Sesame Street Director Emily Squires Dies Ages 71

Sesame Street Director Emily Squires Dies Ages 71

Emily Squires, part of the Sesame Street team, directing multiple episodes, and applying her talents to soap operas including The Guiding Light and As the World Turns, has died aged 71.

Squires directed the "Sesame Street" children's television series from 1982 to 2007 while also writing for the program; her husband, Len Belzer, said on Friday (Nov, 23) that the cause of death is yet to be determined, The Huffington Post reports. A member of the popular Sesame Street show, which has been plunged into controversy surrounding the Kevin Clash sex scandal, as one of the programs most loved characters, Elmo, is under intense scrutiny, Squires death marks an incredibly sad month for all involved. Clash has since resigned from his position amidst the allegations levelled against him. She directed several Sesame Street TV specials as well as other children's programs such as the PBS show Between the Lions, which promoted reading and learning. She also was a scriptwriter for soap operas including The Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow, The Secret Storm and As the World Turns, proving herself to be one of the biggest talents in television.

Emily Squires had also been acknowledged in the categories of Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team, and Outstanding Directing in a Children's series with fifteen Daytime Emmys nominations.