Oscar nominated animator Paul Fierlinger, who was responsible for creating some of Sesame Street's most iconic animated inserts as well as memorable work for Nickleodeon, has died at the age of 89. The acclaimed Czech-American director died at home in Pennsylvania on April 4 but the news is only now being made public. No cause of death has been issued.

His friend, animator Chris Sullivan shared the news of his passing on Facebook.“I have been knowing this day would come, though almost indestructible, Paul Fierlinger has left his mortal coil. He and Sandra’s (his wife) body of work is important and lasting, from One more and then I’ll stop, to A Room Near By, My Dog Tulip, and Slokum….He has many filmmaking friends, and people who love him, whether he likes it or not. Let us all take up his baton, and make works we care about… warm thoughts from Chris,” he wrote in tribute.

Fans were devastated to hear of his death and took to Facebook to share their upset on a post announcing the sad news. "It is because of people like him Sesame Street is legendary as far as children's shows are concerned. His creations are what helped make it special. Thank you Mr Fierlinger," one penned.

"One of the best bits on Sesame Street! Thank you for teaching kids about caring for their pet spoon," another wrote. "He had an amazing career and was one of the most successful independent animators. I met him when he visited Sheridan and found out that he created the Opera Singing Orange on Sesame Street, among other gems," a third chimed in.

"Teeny Little Super Guy was one of my earliest introductions into stop motion animation and sparked my love of the art form that has become my career. RIP Paul Fierlinger," a fourth commented.

A fifth lamented: "I always start thinking about these people right before they pass. I haven’t thought about Tiny Little Super Guy in probably twenty years. But he kept popping into my mind. He was saying goodbye. Tiny Guy…. Mammoth impact. Forever thank you for touching our souls, sir."

Meanwhile a sixth cried: "TEENY LITTLE SUPER GUY was my FAVORITE!!!! Thank you for the memories Mr. Fierlinger, and condolences to your family."

Born on March 15, 1936 in Ashiya, Japan, Paul was nominated for an Oscar for his 1979 short film It’s So Nice to Have a Wolf Around the House.

However, it is for his memorable Sesame Street spots that he will be most remembered. Segments including Teeny Tiny Little Super Guy game were beloved of viewers and his alphabet animations for the show helped teach generations of children to read.

His career began in earnest in the late ’50, when he became an independent animation producer in Czechoslovakia and was able to privately produce animated films from his home studio in Prague. In 1971, he formed AR&T Associates in the U.S. to produce animated segments for ABC’s Harry Reasoner specials and PBS’s Sesame Street and Nickelodeon and other clients.

In the 1990s, he met and married his frequent collaborator Sandra Schuette, a fine-arts painter and printmaker at the Boston Museum of Art School. Together, they developed Amby & Dexter: The Way of Silent, a series of interstitials for Nickelodeon, a Sesame Street series tilted Alice Kadeezenberry, and a children’s song collection titled Playtime for the Children’s Book of the Month Club.