator, Dr. Loretta Long’s 43-year career as Susan Robinson on Sesame Street has enabled her to reach out and impact the lives of children in ways few others can. If Loretta could pass along one piece of advice to children, it would be to follow your passion. Loretta Long was never one to chase after money or fame; those things came organically. From an early point in life, Loretta identified her passion and stuck with it despite facing adversity every which way she turned. “Passion is the clue to purpose.” She says. Loretta has long since found her passion. She has been fulfilling her purpose for the past 40 years. Her next purpose in life is to help others find theirs.
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