Jim Henson

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Jim Henson

The renowned creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson, is receiving renewed recognition in the new documentary Jim Henson: Idea Man, now available for streaming on Disney+. Although Henson passed away in 1990 at the age of 53, he remains one of the most celebrated American television puppeteers. This documentary delves into his personal life and groundbreaking innovations in puppetry.

Director Ron Howard reflected on Henson’s potential influence on modern technology, stating, “It’s a shame that we lost him when we did because what he’d be doing with tech today would be very exciting, and he probably would’ve pushed that medium along in a way that we would recognize.” The documentary had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month.

Who Was Jim Henson?

Jim Henson, a visionary puppeteer, was the creative force behind the beloved Muppets. He began developing his iconic characters, including Kermit the Frog, during his college years while working in television. The Muppets gained widespread acclaim as stars on the educational children’s show Sesame Street, which debuted in 1969. Henson provided the voices and operated characters like Ernie and Kermit. In 1976, he launched The Muppet Show, which catered to audiences of all ages and led to several successful films, including the critically acclaimed The Muppet Movie, released in 1979 and directed by Henson himself. His contributions to the arts earned him numerous accolades, including Emmy, Grammy, and Peabody Awards. Henson’s life was tragically cut short by pneumonia in May 1990.

Early Years

Born James Maury Henson on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi, he spent his formative years in nearby Leland before relocating with his family to Hyattsville, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Encouraged by his artistic maternal grandmother, who was a painter and needleworker, Henson developed an early passion for the arts, particularly puppetry. By his early teenage years, he was performing for audiences, including his fellow Cub Scouts.

Henson was also captivated by various visual mediums, with television being a significant influence. Prominent TV puppeteers such as Burr Tillstrom, known for Kukla, Fran and Ollie, and Bil and Cora Baird from Life with Snarky Parker inspired Henson’s creative journey. At Northwestern High School, he joined a puppet club, and in 1954, he began his televised puppetry career on a local Saturday morning program in Washington.

Creating the Muppets

While studying at the University of Maryland in 1955, Henson developed a five-minute recurring segment titled Sam and Friends on a local NBC affiliate. He collaborated with fellow student Jane Nebel, where early versions of the Muppets, including Kermit the Frog, made their debut. Henson coined the term “Muppets” to describe these characters, which blended elements of marionettes and hand puppets. Sam and Friends won a local Emmy Award in 1958.

That same year, Henson and Nebel founded Muppet Inc., now known as The Jim Henson Company. As the Muppets’ popularity grew, the company became a platform for Henson’s expanding creative endeavors. The Muppets began making appearances in commercials, including a notable ad for Wilkins Coffee.

Among Henson’s early characters was Wheel Stealer, who comically snatched snacks from families in food commercials and later bit into an IBM computer in a television ad. This character can be seen as a precursor to the beloved Cookie Monster. The first Muppet to achieve national fame was Rowlf the Dog, who transitioned from Purina commercials to becoming a sidekick on The Jimmy Dean Show in 1963, brought to life with the help of puppet builder Don Sahlin and puppeteer Frank Oz. Members of Henson’s expanding team also made appearances on shows like The Today Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, while Henson began to experiment with directing short films, including the Academy Award-nominated Time Piece in 1965.

Sesame Street

In 1969, Jim Henson collaborated with the Children’s Television Workshop to create the iconic PBS children’s series, Sesame Street. The brainchild of television producer Joan Ganz Cooney, the program aimed to entertain and educate preschool-aged children, particularly those from low-income urban households. As the show’s theme song notes, Henson brought joy and learning to the screen through a host of original characters, including Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Snuffleupagus, and Elmo. Henson’s unique blend of puppetry and animated shorts made learning engaging and enjoyable for young audiences.

Among the characters Henson voiced and operated, Ernie became particularly famous, earning him his first Grammy nomination for the beloved song “Rubber Duckie.” Henson also famously brought Kermit the Frog to life, describing him as “a little snarkier” than himself, embodying a slightly wiser alter ego that expressed thoughts Henson often held back. Millions of children tuned in daily to watch Sesame Street, which not only introduced fundamental concepts such as the alphabet and numbers but also embraced diversity and explored complex social dynamics.

The Muppet Show

Henson’s most significant television achievement came in the 1970s with the debut of The Muppet Show. Despite initial challenges securing funding for a series aimed at both adults and children in the United States, Henson found a supportive partner in London-based TV producer Lord Lew Grade. In 1975, Henson and his team created beloved characters such as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Gonzo, and Scooter at Grade’s ATV Studios. Premiering in 1976, the show featured Kermit the Frog as the host and welcomed a plethora of superstar guest stars, including Liza Minnelli, Elton John, Vincent Price, Rita Moreno, and Steve Martin. The series captivated an audience of 235 million viewers across more than 100 countries, earning four Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series in 1978. Henson also received his first Grammy Award that year for the soundtrack, which captured the Best Children’s Recording trophy. Though the show concluded in 1981, it inspired an animated spinoff, Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies, which garnered four consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program.

Henson’s television puppetry extended beyond his original Muppets. In the 1980s, he developed several television shows, including Fraggle Rock, The Jim Henson Hour, and Jim Henson’s The Storyteller. Both The Jim Henson Hour and The Storyteller earned Henson additional Emmy Awards, bringing his total to three. In 1987, his remarkable contributions to television earned him a place in the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Movies

The Muppet Show also paved the way for a series of feature films. The first, The Muppet Movie, was released in 1979, followed by Henson’s directorial debut with The Great Muppet Caper in 1981. In 1984, The Muppets Take Manhattan premiered. Since Henson’s passing, his beloved characters have continued to feature in films, including the 2011 revival, The Muppets, starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams, and its 2014 sequel, Muppets Most Wanted, featuring Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey.

In addition to his work with the Muppets, Henson directed notable films such as The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986), the latter produced by George Lucas and featuring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. The Dark Crystal was particularly groundbreaking for its innovative blend of puppetry and animatronics. Henson also created the animatronic costumes for the 1990 live-action film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Personal Life

Jim Henson was married to Jane Henson for 31 years, although the couple separated toward the end of his life. They met as students at the University of Maryland, where Jane, then Jane Nebel, assisted Jim with his first television program, Sam and Friends, in 1955. They co-founded The Jim Henson Company, continuing to work together for many years.

The couple married in May 1959 and had five children: Lisa, Cheryl, Brian, John, and Heather. Their marriage faced challenges, leading to their separation in 1986; however, they never divorced. After Henson’s death, Jane played a vital role in preserving his legacy by establishing the Jim Henson Legacy in 1992, dedicated to honoring her late husband’s contributions to the world of entertainment. She also helped run The Jim Henson Foundation, which Jim had founded in 1982 to support American puppet theater. Jane Henson passed away in April 2013.

All five of Jim and Jane’s children have been involved in the family business. Lisa currently serves as CEO of The Jim Henson Company, while Brian, Cheryl, and Heather are members of its board of directors. John was also a board member until his death in 2014. Like their father, Brian, John, and Heather pursued careers as puppeteers, while Lisa and Brian have continued the family tradition by creating television shows and movies primarily as producers and directors. Cheryl serves as the president of The Jim Henson Foundation.

Death

Henson’s final project was MuppetVision 3D, a multimedia attraction installed at Disney theme parks in California and Florida. Though it was not intended to be his farewell project, on May 16, 1990, Henson died unexpectedly from complications related to streptococcus pneumonia at a New York City hospital at the age of 53.

His funeral was a poignant yet celebratory occasion, featuring a musical puppet performance. Big Bird honored Henson by singing “It’s Not Easy Being Green” and expressing gratitude to Kermit the Frog, often regarded as Henson’s Muppet alter ego.

In a heartfelt tribute shortly after Henson’s passing, young Robin the Frog, Kermit’s nephew, poignantly stated, “This Jim Henson may be gone, but maybe he’s still here too, inside us, believing in us.” Henson’s remarkable legacy continues to inspire and entertain, reminding us of the profound impact of creativity and imagination.