Big Bird’s new neighbor, Armando: the new Latino neighbor on “Sesame Street”

Beloved kids program “Sesame Street” is welcoming a new neighbor to block, and he is Latino.

On May 10th, “Good Morning America” made the announcement about the new resident of Sesame Street who will be moving in on the 16th of September during the shows 44th Season. Armando, or Mando for short, will be partaking in the show’s activity with fellow neighbors Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, and the grand bird himself, Big Bird.

Ismael Cruz Cordova will be playing Mando, a young Latino writer who also has a profound love for technology. Cordova joins the program’s growing list of Latino characters. In 1971, Luis and Maria (portrayed by Emilio Delgado and Sonia Manzano) moved onto the street and since they have been interacting with the fellow cast of puppets.

Born in Puerto Rico, Cordova is a graduated from New York University’s Tish School of the Arts. So far, the young rising Latino actor has made cameos in shows like “The Good Wife.” Cordova’s addition to the show is somewhat destiny since he told interviewers how he learned to speak English from watching the show as a child.

Last year, the long-running PBS educational programming embarked on talent search for an actor who would take on the role as the newest addition. Hundreds applied but it was Cordova who snagged the role.

“Honestly, [I’m] still in shock,” Cordova describes, “I am incredibly proud to be a part of a show that acknowledges and celebrates diversity so whole-heartedly and am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to represent Latino-Americans on ‘Sesame Street’.”

You can catch Cordova on “Sesame Street” on September 16th when he makes his big debut in the shows 44th season.