In addition to being a staple of "Sesame Street" for more than 10 years, Lee played Mr. Hooper in TV specials ("Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" and "A Special Sesame Street Christmas"), guest appearances (), stage appearances, countless record albums, and parades, including the 1982 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 25, 1982. It was revealed in "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" that Mr. Hooper is Jewish, as was Lee himself. Lee taped his final segments as Mr. Hooper on Wednesday November 24, 1982, two weeks prior to his death. This would become the focal point of Episode 1839, which aired a year later to the date, in which Mr. Hooper's death is explained to Big Bird by the adults.