Mr. Hooper

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Harold Hooper (known almost universally as just Mr. Hooper) was a character on Sesame Street who was the original proprietor of Mr. Hooper's Store, which still retains his name.

Biography

Mr. Hooper is Jewish, according to Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. In true Sesame Street fashion, his religion was irrelevant to all other plots, as characters' differences are generally irrelevant to plot. However, his heritage was suggested in an episode in which Big Bird enquires about the languages that various members of the community can speak. Mr. Hooper reveals that he was taught to read, write and speak Yiddish at after-school religious instruction.

For some reason that was never really explained, Big Bird had trouble saying "Hooper", instead using various words that rhymed with it, such as "Looper" or "Crouper". This led to frequent retorts of "Hooper! Hooper!" from Mr. Hooper whenever Big Bird mispronounced his surname.

His first name was revealed on the March 15, 1976 episode (#871). The name was shown on his GED, which he had just earned. But the woman announcing the names goofed, just as Big Bird would have, indentifying him as "Harold Cooper."

Death of Mr. Hooper

When the actor who played him, Will Lee, died in 1982, rather than replace him with another actor, the character also passed away. Sesame Street devoted an episode to Mr. Hooper's death.

In that episode, which aired in November 1983 (early in the series' 15th season), Big Bird is walking backwards while looking at the world upside-down through his legs. When Gordon asks why he is doing this, Big Bird says "Just because."

Later, Big Bird plans to give a drawing of Mr. Hooper to his friend. When he is unable to find Mr. Hooper, he asks for help in locating him. The adults remind him that Mr. Hooper has died. Big Bird says that that's OK, he'll just wait for him to return, prompting the adults to explain the painful truth: When people die, they don't come back. Big Bird initially refuses to accept this news, asking why things have to be that way. Gordon replies, "Just because." As the scene continues, the adults – who also miss Mr. Hooper – console Big Bird and mourn with him.

By the end of the episode, Big Bird accepts the fact that Mr. Hooper is not coming back and has gained an understanding about what death is; however, he also is taught that he will always have many happy memories to remember his friend. The portrait of Mr. Hooper that Big Bird had planned to give him still hangs in Big Bird's nest.

The episode ended with a brief montage of clips featuring Mr. Hooper from earlier seasons, along with acknowledgement of Will Lee's passing.

The episode was later made into a book called "I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper" by Norman Stiles et al. The book is online here: http://www.toughpigs.com/bookclubhooper01.htm

Opinions on this episode varied widely. Some fans cite this episode as the moment when Sesame Street "jumped the shark." Many others, however, call this episode one of the most important episodes of the landmark series' run, as well as one of the best individual shows explaining the concept of death to young children.

The episode can be viewed online here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaXiWgDU4i0&search=sesame%20street%20hooper