Jim Henson: Life Story and Beautiful Photos of the most Talented Puppeteer

Muppet creator Jim Henson began creating characters in college, such as ‘Kermit the Frog’ as a puppeteer. In 1969, he became a producer on Sesame Street, a popular kids’ show. In 1976, he created ‘The Muppet Show.’ ‘The Muppet Movie was the first of many films featuring Henson’s characters. Henson was honored with Emmys, Grammys, and a Peabody Award for his work.

Henson began creating puppets in high school. As a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, he created ‘Sam and Friends (1955–1961)’, a short-form comedy television program, collaborating with Jane Nebel. The two later married. In addition to producing coffee advertisements and developing experimental films, he earned a degree in home economics from the University of Maryland. He co-founded Muppets, Inc. with Jane Henson in 1958, which later became The Jim Henson Company. He joined ‘Sesame Street (1969-present)’ in 1969, helping to develop Muppet characters for the children’s educational television series.

Additionally, he and his team appeared on the first season of the sketch comedy show ‘Saturday Night Live (1975–present)’. He produced ‘The Muppet Show (1976-81)’ during this time. His characters, including Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, and Ernie, made him famous. Jim Henson founded the Jim Henson Foundation and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in his later years

Henson died of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes in New York City on May 16, 1990. In 1991, he was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2011, he was named a Disney Legend.

Below are some fabulous photos of Jim Henson from his life and career.

#1 Jim Henson and Kermit The Frog give some of the Muppet Baby Plush dolls to two youngsters during a press interview on October 18th.

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#2 Jim Henson introduces two key Fraggle characters; Gobo (left) and Boober. New series will be made in Toronto with the CBC and aired in January, 1983.

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#3 Liza Minnelli Guest of The Muppet Show, 1979

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#4 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 13

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#5 Jim Henson with Frank Oz appearing in ‘The Muppet Show: Sex And Violence’, 1975

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#6 Diana, Princess of Wales,Royal Command Premiere of Labyrinth, London,With Ludo and Jim Henson, 1986

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#7 Jim Henson is joined by his creations, The Muppets, including Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Big Bird, when they review their extraordinary career in The Muppets

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#8 Jim Henson, creator of the merry and memorable Muppet puppets, poses with a few of his creations recently.

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#9 Muppet creator Jim Henson with his Muppets on set of “The Muppet” in 1980.

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#10 The creators of the Muppet Show, Jim Henson and Frank Oz, with the main characters Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

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#11 Muppets creator Jim Henson, (beard, background), manipulates one of his creations as it engages in conversation with singer Jimmy Dean in 1963.

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#12 The artists and crew behing the television program The Muppet Show, created and produced by Jim Henson (front, 3rd from L).

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#13 Jim Henson & Kermit the Frog perform on the TV show “Solid Gold” KTLA Studios, Los Angeles, California.

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#14 Portrait of American film & televison director and puppeteer Jim Henson (1936 – 1990) as he holds muppet Kermit the Frog, late 1970s or early 1980s.

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#15 American puppeteer Jim Henson (1936-1990) pictured with his creation, Kermit the Frog at the Pye TV Awards in London on 23rd May 1977.

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#16 Jim Henson is the creator and producer of the television program The Muppet Show, staring Kermit the Frog.

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#17 Jim Henson sitting in a theater chair in front of a painting of his creation, The Muppets.

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#18 Jim Henson with some of the Muppet cast from the children’s TV show ‘Fraggle Rock’, 1985.

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#19 Jim Henson Posing with His Creation Characters

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#20 Jim Henson with his best-known Muppet character, Kermit the Frog, January 1984.

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#21 Jim Henson Memorial sculpture at the University of Maryland…

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#22 Jim Henson with muppet characters from the ABC TV movie ‘The Christmas Toy’, directed by Eric Till, 1986.

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#23 Jim Henson on left, and Frank Oz (right) pictured together at a press launch for the film ‘The Dark Crystal’ in London on 16th February 1983.

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#24 The lady’s always in charge: Muppet creator Jim Henson visited with Miss Piggy at the Ontario scienc

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#25 Muppet master: Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppet gang have been packed away for now while Jim He

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#26 Liza Minnelli Guest Of The Muppet Show

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#27 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 13

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#28 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 13

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