Jerry Nelson Jerry Nelson ( July 10 , 1934 - August 23 , 2012 ) started his puppeteering career working for Bil Baird . Throughout the ' 60s , he worked on - and - off with Jim Henson . In 1970 , he joined the company and began working regularly on " Sesame Street " . Since then , Nelson has performed as a principal puppeteer in numerous Muppet productions including the Muppet movies , " The Muppet Show " , " Fraggle Rock " , and various TV specials . In 2004 , Nelson announced he would be moving away from performing his classic Muppet characters , citing health reasons . However , he continued to voice his characters on " Sesame Street " . In 2005 , he was one of the narrators on the audiobook version of " It ' s Not Easy Bein ' Green " , displaying his vocal versatility by reciting most of the quotes from Muppet characters , including Dr . Teeth and the Doozers . In late 2009 , Nelson released his album " Truro Daydreams " . Early Works with Henson . Jerry Nelson first worked with Jim Henson in 1965 when Frank Oz got drafted and Henson needed somebody to perform the right hand of Rowlf on " The Jimmy Dean Show " . However , Frank Oz failed his draft physical , but since Nelson had just gotten his job , Oz chose to take some time off from performing and thereby allow Nelson to stay on with the Muppets . One of Nelson ' s first major roles was Featherstone in " Hey , Cinderella ! " and " The Frog Prince " . Throughout the early 1970s , Nelson also performed a full - body monster named Thog , who appeared in " The Great Santa Claus Switch " and various variety show appearances . In " The Frog Prince " , he performed Kermit the Frog ' s nephew Robin for the first time ; however , in that appearance , although Robin ' s voice and personality were the same , the character was actually a prince who was turned into a frog . Nelson also performed T . R . and Caleb Siles in " The Muppet Musicians of Bremen " , Scred on " Saturday Night Live " , and Emmet Otter in " Emmet Otter ' s Jug - Band Christmas " . Sesame Street . Jerry Nelson became part of " Sesame Street " during the second season . In this season alone he was given a variety of new characters , including Herbert Birdsfoot , Sherlock Hemlock , Herry Monster , the Amazing Mumford , Little Jerry , Simon Soundman , and Farley . In 1972 , he created the role of Count von Count , who is perhaps his best - known character . Another well - known character who Nelson performed was Big Bird ' s best friend , Mr . Snuffleupagus . However , most sources ( including " Sesame Street Unpaved " and " " ) state that physical strain placed on him by the large puppet eventually hurt his back so much that he had to stop performing the character ( although he continued to supply the voice only for a time ) . In a 2009 interview , Jerry Nelson gave a different explanation for giving up the role : " I was not loath to give that character up . But the reasons for giving it up were because at that time we were doing " The Muppet Show " and he was a real part of the show , and they needed his presence . So they asked if I ’ d mind giving it up . " Other notable characters in Nelson ' s repertoire included Mr . Johnson , Frazzle , Sam the Robot , and Fred the Wonder Horse . He also did announcer voices very often , including the announcers for the Sesame Street News Flash and Super Grover openings . Nelson was often paired with performer Richard Hunt . While goofing around on the set one day , they acted like a two - headed monster , and inspired by this , a Two - Headed Monster character was created for them . Jerry Nelson performed the left half of the monster , and because of this , had to perform the character ' s head with his left hand . ( Most performers use their right hands to perform the heads of their characters . ) Nelson and Hunt also performed a duo known as Biff and Sully . They would also alternate in performing the character Rodeo Rosie . The Muppet Show . Jerry Nelson performed in both of the " Muppet Show " pilots . In " The Muppets Valentine Show " , he returned to the role of Thog , and also performed Droop and Miss Mousey . In " " , he performed Electric Mayhem bass player Floyd Pepper for the first time . In that special he also performed Statler , Dr . Nauga , Gluttony , Envy , Sloth , the Yellow Stalk , Whaddayasay Bird and the Gene Shalit Muppet . When production began on " The Muppet Show " as a series , Nelson chose to spend some time with his daughter and therefore couldn ' t perform in every first - season episode . Because of this , he had to give up the role of Statler , but for the most part he retained his other characters ( Floyd Pepper , Robin , Droop , etc . ) from previous productions . Nelson did not perform in episodes - and - . However , when the first two episodes were reworked later in the first season , Nelson performed Floyd in a segment that was added to . None of Nelson ' s characters were as central to the show as characters like Kermit , Miss Piggy , and Scooter , and therefore Nelson often played major one - shot backstage characters , such as Irving Bizarre , Big Tiny Tallsaddle , and Angus McGonagle . His notable recurring characters included Camilla the Chicken , Pops , Louis Kazagger , and Dr . Julius Strangepork . One such character , Lew Zealand , was originally intended as a one - shot , but soon became a recurring character . Beginning in the second season , Nelson took over two of John Lovelady ' s roles : Crazy Harry and the Announcer . Nelson went on to perform nearly every Muppet announcer in a major Henson production until 2002 . Nelson was also given such rarely - seen recurring characters as J . P . Grosse , Fleet Scribbler , and Uncle Deadly . In addition to his versatility at character dialects , Nelson was an accomplished vocalist , and often received showcases on " The Muppet Show " . Some of his regular characters , such as Floyd Pepper and Slim Wilson , were musicians and sang often . Many of his other characters have displayed their musical talents , whether it was Robin singing " Halfway Down the Stairs " or " I ' m Five , " Thog singing " Oh Babe What Would You Say , " or Pops singing " Once in Love With Amy . " Nelson has also performed many songs as one - shot characters , including " All of Me , " " The Windmills of Your Mind , " and " Three Little Fishies . " In addition to frequent pairings with Richard Hunt characters , Nelson was also often paired with Louise Gold in musical numbers , such as " Henrietta ' s Wedding " and " Your Feet ' s Too Big . " On his characters , Jerry Nelson was quoted in a 1978 " Muppet Show Fan Club " newsletter : Nelson continued to speak fondly of his performance opportunities in later years : 1980s . On " Fraggle Rock " , Jerry Nelson performed the show ' s lead character , Gobo Fraggle . He also performed Marjory the Trash Heap and Pa Gorg . Jerry Nelson was one of the few Muppet performers to perform voices in " The Dark Crystal " , performing the voices of the Dying Skeskis Emperor and the Skeksis High Priest . In " The Christmas Toy " , he performed Balthazar , who he would regularly perform on " The Secret Life of Toys " . He also wrote songs for the series . He also performed many characters on " The Jim Henson Hour " , though his only recurring character on that show was Beard . 1990s . Following Richard Hunt ' s death in 1992 , Nelson once again performed the role of Statler , who he had originally performed . He also performed The Ghost of Christmas Present in " The Muppet Christmas Carol " , as well as Mad Monty and Blind Pew in " Muppet Treasure Island " . He performed many minor characters on " Muppets Tonight " , and occasionally performed on " The Wubbulous World of Dr . Seuss " . He performed Ubergonzo in " Muppets from Space " , and performed the Grouch Mayor in " The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland " . 2000s . Beginning around 2001 , Jerry Nelson began to phase out performing his primary " Muppet Show " family characters . Many of his characters drifted to silent background roles and several were recast ( Statler given to Steve Whitmire starting with 2002 ' s " Keep Fishin ' " music video ; Floyd to John Kennedy and then Matt Vogel , and Nelson ' s half of the Two - Headed Monster on " Sesame Street " to Joey Mazzarino in 2001 ) . For the 2002 TV movie " It ' s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie " , Bill Barretta replaced him as Lew Zealand , but Nelson looped the voices of Robin , Floyd , Statler , Pops , Maxine , the announcer , and a rat . Nelson also continued to provide the voices of his " Sesame Street " characters , including Count von Count , and the Amazing Mumford , while Matt Vogel normally performed the puppetry . By 2008 , Vogel had assumed most of Nelson ' s " Muppet Show " roles as well . It was long rumored that health issues were beginning to limit Nelson ' s involvement in projects as the aging puppeteer continued to stay active in the ranks of the Muppeteers . Beginning around 2001 , complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and prostate cancer limited Nelson ' s involvement with the high - demanding Muppet projects . Nelson openly stated in August 2006 that " It is long and boring but I have had health issues for a couple of years now . Different ones . . . I do intend to work with my old friend Count Von Count again this next season . " Nelson also participated in exclusive DVD interviews for the first two seasons of " Fraggle Rock " and " Emmet Otter ' s Jug - Band Christmas " . 2010s . Although he was uncredited , Nelson reprised his role as announcer during The Muppet Telethon in 2011 ' s " The Muppets " . Audio clips of his original introductions to Veterinarian ' s Hospital and Pigs in Space are also heard in the film , when Kermit first walks into The Muppet Theatre . He also served as announcer for Jim Henson ' s Musical World . Jerry Nelson died on August 23 , 2012 after years of health issues complicated by COPD . His later work for " Sesame Street " continued to air into Season 44 . Nelson ' s final performances as the Count include the song " Five By " and the street stories of episodes 4401 and 4411 . He also voiced the Count for " Kinect Sesame Street TV " and the Universal Studios Singapore attraction " Spaghetti Space Chase " ( as well as the SSNN announcer in the pre - show ) . Other posthumous performances include The Coffee Plant sketch as Mr . Johnson and a Word of the Day segment as Humpty Dumpty . Nelson ' s introductory voice - over from " The Muppets " was re - used in " Muppets Most Wanted " . The film was dedicated to him and Jane Henson . Nelson appeared posthumously in the documentary " Muppet Guys Talking " . External links . _ _ NOWYSIWYG _ _