 On the death of actor Will Lee (IV) (qv), who played neighborhood  grocer Mr. Harold Hooper, the production staff decided not to  replace him with another actor instead they wrote a special episode  dealing with the loss of a loved one ("Goodbye, Mr. Hooper"). In a  scene where the other cast members are talking to Big Bird about the  death of someone one loves, they were apparently still grieving the  loss of Will Lee, since they were visibly near tears.