Emilio Delgado, who played Luis on "Sesame Street" for 45 years, has died at age 81

Emilio Delgado, the actor and singer who for 45 years was a warm and familiar presence in children's lives and a rare Latino face on American television as fix-it shop owner Luis on "Sesame Street," died Thursday. He was 81.

His wife, Carol Delgado, told The Associated Press that he died from the blood cancer multiple myeloma at their home in New York. 

As Luis, Delgado, a Mexican American, got to play an ordinary, non-stereotypical Latino character at a time when such depictions were few and far between on TV, for adults or children.