
Jim Henson
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James Maury Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was an American puppeteer, actor, animator, creative producer, and director who achieved worldwide notability as the creator of the Muppets. Henson was also well known for creating Fraggle Rock (1983–1987) and as the director of The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986), as well as creating the puppets for Sesame Street (1969). Born in Greenville, Mississippi, and raised in both Leland, Mississippi, and University Park, Maryland, Henson began developing puppets in high school. He created Sam and Friends (1955–1961), a short-form comedy television program on WRC-TV, while he was a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, in collaboration with fellow student Jane Nebel. Henson and Nebel co-founded Muppets, Inc. – now The Jim Henson Company – in 1958, and married less than a year later in 1959. Henson graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in home economics. In 1969, Henson joined the children's television program Sesame Street (1969–present) where he helped to develop Muppet characters for the series. He and his creative team also appeared on the first season of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (1975–present). He produced the sketch comedy television series The Muppet Show (1976–1981) during this period. Henson revolutionized the way puppetry is captured and presented in video media, and he won fame for his characters – particularly Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, and the characters on Sesame Street. During the later years of his life, he founded the Jim Henson Foundation and Jim Henson's Creature Shop. He won the Emmy Award twice for his involvement in The Storyteller (1987–1988) and The Jim Henson Hour (1989). Henson died in New York City from toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. At the time of his death, he was in negotiations to sell his company to The Walt Disney Company, but talks fell through after his death. He was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991, and was named a Disney Legend in 2011. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jim Henson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Credits

Labyrinth (1986)
as Goblins (uncredited)

The Muppets (2011)
as Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited)

The Dark Crystal (1982)
as Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master

Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
as Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)

The Muppet Movie (1979)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice)

Into the Night (1985)
as Man on Phone

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man in Dubonnet Club

Jim Henson Idea Man (2024)
as Self (archive footage)

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice)

Dog City (1989)
as Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice)

The World of Jim Henson (1994)
as Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)

The Earth Day Special (1990)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

The Muppet Introduction (1975)
as Kermit the Frog

Visual Thinking (1961)
as Kermit / Harry the Hipster (voice)

Pure Goldie (1971)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

Muppet Treasures (1985)
as Kermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman

Follow That Bird (1985)
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self

The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979)
as Various Muppets

Night of 100 Stars II (1985)
as Kermit the Frog

Down at Fraggle Rock (1987)
as Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host

Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party (—)
as Ernie / Himself

Wow, You're A Cartoonist! (1988)
as Kermit The Frog
The Royal Variety Performance 1977 (1977)
Actor

The Muppet Musicians of Bremen (1972)
as Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice)

Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff (1985)
as Kermit the Frog

Out to Lunch (1974)
as Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)

The Cube (1969)
as Gorilla (voice)

Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983)
as Self

The Orson Welles Show (1979)
as Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)

Hip Hip Parade! (1978)
as Kermit the Frog

Mickey's 50 (1978)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

Inside the Labyrinth (1986)
as Self

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986)
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Mahna Mahna / Harry the Hipster / Self

Joan Rivers at the BBC (2024)
as Self (archive footage)

Julie: My Favourite Things (1975)
as Kermit the Frog/Dr. Teeth

Tales of the Tinkerdee (1962)
as Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice)

I Love Liberty (1982)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

The Christmas Toy (1986)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

Muppet Picker Upper (1975)
as Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice)

Orson Welles: The One-Man Band (1995)
Actor
Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun! (1976)
as Kermit the Frog

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990)
as Self / Various Muppets (archive footage)

Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration! (1993)
as Ernie

The Muppets at Walt Disney World (1990)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice)

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
as Kermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice)

Sesame Street: Learning About Letters (1986)
as Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)
Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets (1985)
as Rowlf (voice)
Keep U.S. Beautiful (1973)
as Muppets

Julie on Sesame Street (1973)
as Ernie/ Kermit the Frog (voice)

Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives? (1975)
as Self

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show (1982)
as Kermit The Frog (voice)

Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! (1990)
as Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)

Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince (1971)
as Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice)

The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (1986)
as Dog (voice)

The Muppet Script (2025)
as Self (archive footage)

The Muppets Go to the Movies (1981)
as Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf

Big Bird in China (1983)
as Ernie (voice)

Muppet Side Splitter (1981)
as Leo (voice)

Sesame Street: Quiet Time (1997)
as Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)

Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration (1993)
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice)

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021)
as Self (archive footage)

An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz (1989)
as Self

Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets (1983)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice)

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2015)
as Self

Free to Be... a Family (1988)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (1994)
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)

In Their Own Words: Jim Henson (2015)
as Self (archive footage)

The Muppet Revue (1985)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers (1986)
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)
Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments (2004)
Actor

Getting Ready to Read (1992)
as Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)
Muppet Music Moments (2004)
as Self

Sesame Street: Monster Hits! (1990)
as Harvey Monster (voice)

Hey Cinderella! (1969)
as Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice)
Muppet Gimme a Break (1979)
as Leo / Pasta in "Meal Break"

Miss Piggy's Hollywood (1989)
as Waldorf

Sesame Street Pitch Reel (1969)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook

Limbo: The Organized Mind (1966)
as Limbo (voice)

Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites (2004)
as Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage)

The World of 'The Dark Crystal' (1983)
as Self
Let's Have the Dam Break (1979)
as Leo
Just a Few Announcements (1975)
as Kermit the Frog

The Muppets on Puppets (1970)
as Self / Rowlf the Dog

Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal' (2007)
as Self
Muppet Breakthrough (1983)
as Leo

The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3 (2001)
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob

This Way to Sesame Street (1969)
as Ernie/Kermit
Grump Critic (1979)
as Leo

The Reindeer (1965)
as Dasher / Prancer (voice)

A Sesame Street Christmas Carol (2006)
as Ernie (voice) (archive footage)

Sesame Street: Imagine That! (1996)
as Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
Muppet Breaker Upper (1979)
as Leo
Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland (2009)
Actor

The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970)
as Fred / Lothar (voice)

Sesame Street: Sing Along (1987)
Actor
Meal Break (1979)
as Leo / Spaghetti

The Best of Ernie and Bert (1988)
as Ernie

The Very Best of the Muppet Show (1999)
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef

Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!' (2003)
as Muppet Performer

Of Muppets & Men (1981)
as Self

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice)

Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie (1988)
as Kermit the Frog/Ernie (voice)

Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet (1996)
as Ernie (voice)

Time Piece (1965)
as Man

Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music (1990)
as Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)

Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring (1978)
as Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth

50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration (1989)
as Kermit the Frog

Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On! (2004)
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Mah Na Mah Na / Fat Blue / The Baker / King of 8 (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Muppet History 101 (2004)
Actor

The Bells of Fraggle Rock (1984)
as Cantus the Minstrel (voice)

Alexander the Grape (1965)
as Freddy the Fierce (voice)

Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO! (1997)
as Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special (1977)
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies (2004)
as Kermit the Frog

Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play (2002)
as Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)

Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets (1985)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2 (1999)
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef

Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories (1986)
as Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)

Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets (1984)
as Jim Henson (self)

Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along (1988)
as Rowlf the Dog (voice)
The Vent Event (1978)
as Kermit the Frog

The Paperwork Explosion (1967)
Actor

Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear (1988)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

Rowlf the Salesman (1966)
as Rowlf the Dog

Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story (1985)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)

A Walking Tour of Sesame Street (1979)
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)

Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting (2019)
as Ernie

The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street (1998)
as Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)

The King of Eight (1971)
as The King of Eight
Muppet Studios Presents: You're the Director (1988)
as Kermit the Frog / Swedish Chef / Rowlf the Dog / Link Hogthrob (voice)
The Muppet Show Pitch Reel (1976)
as Leo / Kermit the Frog (voice)

Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1983)
as Ernie (voice)

The Wizard of Id (1969)
as The Wizard / The Spook (voice)
Jim Henson: Behind the Seams (2014)
Actor

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)

I'm Nobody (1966)
as Limbo (voice)

Sam the Snake (1969)
as Sam the Snake
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story (2009)
Actor
Jim Henson: In Performance (1990)
Actor

A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show (1992)
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
Muppet Coffee Break (1987)
as Leo (voice)
Muppet Breakaway (1987)
as Leo (voice)

The Idea Man (1966)
as Limbo





