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MPR News Staff

Sonia Manzano, Sesame Street's Maria, to retire after 44 years

Maria, Elmo and Luis
Sonia Manzano as Maria reads Elmo a bedtime story with Emilio Delgado, who plays her husband Luis on Sesame Street.
Richard Termine | Sesame Street 2010

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Maria is leaving Sesame Street.

After 44 years on the PBS children's show, Sonia Manzano is retiring, reports Variety.

Manzano first appeared on "Sesame Street" in 1971, and was upped to 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."

While the show has yet to make an official announcement of her departure, Manzano has been actively responding to fans lamenting her exit on Twitter, reassuring them that all will still be well for Big Bird and the gang with her gone.