Andrew Garfield had an emotional moment on ‘Sesame Street” while remembering his mother

Andrew Garfield, 41, brought a touching message of empathy and wisdom to Sesame Street, where he spoke about grief, loss, and love in an emotional segment that has since gone viral. The actor, best known for his roles in The Amazing Spider-Man and Tick, Tick… Boom!, joined Elmo in a heartfelt conversation about missing loved ones, touching on the pain and beauty of loss.

Andrew Garfield on his mother’s death:

The episode, which aired on October 18, featured Garfield reflecting on the death of his mother, Lynn, who passed away in 2019 from pancreatic cancer. In a moving exchange with the beloved red muppet, Garfield shared his personal thoughts on the complexities of grief.

“It’s actually kind of OK to miss somebody,” Garfield said gently when Elmo expressed feeling sad about missing someone. “That sadness is kind of a gift,” Garfield continued. “It means you really loved somebody when you miss them.”

The actor went on to explain how the memories of his mother bring him comfort. “When I miss my mom, I remember all of the cuddles and hugs I used to get from her,” he shared, his voice breaking with emotion. “It makes me feel close to her, in a strange way. … I can celebrate her and miss her at the same time.”

Garfield’s heartfelt message resonated with audiences of all ages, and clips of the moment quickly spread across social media, with many praising his candid approach to discussing grief, especially on a children’s show like Sesame Street. The actor’s vulnerability struck a chord, as viewers connected with his words about cherishing the love of those we’ve lost.

Garfield, who has spoken openly in the past about how his mother’s death deeply impacted him, seems to have channeled these emotions into his latest film, We Live in Time. In the drama, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 17, Garfield stars opposite Florence Pugh as the partner of an award-winning chef battling a serious illness. Although Pugh, 28, was unable to attend the premiere due to filming commitments in New Zealand, Garfield made headlines by walking the red carpet with a cardboard cutout of her.

With his powerful message on Sesame Street and his latest film project, Garfield continues to show the depth of his emotional range, offering a compassionate perspective on grief and healing.