Northern Calloway was a talented actor and singer who rose to fame as David on Sesame Street, the popular children’s television show. He played the role for 18 years, from 1971 to 1989, and became a beloved figure for millions of young viewers. He also voiced several Muppet characters and recorded songs for the show. However, behind the scenes, Calloway struggled with mental health issues that eventually led to his untimely death in 1990. What was Northern Calloway’s cause of death and what were the events that led up to it?
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A Promising Career Cut Short by Mental Illness
Calloway was born in New York City in 1948 and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in 1966. He joined the Lincoln Center Repertory Company and performed in several Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including The Me Nobody Knows, Pippin, and Whose Life Is It Anyway? He also appeared in some television specials and movies, such as The Funny Papers and Don’t Eat the Pictures.
In 1971, he joined the cast of Sesame Street as David Robinson, a friendly and helpful young man who worked at various places on the street, such as a newsstand, a library, and a store. He was also the boyfriend of Maria (Sonia Manzano), another human character on the show. In 1982, after the death of Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, the owner of Hooper’s Store, Calloway’s character took over the store and became a mentor to the younger residents of Sesame Street.
Calloway was well-liked by his co-stars and the production staff, who praised his charisma, energy, and humor. He also had a loyal fan base among the children who watched the show. However, according to some sources, Calloway suffered from bipolar disorder and had episodes of erratic and violent behavior that affected his work and personal life. According to Street Gang: The Complete Oral History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis , Calloway once bit a music coordinator during a fight on the set. He also did not appear in the 1985 movie Follow That Bird, which featured most of the main cast members.
A Series of Troubles That Ended in Tragedy
Calloway’s mental health problems became more apparent in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1979, he divorced his wife Terri Calloway , whom he had married in 1973. In 1980, he had a nervous breakdown that resulted in a violent incident in Nashville, Tennessee . He had been staying at the home of Mary Stagaman, the marketing director of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, after performing there. When she asked him to leave, he refused and attacked her with an iron, causing serious injuries to her head and ribs. He was arrested and charged with assault with intent to commit murder.
Calloway was released on bail and returned to New York, where he continued to work on Sesame Street. However, his condition worsened over time and he became more unpredictable and unstable. He reportedly had hallucinations, mood swings, paranoia, and delusions. He also abused drugs and alcohol . His performance on the show deteriorated and he often missed rehearsals or forgot his lines. The producers tried to accommodate him by giving him less screen time or writing him out of some episodes.
In 1989, Calloway retired from Sesame Street for medical reasons . His character was written off as moving to Florida with his grandmother. His last episode aired on May 12, 1989 . A few months later, on January 7, 1990 , Calloway was admitted to Stony Lodge Hospital , a psychiatric facility in Ossining, New York. Two days later, he lost consciousness while being restrained by hospital staff . He was taken to Phelps Memorial Hospital , where he was pronounced dead.
A Controversial Condition That Remains Unexplained
A coroner’s report listed Calloway’s official cause of death as exhaustive psychosis , now more commonly called excited delirium syndrome (EDS) , a “controversial condition” often retrospectively assigned to those who die under restraint in custody . EDS is characterized by agitation, aggression, delirium, elevated body temperature, and sudden cardiac arrest . However, EDS is not recognized by major medical associations or diagnostic manuals as a valid diagnosis . Some experts argue that EDS is a vague and misleading term that obscures the underlying causes of death, such as drug intoxication, mental illness, or excessive force .
Calloway’s death was not widely reported by the media at the time and his fans were largely unaware of his personal struggles. His funeral was held on January 12, 1990 and he was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. He was survived by his parents, two sisters, and a son . He was also mourned by his former colleagues and friends from Sesame Street, who remembered him as a talented and kind person who brought joy to millions of children. His legacy lives on through his recordings and appearances on the show, which continue to be broadcast and streamed to this day.