Jim Henson

Directing · Born 1936-09-24 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA

Biography

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…

Filmography

  • The Muppet Movie as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice)
  • Muppets Most Wanted as Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)
  • Labyrinth as Goblins (uncredited)
  • The Dark Crystal as Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master
  • The King of Eight as The King of Eight
  • Into the Night as Man on Phone
  • Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! as Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)
  • The Muppets Take Manhattan as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice)
  • Of Muppets & Men as Self
  • A Sesame Street Christmas Carol as Ernie (voice) (archive footage)

TV

  • The Muppet Show as Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice)
  • Sesame Street
  • Fraggle Rock as Convincing John
  • Fraggle Rock as Gobo Fraggle, Convincing John, Cantus (voice)
  • Fraggle Rock as Cantus
  • Sam and Friends as Kermit the Frog
  • The Jim Henson Hour
  • Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
  • Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame
  • Reading Rainbow as Kermit the Frog