Emilio Delgado

Emilio Delgado is an actor and singer, best known for his 44 years in the role of "Luis" on Sesame Street from 1971-2015. He was born in Calexico, California and spent his early childhood living across the border in Mexicali, Mexico in a large extended family. He started working at an early age in Mexicali shining shoes and working in his uncle's bicycle repair shop. As a U.S. citizen, he crossed the border daily into the United States to attend elementary school in Calexico, California, where he first began performing in school plays and musicals. He graduated from Glendale High School in Los Angeles, where his interest and passion for theater and music increased. After graduation he received a scholarship to study acting in Hollywood with the famed Russian actress Eugenie Leontovich. He continued his theater studies at Glendale College and California Institute of the Arts KCET-LA. In 1971, the producers of Sesame Street expanded their cast to include Latinos and cast Emilio as Luis. Landing the role of "Luis" was very meaningful to Emilio because it offered a positive portrayal of a Mexican American on television. He can claim the longest running part for a Mexican American actor in a continuing television series for his 44 years on Sesame Street. In addition to Sesame Street, Emilio was cast in 1972 to understudy Raul Julia in Two Gentlemen of Verona on Broadway. Other theatre credits include Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, INTAR Theatre, Round House Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Source and more recently King Claudius in the Asolo Repertory Theatre production of Hamlet. He has appeared in television classics such as recurring cast member on the Lou Grant Show in the role of Ruben Castillo, Hawaii 5-0, Quincy, Police Story and co-starred in I Will Fight No More Forever. More recent television and film appearances include House of Cards A Case of You, Law & Order, Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, The Michael J. Fox Show and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In 2009 Emilio was honored to be a guest singer with Pink Martini at Carnegie Hall and The Hollywood Bowl and has made other guest appearances with the band in Portland, Seattle, New York and Montreal. Additionally, he recorded 'Sing', a duet with China Forbes on the Pink Martini album Splendor in the Grass. Some notable awards he has received include, The Impact Award 2000 from the National Hispanic Media Coalition, The HOLA Ilka Award in 2005 and in 2009 he and the cast of Sesame Street received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award for Sesame Street's 40 years on the air. Through the years, Emilio has contributed many hours of his time to organizations such as the United Farm Workers, Head Start, The 52nd Street Project and Project Sunshine. Emilio and his wife Carole live in New York City; they have two children, a son Aram and a daughter Lauren.