Jim Henson

**James "Jim" Maury Henson** (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was an American animator, artist and puppeteer. He was best known for his work with the Muppets, which he helped to create. His best known puppet is Kermit the Frog.

As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as _Sesame Street_ and _The Muppet Show._ He made movies, like _The Muppet Movie_ and _The Great Muppet Caper_.  He also made puppets for projects like _Fraggle Rock_, _The Dark Crystal_, and _Labyrinth_.

Henson died of organ failure caused by sepsis at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

## Legacy

The Jim Henson Company and the Jim Henson Foundation continued after his death, making new series and specials. Jim Henson's Creature Shop, founded by Henson, also continues to build creatures for a large number of other movies and series (e.g. the science-fiction production _Farscape_, the movie adaptation of _The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_, and the movie _MirrorMask_) and is said to be one of the most advanced and well respected creators of movie creatures.

His son Brian and daughter Lisa are the co-chairs and co-CEOs of the company. His daughter Cheryl is the president of the foundation. Steve Whitmire, a veteran member of the Muppet puppeteering crew, plays the roles of Kermit the Frog and Ernie, the most famous characters formerly played by Jim Henson.

One of Henson's last projects is a show attraction in Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It is called Muppet*Vision 3D. It opened in 1991, shortly after his death.

## Tributes

- Henson is honored both as himself and as Kermit the Frog on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Only two other people have received this honor: Mel Blanc as both himself and Bugs Bunny; and Walt Disney as both himself and Mickey Mouse.
- The theater at his alma mater, Northwestern High School, in Hyattsville, MD, is named in his honor.
- _Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze_ and _The Muppet Christmas Carol_ are both dedicated to him.
- Stephen Lynch made a song titled "Jim Henson's Dead". He talks about many of the characters from _The Muppet Show_ and _Sesame Street_.
- Henson is shown in _The American Adventure_ in Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort.
- Philip Roth often quotes Jim Henson in his Sabbath's Theater as the "great regret" for Mickey Sabbath.
- The Jim Henson Museum, in his hometown of Leland, Mississippi, has an assortment of original Muppet characters, official certificates from the Mississippi Legislature honoring Henson and his characters, and a statue of Kermit in the middle of the stream behind the museum.
- The 1990 television special _The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson_ let the Muppets themselves pay tribute to Henson. The special had interviews with Steven Spielberg and others.
- Celtic singer, musician, and songwriter Heather Alexander wrote a song titled "Storyteller" in 1990.  It is about his "Storyteller" series as well as his role as a modern storyteller.
- Tom Smith's Henson tribute song, "A Boy and His Frog", won the Pegasus Award for Best Filk Song in 1991.
- Henson was shown in Boyz II Men's 1991 video, "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".
- Episode 2880 of _Sesame Street_ (which aired on November 15, 1991) was dedicated in his memory, with a memorial card following the closing credits.
- University of Maryland, College Park has a life-size statue of Henson and Kermit the Frog.
- Kermit the Frog was named Grand Marshall of the 1996 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
- On the evening of October 25, 2000, Comedy Central had a banner sign that said: Jim Henson [1936–1990].
- In 2003, Jim Henson was honored at the yearly Norsk Høstfest in Minot, North Dakota.
- A 3D tribute to Henson called _Over Time_ was shown as part of the 2005 Electronic Theater at SIGGRAPH.
- On September 28, 2005, the U.S. Postal Service issued a sheet of commemorative stamps honoring Henson and the Muppets.
- The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, has more than 700 puppets made by Henson and his studio. Many of these are displayed in the museum exhibit _Jim Henson: Puppeteer_. In September 2008, the Center opened _Jim Henson: Wonders From His Workshop_, highlighting creations from _Fraggle Rock_, _Labyrinth_, and other later works.
- On September 24, 2011, Henson's hometown of Leland renamed one of their bridges "The Rainbow Connection" to honor Henson and his work.
- On his 75th birthday the Google doodle was six Muppets.

## Filmography

|Program|Character(s)|
| --- | --- |
|Sam and Friends|Sam, Harry the Hipster, Kermit, Omar, Professor Madcliffe, Pierre the French Rat, Yorick, others|
|Sesame Street|Ernie, Kermit, Guy Smiley, Anything Muppets, an apple from "Bilingual Fruit Song", As I Was Going to St. Ives boy, Baby Monster, Bad Bart, Barry Rhymie, Beautiful Day Monster, Beginning, Ben, Big Jeffy, Billy Monster, Bip Bippadotta, Captain Vegetable, Charlie, Dan, Father, Fenwick, Flakey, The Geefle, The Genie, George Washington, Grandmother Happy, Granny Fanny Nesselrode, Harold Happy, Harvey Monster, Henry, Herman the Hoppity-Hop, Hippie, J Friend Singer, The King, King Gerry the Generous, King Peter the Persnickety, Lance, Lavender "Fat Cat" performer, Librarian, Little Chrissy, Lost & Found Clerk, Marvin, Maurice, Maurice, Maurice Monster, Mr. Essex, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Nose, Old King Cole's Band Fat Blue fiddler & Pumpkin bass player, Pat Playjacks, Pokey, Salvador Dada, Sam, Sammy the Snake, Scudge (1969), Sherlock Hemlock, Showered Rosell, Sinister Sam, Sneaky, Spaceship Surprise Captain, Stan, Thomas Twiddlebug, Three Little Pigs, Tony, Warren Wolf, Witch, Yellow Submarine Fat Blue train engineer, Yip Yip Martians, Zizzy Zoomer|
|The Muppet Valetine Show|Wally, Kermit, Rowlf, Ernie|
|The Muppet Show: Sex & Violence|George Washington, Hudson, The Swedish Chef, Waldorf, Dr. Teeth, Kermit|
|The Muppet Show|Kermit, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, The Newsman, Link Hogthrob, Mahna Mahna, Crazy Harry, Shakey Sanchez, Balloon-Head Conductor, Beautiful Day Monster, Beaver, Black Rooster, Bobo the Bear, Brown Bear, Butch, Dancers, Doglion, The Eel, Flower-Eating Monster, Frog, Fuzz Brother, a Gills Brother, Green Heap, Green Frackle, Hillbilly Singer, Jim, Kermit the Protozoa, Lenny the Lizard, Lefty, a Muppaphone, The Newspig, Penguins, Pigs, Prairie Dogs, Robot Kermit, Rover Joe, The Scientist, Silver Beak, Slim Wilson, Wally, Wally Whoopie, Whatnots, Zeke|
|Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas|Kermit, Harrison Fox, Harvey Beaver, Howard Snake|
|Christmas Eve on Sesame Street|Kermit, Ernie|
|The Muppet Movie|Kermit, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef|
|The Great Muppet Caper|Kermit, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, The Newsman|
|The Muppets Take Manhattan|Kermit, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, The Newsman, Ernie, Baby Kermit, Baby Rowlf, Penguins|
|Follow That Bird|Kermit, Ernie|
|The Christmas Toy|Jack-in-the-Box, Kermit|
|A Muppet Family Christmas|Kermit, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, The Newsman, Guy Smiley, & a penguin|
|The Jim Henson Hour|Kermit, Dr. Teeth, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Timecaster, Teddy Bear, Garbage Bags, Timrek the Gorf, Screaming No-Nos|
|Sesame Street... 20 Years & Still Counting|Ernie, Kermit|
|The Muppets at Walt Disney World|Kermit, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, Link Hogthrob|
|Sing Yourself Silly!|Ernie, Kermit, lead singer of one Banana|

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Jim Henson
- **image**: Jim Henson (1989) headshot.jpg
- **caption**: Henson at the 1989 Emmy Awards
- **alt**: Henson dressed in a suit
- **birth name**: James Maury Henson
- **birth place**: Greenville, Mississippi, United States, U.S.
- **death place**: Manhattan, New York (state), New York, U.S.
- **death cause**: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, Multiple organ failure complicated by sepsis and pneumonia
- **nationality**: Americans, American
- **education**: Northwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland), Northwestern High School
- **alma mater**: University of Maryland, College Park
- **boards**: Jim Henson Foundation
The Jim Henson Company
Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- **known for**: Creator of _The Muppets_
- **occupation**: Animator, artist, puppeteer
- **years active**: 1954-1990
- **spouse**: Jane Henson, Jane Nebel
(1954–1964; separated)
- **children**: 3; including John Henson
- **parents**: Paul Ransom Henson
Betty Marcella (née Brown)
- **awards**: Courage Conscience Award
Emmy Award
Disney Legend Award