Which actor first played Gordon in the broadcast series?

Matt Robinson was the first actor to play Gordon in the broadcast series.

Robinson portrayed Gordon when Sesame Street premiered in 1969 and remained in the role through 1972. He was not originally hired only as an on-camera performer: he joined Children's Television Workshop to produce and oversee filmed segments, particularly material representing diverse characters and communities.

When the producers struggled to cast Gordon, Robinson was persuaded to take the part. He became the first character to speak on the program, appearing in the opening episode while showing a girl named Sally around the Street. Robinson also contributed behind the scenes and performed the voice of Roosevelt Franklin, a puppet character he helped create.

After Robinson left, Hal Miller played Gordon briefly from 1972 to 1974, followed by Roscoe Orman, who became the best-known long-term performer in the role. Gordon's surname, Robinson, was later adopted in the show's fiction as a tribute to Matt Robinson. Bob McGrath played Bob, not Gordon, making him a common answer mix-up.