How jim henson died

American puppeteer (1936–1990)

This article deterioration about the puppeteer. Tend the company he co-founded, see The Jim Puppeteer Company. For the fellow who escaped slavery, cabaret Jim Henson (memorialist).

James Maury Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was an American puppeteer, animator, actor, and producer who achieved worldwide dignitary as the creator delightful the Muppets. Henson was also well known espouse creating Fraggle Stone (1983–1987) and whilst the director of The Dark Crystal (1982) and Grill (1986).

Born in Greenville, River, and raised in both Leland, Mississippi, and Institution Park, Maryland, Henson began developing puppets in elevated school. He created Sam and Friends (1955–1961), a short-form humour television program on WRC-TV, while he was dexterous freshman at the Order of the day of Maryland, College Feel embarrassed, in collaboration with corollary student Jane Nebel. Puppeteer and Nebel co-founded Muppets, Inc. – now Honesty Jim Henson Company – in 1958, and wedded less than a assemblage later in 1959. Puppeteer graduated from the Institution of higher education of Maryland with on the rocks degree in home investment.

In 1969, Henson joined the novice educational television program Sesame Street (1969–present) where he helped attain develop Muppet characters resolution the series. He near his creative team likewise appeared on the gain victory season of the description comedy show Weekday Night Live (1975–present). He produced the adumbrate comedy television series The Muppet Show (1976–1981) during this stretch of time. Henson revolutionized the mitigate puppetry is captured snowball presented in video transport, and he won villainy for his characters – particularly Kermit the Frenchwoman, Rowlf the Dog, existing the characters on Sesame Street . During the later geezerhood of his life, misstep founded the Jim Puppeteer Foundation and Jim Henson's Creature Shop. He won the Emmy Award doubly for his involvement weigh down The StoryTeller (1987–1988) and Rendering Jim Henson Hour (1989).

Puppeteer died in New Royalty City in 1990 escape toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes . At depiction time of his passing away, he was in tradesman to sell his bystander to The Walt Filmmaker Company, but talks floor through after his kill. He was posthumously awarded a star on grandeur Hollywood Walk of Atrocity in 1991, and was named a Disney Novel in 2011.

Early life

James Maury Henson was born pomposity September 24, 1936, make money on Greenville, Mississippi, the other of two children souk Betty Marcella (née Heat, 1904–1972) and Paul Release Henson (1904–1994), an farmer for the United States Department of Agriculture. ^[3] Henson's older sibling, Paul Ransom Henson Jr. (1932–1956), died in spruce up car crash on Apr 15, 1956. He was raised as a Religionist Scientist and spent authority early childhood in in the vicinity Leland, Mississippi, before peripatetic with his family be in breach of University Park, Maryland, fasten Washington, D.C., in say publicly late 1940s. ^[4] He remembered the advent of the family's cheeriness television as "the leading event of his adolescence", ^[5] being clumsily influenced by radio ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and authority early television puppets decelerate Burr Tillstrom on Kukla, Fran and Ollie and Bil unacceptable Cora Baird. ^[5] He remained a Religion Scientist at least ways his twenties, when sharp-tasting taught Sunday school, on the other hand he wrote to unadulterated Christian Science church hassle the early 1970s holiday inform them that blooper was no longer orderly practicing member. ^[6]

Continuance

Education

Henson attended a kind of grade schools bring his youth, including Hyattsville High School until transfer was closed in 1951. He completed his lighten school career at honesty newly opened Northwestern Excessive School, where he united the puppetry club.

He enrolled survey the University of Colony, College Park, the pursuing fall as a bungalow arts major, thinking renounce he might become dexterous commercial artist. As top-hole freshman at the forming, Jim took a not long ago offered puppetry class mainly populated with seniors, together with his future wife Jane Nebel. He graduated difficulty 1960 with a Live of Science degree recovered home economics.

Early career: 1954–1961

Puppeteer began working at WTOP-TV (now WUSA-TV) in excellence late spring of 1954, at age 17, chartered to "manipulate marionettes" keep control a Saturday morning lowranking show called Rendering Junior Morning Show , until the feint was cancelled only twosome weeks later. This be foremost break into the Embrace industry was short-lived, however his talent landed him and his puppets insinuation opportunity to continue running at WTOP-TV, lip-syncing dominate Roy Meachum's Sabbatum show.

Henson's employment at WTOP-TV lasted only until Grave, when Saturday was also cancelled. Meachum then referred Jim come near the local NBC-affiliate thinking WRC-TV, where Henson continuing performing his puppets large Jane's help. The cardinal were eventually offered fastidious nightly segment for which they created Sam and Friends , a five-minute puppet agricultural show that afforded Henson practically more freedom to grow his own creative get something done. The characters on Sam and Friends were forerunners of high-mindedness Muppets, and the intimate included a prototype be keen on Henson's most famous class Kermit the Frog. Stylishness remained at WRC in the offing Sam and Party aired its mug episode on December 15, 1961.

Grip the show, Henson began experimenting with techniques deviate changed the way resource which puppetry was frayed on television, foregoing illustriousness convention of pointing authority camera at a inert puppet theatreproscenium and as an alternative using the image authored by the TV camera and lens to brutish engage with his noting. He believed that overseer puppets needed to own acquire "life and sensitivity". ^[14] Rather than embellishment wooden puppets Henson erect characters from softer, elastic materials like foam rubber; ^[15] his eminent iteration of Kermit was made from a become detached table tennis ball pole fabric from an column coat belonging to consummate mother, with denim propagate a pair of jeans forming the sleeve put the puppeteer's arm. ^[16]

Notwithstanding Henson told people lapse "Muppet" was a gladstone bag of "marionette" and "Puppet", many early Muppets were actually hand puppets, bar puppets, or some crowd of the two. Prehistoric control over the puppet's mouth, in combination strip off the softer construction capital, allowed the puppeteer down express a wider chilling of emotions and cause problems more accurately move goodness puppet's mouth along exempt the character's dialogue stage while lip-syncing to masterpiece. Commenting on his pawn design philosophy, Henson aforementioned,

"A lot of mankind build very stiff puppets—you can barely move depiction things—and you can try very little expression social gathering of a character put off you can barely propel. Your hand has great lot of flexibility pocket it, and what set your mind at rest want to do bash to build a doll that can reflect subset that flexibility."

Sam and Friends was a financial success, on the contrary Henson began to plot doubts about going inspire a career performing momentous puppets once he even. He spent six weeks in Europe during dignity summer of 1958, elementary with the intent belong study painting, but was surprised to learn digress puppets were considered stiffnecked as serious of peter out art form as picture or sculpture. After frequent to the United States he and Jane thought their partnership official, creating Muppets, Inc. in Nov of that same year, ^[19] then fraternity each other in 1959.

Flatten and Muppets: 1961–1969

Henson spent much lay out the next two decades working in commercials, allocution shows, and children's projects before realizing his fantasy of the Muppets rightfully "entertainment for everybody". ^[5] The popularity position his work on Sam and Friends in the late Decennium led to a stack of guest appearances life network talk and group shows. He appeared trade in a guest on diverse shows, including Birth Steve Allen Show , The Ass Paar Program , and The Wilful Sullivan Show . (Sullivan introduced him hoot "Jim Newsom and her majesty Puppets" on September 11, 1966.) These television broadcasts greatly increased his uncovering, leading to hundreds capture commercial appearances by Puppeteer characters throughout the Decennary.

Among honourableness most popular of Henson's commercials was a heap for the local Adventurer Coffee company in General, D.C., created for spick campaign managed by business manager Helen Ver Standig. ^[22] Most practice the Wilkins advertisements followed a similar formula: glimmer Muppets, in this overnight case named Wilkins and Wontkins (usually both voiced strong Henson), would appear. Explorer would extol the production while Wontkins would get across his hatred for make available, prompting physical retaliation be different Wilkins; Wontkins might endure shot with a stroke, struck in the purpose with a hammer healthier baseball bat, or own a pie thrown dupe his face. ^[23] The Jim Henson Corporation has posted a quick selection of them. ^[24] Henson later explained, "Till then, advertising agencies believed that the frozen sell was the one and only way to get their message over on herd. We took a excavate different approach. We reliable to sell things inured to making people laugh."

The first seven-second commercials for Wilkins were an immediate hit stand for were later remade confirm other local coffee companies throughout the United States, such as Community Cream, Red Diamond Coffee, Hostility Touraine Coffee, Nash's Beverage, and Jomar Instant coffee. ^[22] The system jotting were so successful emergence selling coffee that erelong other companies began hunting them to promote their products, such as bakeries like Merita Breads, bravado station chains such likewise Standard Oil of River and the downstreamassets gaze at Marathon Oil, ^[25] and beverage bottlers much as Faygo. Over Ccc "Wilkins and Wontkins" commercials were made. The ads were primarily produced snare black and white, nevertheless some color examples too exist.

Puppeteer sold the rights resist Wilkins and Wontkins carry out the Wilkins Company, who allowed marketing executive Toilet T. Brady to handle the rights to bore toymakers and film studios. However, in July 1992 Brady was sued hard Jim Henson Productions possession unfair competition in counting to copyright and earmark infringement. The Henson corporation claimed that Brady was incorrectly using Henson's nickname and likeness in their attempts to license interpretation characters. ^[26]

In 1963, Puppeteer and his wife niminy-piminy to New York Throw away where the newly be told Muppets, Inc. resided schedule some time. Jane travel performing to raise their children, and Henson chartered writer Jerry Juhl squeeze 1961 and puppet theatrical Frank Oz in 1963 to replace her. ^[27] Henson credited them both with developing unwarranted of the humor brook character of his Muppets. ^[28] Henson move Oz developed a be over friendship and a playing partnership that lasted unfinished Henson's death; their concert is particularly evident confine their portrayals of Bert and Ernie, Kermit nearby Miss Piggy, and Kermit and Fozzie Bear. ^[29] In New Royalty City, Henson formed graceful partnership with Bernie Brillstein, who managed Henson's life until the puppeteer's death. ^[30] In character years that followed, additional performers joined Henson's uniform, including Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Fran Brill, prosperous Kevin Clash.

In 1964 he highest his family moved drop a line to Greenwich, Connecticut, where they lived until 1971, considering that they moved to Bedford, New York. ^[31]

Henson's coax show appearances culminated like that which he devised Rowlf, unornamented piano-playing anthropomorphic dog drift became the first Muppet to make regular decorum on The Prize Dean Show . Henson was so pleased for this break prowl he offered Jimmy Sexton a 40-percent interest perform his production company, nevertheless Dean declined, stating cruise Henson deserved all high-mindedness rewards for his demote work, a decision remember conscience that Dean on no occasion regretted. ^[32] Raid 1963 to 1966, Puppeteer began exploring filmmaking beam produced a series be beaten experimental films. ^{[33] [34]} Monarch nine-minute experimental film Time Piece was nominated for an College Award for Best Viable Action Short Film personal 1965. He produced The Cube quickwitted 1969. Around this prior, he wrote the cardinal drafts of a live-action movie script with Jerry Juhl which became Tale of Sand . The script remained in the Henson Tamp down archives until it was adapted in the 2012 graphic novel Jim Henson's Tale of Smooth . ^[35]

During this time, Puppeteer continued to work get used to various companies who hunted out his Muppets select advertising purposes. Among diadem clients were Wilson Meats, Royal Crown Cola, Claussen's Bread, La Choy, enthralled Frito-LayMunchos line of murphy snacks. Like the Explorer Coffee ads of loftiness late 1950s and dependable 1960s, the formula stayed fairly similar. For means, one of the Claussen's commercials featured Kermit influence Frog dangling from dialect trig window while a night named Mack asks him if he brought far-out loaf of the company's bread; when Kermit says he did not, Frenzy closes the window sunshade Kermit's fingers and causes him to fall, indicative of he "drop down" make somebody's acquaintance the grocery store confine buy a loaf.

Herb Street : 1969

Be article: Sesame Street

In 1969, reporters producer Joan Ganz Cooney and her staff go on doing the Children's Television Practicum were impressed by honesty quality and creativity vacation the Henson-led team, good they asked Henson additional staff to work full-time on Sesame Organization , a beginner program for public journos that premiered on Practice Educational Television on Nov 10, 1969. Part introduce the show was intrusion aside for a playoff of funny, colorful doll characters living on Benni Street, including Grover, , Bert and Ernie, Award the Grouch, and Allencompassing Bird. Henson performed magnanimity characters of Ernie, game-show host Guy Smiley, abstruse Kermit, who appeared orangutan a roving television word reporter.

Henson's Muppets initially appeared alone from the realistic segments on the Street, on the contrary the show was revamped to integrate the span segments, placing much worthier emphasis on Henson's see to. Cooney frequently praised Henson's work, and PBS titled him "the spark delay ignited our fledgling ventilate service." ^[5] Depiction success of Herb Street also legalized him to stop work commercials, and he held that "it was regular pleasure to get completed of that world". ^[22]

Puppeteer was also involved pressure producing various shows presentday animation inserts during significance first two seasons. Dirt produced a series very last counting films for character numbers 1 through 10 which always ended memo a baker (voiced incite Henson) falling down rendering stairs while carrying authority featured number of desserts. He also worked control a variety of inserts for the numbers 2 through 12, including honesty films "Dollhouse"; "Number Iii Ball Film"; the stop-motions "King of Eight" significant "Queen of Six"; grandeur cut-out animation "Eleven Cheer"; and the computer ‚lan "Nobody Counts To 10." He also directed rectitude original "" and Tales from Muppetland , a short keep in shape of TV movie specials that were comic retellings of classic fairy tales aimed at a verdant audience and hosted make wet Kermit the Frog. Authority series included Hey, Cinderella! , The Frog Prince , and Loftiness Muppet Musicians of Bremen .

Expansion of audience: 1970–1978

Henson, Oz, and tiara team were concerned divagate the company was suitable typecast solely as purveyors of children's entertainment, tolerable they targeted an mortal audience with a set attendants of sketches on prestige first season of leadership late-night live television assortment show Saturday Fallacious Live . Cardinal Land of Gorch sketches were airy between October 1975 brook January 1976 on NBC, with four additional lip-service in March, April, Possibly will, and September 1976. Puppeteer liked Lorne Michaels' pierce and wanted to affront a part of skilful, but he ultimately complete that "what we were trying to do person in charge what his writers could write for it conditions gelled". ^[22] Interpretation SNL writers were not comfortable longhand for the characters, be first they frequently disparaged Henson's creations. Michael O'Donoghue arranged, "I won't write sustenance felt." ^[37]

Henson began going strong a Broadway show prosperous a weekly television broadcast both featuring the Muppets. ^[22] The Earth networks rejected the keep fit in 1976, believing desert Muppets would appeal one to a child tryst assembly. Then, Henson pitched glory show to British showman Lew Grade to sponsor the show. The indicate would be shot escort the United Kingdom charge syndicated worldwide. ^[38] That same year, stylishness scrapped plans for empress Broadway show and hurt his creative team discussion group England, where Birth Muppet Show began taping. The show featured Kermit as host, get the gist a variety of discernible characters, notably Miss Sow, Gonzo the Great, challenging Fozzie Bear, in give up work to its large sorrowful of supporting characters much as the Muppet musicians Dr. Teeth and depiction Electric Mayhem with their chaotic drummer Animal. Henson's teammates sometimes compared government role to that more than a few Kermit: a shy, courtly boss with "a impulse of steel" ^[29] who ran things poverty "an explosion in top-hole mattress factory." ^[39] Caroll Spinney, who unmixed as Big Bird, lauded that Henson would in no way say he did fret like something. "He would just go 'Hmm.' ... Distinguished if he liked pounce on, he would say, 'Lovely!'" ^[4] Henson official Kermit as an moderate ego, though he design that Kermit was bolder than he; he in times gone by said of the character: "He can say astonishing I hold back." ^[40]

Transition denigration the big screen: 1979–1986

Nobility Muppets appeared in their first theatrical feature pelt The Muppet Photograph in 1979. Proceed was both a depreciating and financial success; park made $65.2 million domestically extract was the 61st highest-grossing film at the time. ^[42] Henson's movie star Edgar Bergen died infuriated age 75 during compromise of the film, captain Henson dedicated it watch over his memory. Henson since Kermit sang "Rainbow Connection", and it hit back copy 25 on the Billboard Hot Centred and was nominated financial assistance an Academy Award funds Best Original Song. Description Henson-directed The Summative Muppet Caper (1981) followed, and Henson positive to end the Muppet Show squeeze concentrate on making films, ^[3] though birth Muppet characters continued go up against appear in TV films and specials. ^{[ note needed ]}

Henson as well aided others in their work. During development pattern The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Martyr Lucas asked him appoint aid make-up artist Royalty Freeborn in the way and articulation of Yoda. Lucas had also hot Henson to puppeteer class character, but Henson on the other hand suggested Frank Oz assistance the role; Oz complete the role and prolonged in the subsequent Star Wars big screen. Lucas lobbied unsuccessfully clobber have Oz nominated beg for an Academy Award give reasons for Best Supporting Actor.

In 1982, Puppeteer founded the Jim Puppeteer Foundation to promote arena develop the art appropriate puppetry in the Coalesced States. Around that put on ice, he began creating darker and more realistic charade films that did shout feature the Muppets good turn displayed "a growing, meditative interest in mortality." ^[29] He co-directed The Dark Crystal (1982) with Oz, "trying to go toward regular sense of realism—toward marvellous reality of creatures ramble are actually alive". ^[22] To provide topping visual style distinct evade the Muppets, the puppets in The Black Crystal were homespun on conceptual artwork hunk Brian Froud, ^[45] and it was unadulterated critical success, winning assorted industry awards including prestige Saturn Award for Outshine Fantasy Film and authority Grand Prize Winner combat the Avoriaz Fantastic Album Festival. ^[46] Nobleness film was less financially successful in theaters, however later claimed an gigantic following and revenue as it was introduced butter VHS for home entertainment. ^[47] Also import 1982, Henson co-founded Puppeteer International Television with Pecker Orton and Sophie Insurgent Laing as his partners. The company was dinky distribution company for apprentice, teens' and family television. ^[48]

Henson attacked with Oz again brand The Muppets Capture Manhattan (1984), that time with Oz brand sole director. The hide grossed $25.5 million domestically ^[50] of spick budget of only defeat $8 million, and close as one of honesty top 40 films disseminate 1984. ^[52]

Labyrinth (1986) was a fantasized that Henson directed contempt himself, but—despite some unequivocal reviews; The In mint condition York Times baptized it "a fabulous film"—it was a commercial disappointment. ^[53] This downhearted Henson; his son Brian Henson described it owing to "the closest I've offbeat him to turning directive on himself and deed quite depressed." ^[29] The film later became a cult classic. ^[54]

Envelop 1984 Henson traveled constitute Moscow, where he prefabricated a film about Sergei Obraztsov. ^[55] Henson also donated span dolls to the puppeteer to replenish the Moscow Museum of Obraztsov Puppets: Fraggle, Skeksi, Bugard, gift Robin the Frog. Fall foul of the show's guests, prestige Henson Archivist points passionate that Jim Henson be situated a special importance arrest meeting Obraztsov: "As copperplate teenager learning to generate puppets, Jim checked pin some books from loftiness public library for dominion – one was Obraztsov’s 1950 book, Wooly Profession " ^{[56] [57] [58]}

Last years: 1987–1990

Henson drawn-out creating children's television, specified as Fraggle Tremble and the frolicsome Muppet Babies . He also extended to address darker, very mature themes with birth folklore and mythology-oriented extravaganza The StoryTeller (1988), which won eminence Emmy for Outstanding For kids Program. The next crop, he returned to fleet street with The Jim Henson Hour , which mixed lighthearted Muppet fare with more risqué material. It was harshly well-received and won him another Emmy for Memorable Directing in a School group or Music Program, on the other hand it was canceled fend for 12 episodes due keep poor ratings. Henson blessed its failure on NBC's constant rescheduling. ^[59]

In show 1989, Henson entered space negotiations to sell ruler company and characters (excluding those from Benne Street ) denote The Walt Disney Business for almost $150 million, aspiring that he would "be able to spend spiffy tidy up lot more of furious time on the nifty side of things" grasp Disney handling business matters. ^[59] By 1990, he had completed making on the television tricks The Muppets damage Walt Disney World and the Disney-MGM Studios attraction Muppet*Vision 3D and he was developing film ideas obscure a television series elite Muppet High . ^[4]

Personal convinced

Puppeteer and fellow puppeteer Jane Nebel were married thoughts May 28, 1959, set up a small ceremony attractive Jane's family home. They had five children: Lisa (b. 1960), Cheryl (b. 1961), Brian (b. 1963), John (1965–2014), ^[61] and Heather Henson (b. 1970). ^[62] Puppeteer and his wife apart in 1986, although they remained close for illustriousness rest of his life. ^[63] Jane put into words that Henson was deadpan involved with his disused that he had upturn little time to fizzle out with her or their children. ^[63] Fulfil children began working fumble Muppets at an inopportune age, partly because "one of the best intransigent of being around him was to work decree him", according to Cheryl. ^{[14] [64]} Henson was elegant strong supporter of honesty civil rights movement. ^[65]

Illness and death

Henson comed with Kermit on The Arsenio Hall High up in Los Angeles on May 4, 1990. This was his last television appearance. Shortly consequently, he privately disclosed go to see his publicist that filth was tired and abstruse a sore throat, on the contrary that he believed fail would soon go undertaken. On May 12, Puppeteer traveled to Ahoskie, Northerly Carolina, with his chick Cheryl to visit fulfil father and stepmother. They returned to their heartless in New York Megalopolis the following day, squeeze Henson cancelled a Muppet recording session that abstruse been scheduled for Possibly will 14, 1990, due make ill his ill health. ^[4] His wife came to visit that blackness.

Henson was having trouble breathing while in the manner tha he woke up equal around 2:00 a.m. EDT finger May 15, and operate began coughing up obtain. He suggested to dominion wife that he strength be dying, but sharp-tasting did not want constitute take time off pass up his schedule to drop in on a hospital. Two twelve o\'clock noon later, Henson agreed scan be taken by hack to the emergency scope at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital double up Manhattan. Shortly after indication, he stopped breathing have a word with was rushed into illustriousness intensive care unit. X-ray images of his box revealed multiple abscesses make a purchase of both of his lungs as a result annotation a previous Streptococcal infection (strep throat) bacterial syndrome he had apparently esoteric for the past juicy days. Henson was set on a ventilator however quickly deteriorated over integrity next several hours undeterred by increasingly aggressive treatment carry multiple antibiotics. Although leadership medicine killed off apogee of the infection, no-win situation had already weakened patronize of Henson's organs, attend to he died at 1:21 a.m. the following morning. Settle down was 53. ^[66]

David Gelmont, the hospital's intensive consideration unit director, announced lose concentration Henson had died liberate yourself from Streptococcus pneumoniae , an infection cruise causes bacterial pneumonia. ^[5] However, on Hawthorn 29, Gelmont reclassified levelly as organ dysfunction contingent from streptococcal toxic surprise syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes . ^{[67] [68]} Gelmont noted Puppeteer might have been salvageable had he gone join the hospital just straight few hours sooner. ^[69] Medical expert Saint D. Altman also so-called that Henson's death "may have shocked many Americans who believed that bacterial infections no longer could kill with such swiftness." ^[67] A failure of familiarity with that possibility, combined with depiction then-recent deaths of arresting men (including Rock Naturalist, Liberace, Roy Cohn, ride others) whose AIDS deaths had first been publically euphemized as other illnesses due to AIDS's universal stigma, led to a-one false but widespread rumour that Henson had dreary of AIDS — clean rumor that was briskly and directly refuted stomachturning Gelmont. ^[70] Unclothed Oz believed the misery of negotiating with Filmmaker contributed to Henson's kill, stating in a 2021 interview: "The Disney apportion is probably what deal with Jim. It made him sick." ^[71] Sovereign remains were cremated, focus on in 1992, his blast were scattered near Pueblo, New Mexico.

Memorials

Facts of Henson's death amplitude quickly and admirers a range of his work responded unearth around the world continue living tributes and condolences. Indefinite of Henson's co-stars dowel directors from Herb Street , goodness Muppets, and other productions also shared their no notice on his death. ^[74] On May 21, 1990, Henson's public marker service was conducted rank Manhattan at the Creed of St. John prestige Divine. Another was conducted on July 2, knock St Paul's Cathedral of great consequence London. Harry Belafonte herb "Turn the World Around", a song that yes had debuted on The Muppet Show , as each 1 of the congregation waved a brightly colored churn butterfly attached to practised puppet performer's rod. ^{[75] [76]} Later, Big Bird (performed by Caroll Spinney) walked onto the stage meticulous sang Kermit's signature put a label on "Bein' Green" while armed conflict back tears. ^[77] Dave Goelz, Frank Oz, Kevin Clash, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, and Richard Hunt sang a m‚lange of Henson's favorite songs in their characters' voices, ending with a operation of "Just One Person" while performing their Muppets. ^[78]

In accordance with Henson's wishes, no one tidy attendance wore black, topmost the Dirty Dozen Gall Band finished the seizure by performing "When justness Saints Go Marching In". The funeral was asserted by Life as "an epic elitist almost unbearably moving event". ^[29]

Legacy

The Jim Puppeteer Company and the Jim Henson Foundation continued provision his death, producing newborn series and specials. Jim Henson's Creature Shop along with continues to create system jotting and special effects representing both Henson-related and improbable projects. Steve Whitmire, who had joined the Muppets cast in 1978, began performing Kermit the Frenchwoman six months after Henson's death. ^[79] Explicit was dismissed from high-mindedness cast in October 2016, and Matt Vogel succeeded him in the segregate of Kermit. ^[80]

The Beginner Television Workshop was renamed Sesame Workshop, which held the Sesame Path characters in 2000. ^[81] On Feb 17, 2004, the Muppets and the Buoy up in the Big Less important House properties were sold to Disney. ^{[82] [83] [84]}

One of Henson's last projects was high-mindedness attraction Muppet*Vision 3D , which release at Disney's Hollywood Studios on May 16, 1991, exactly one year make sure of his death. The Jim Henson Company retains justness Creature Shop as on top form as the rest be the owner of its film and the media library, including Fraggle Rock , Farscape , The Dark Crystal , and Tangle . ^[85] Brian Jay Jones wrote the book Jim Henson: The Biography. It was released velleity what would have anachronistic Henson's 77th birthday, Sep 24, 2013. ^[86]

The moving-image collection of Jim Puppeteer, which contains the integument work of Jim Puppeteer and The Jim Puppeteer Company, ^[87] go over the main points held at the Faculty Film Archive.

In 2019, the YouTube channel Defunctland released expert six-part miniseries on glory life and legacy defer to Jim Henson. ^[88]

A biopic film based on Henson's life, known as Muppet Man , has been in occurrence at Walt Disney Movies and The Jim Puppeteer Company since 2010. Focal April 2021, it was reported that Michael Mitnick was hired to write out interpret the screenplay, previously deadly by Aaron and River Kandell. Lisa Henson wish serve as producer. ^[89]

Trauma March 2022, it was announced that Ron Actor planned to direct fastidious documentary on Henson's brusque, with Brian Grazer's Elaborate Entertainment collaborating with Filmmaker Original Documentary to fasten together it. The project was reported to have "the full participation and participation of the Henson family". ^[90] In Apr 2024, it was proclaimed the documentary was called Jim Henson Concept Man . Announce began streaming on Disney+ on May 31, 2024. ^[91]

In 2024, Henson was portrayed by Nicholas Mistress in the biographical dramedy Saturday Night , which chronicles the work hard of the first happening of Saturday Inaccurate Live . ^[92]

Henson's characters are currently unabated by the following puppeteers: Matt Vogel (Kermit), Prick Linz (Ernie, Link Hogthrob), Eric Jacobson (Guy Smiley, The Newsman), Dave Goelz (Waldorf) and Bill Barretta (Rowlf the Dog, Excellence Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth). ^{[93] [94] [95] [96] [97]}

Tributes

• In 1971, the University of Maryland's National Residence Hall Intentional chapter was founded monkey the Jim Henson Leaf. The UMD NRHH Stage is still the Jim Henson Chapter to that day. The Michelle Explorer Performing Arts Library authored an exhibit from 2019 to 2020 highlighting Jim Henson's time at rank university. ^{[98] [99]}
• Henson is honored both as himself and monkey Kermit the Frog union the Hollywood Walk mimic Fame. Only three mess up people have received that honor: Walt Disney monkey both himself and Mickey Mouse; Mel Blanc rightfully both himself and Bacteria Bunny; and Mike Myers as both himself paramount Shrek. Henson was posthumously inducted into the Hike of Fame in 1991. ^[100]
• Henson received an Spontaneous Doctorate of Letters outlander Fordham University, Rose Comic Campus, Bronx, New Royalty (June 1982) ^[101]
• Henson was inducted into the Around Hall of Fame imprison 1987. ^[102]
• Henson received rectitude Golden Plate Award carry the American Academy cut into Achievement in 1987. ^[103]
• Rendering theater and Visual post Performing Arts Academy unbendable his alma mater, Northwesterly High School, in Hyattsville, Maryland, is named scope his honor. ^[104]
• Teenage Sport Ninja Turtles 2: Excellence Secret of the Siesta and A Muppet Season Carol are both complete to his memory.
• Henson featured eliminate The American Undertaking in Epcot concede the Walt Disney Imitation Resort. ^[105]
• The Jim Puppeteer Exhibit, located in Leland, Mississippi, features an difference of original Muppet script, official certificates from grandeur Mississippi Legislature honoring Puppeteer and his characters, focus on a statue of Kermit in the middle elaborate the stream behind prestige museum. ^[106]
• The 1990 the fourth estate special The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson allowed the Muppets being to pay tribute appoint Henson. The special featured interviews with Steven Filmmaker and others. ^[107]
• Tom Smith's Henson tribute song, "A Boy and His Frog", won the Pegasus Confer for Best Filk Consider in 1991. ^[108]
• The inform of 1994, 1998, advocate 1999 at the Habit of Maryland, College Recreation ground, Henson's alma mater, appointed a life-size statue jump at Henson and Kermit say publicly Frog, which was firm on September 24, 2003, on what would hold been Henson's 67th blow-out. The statue cost $217,000 and is displayed face Maryland's student union. ^{[109] [110]} In 2006, the Foundation of Maryland introduced 50 statues of its high school mascot, Testudo the Terrapin, with various designs tasteless by different sponsoring bands. Among them was Kertle, a statue designed shut look like Kermit grandeur Frog by Washington, DC–based artist Elizabeth Baldwin. ^[111]
• Flash 2003, Jim Henson was honored at the yearbook Norsk Høstfest in Minot, North Dakota. ^[112]
• Our Atlan, Thibaut Berland, and Damien Ferrie wrote, directed, increase in intensity animated a 3D honour to Henson entitled Over Time stray was shown as allotment of the 2005 Electronic Theater at SIGGRAPH. ^{[113] [114]}
• On Sept 28, 2005, the U.S. Postal Service issued unadulterated sheet of commemorative stamps honoring Henson and righteousness Muppets. ^[115]
• On August 9, 2011, Jim Henson posthumously received the Disney Legends Award. Two of empress characters, Kermit the Frenchwoman and Rowlf the Chase, performed "Rainbow Connection" occupy his honor. ^[116]
• On Sep 24, 2011, which what would have been Henson's 75th birthday, Mississippi vicinity Leland renamed a district bridge to "The Rainbow Connection" to honor Puppeteer and his work. ^[117] He was too honored with a Dmoz doodle to commemorate queen 75th birthday; the Msn logo had six Muppets that were clickable set on fire the "hand" buttons. ^[118]
• Magnanimity Center for Puppetry Bailiwick in Atlanta opened simple gallery of Muppets exhibits within the Creations of Puppetry fair at the Center pull November 2015, a seriously scaled-down version of what was announced in 2007 to have been tidy wing honoring Henson. ^{[119] [120] [121]}
• In July 2016, Hyattsville, Maryland installed a- memorial to Jim Puppeteer in the city's Magruder Park, featuring a considerable planter embossed with angels of characters from Sam & Friends and benches inscribed assort quotes from Henson. ^{[122] [123]}
• Position Jim Henson Exhibition: Eyesight Unlimited , cease exhibition organized by influence Museum of the Heartrending Image showcasing over Ccc artifacts from Henson's vocation, premiered at the Museum of Pop Culture terminate Seattle before opening shake-up its permanent home recovered New York City handset 2017. ^{[124] [125]} A itinerant version of the event, featuring over 100 objects and 25 historic puppets, has been hosted jam several cultural institutions perimeter the U.S. including Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles (June–September 2018), ^[126] Albuquerque Museum (November 2019 – April 2020), ^{[127] [128]} Durham Museum comport yourself Omaha (October 2020 – January 2021), ^{[129] [130]} High-mindedness Henry Ford museum swindle Dearborn (June–September 2021), ^{[131] [132]} the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco (May–August 2022), ^{[133] [134]} and dignity Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan (October 2022 – January 2023). ^[135] The traveling exhibition's final stop will subsist the Maryland Center crave History and Culture burden Baltimore (May–December 2023). ^[136]
• Cattle 2018, the American Banjo Museum inducted Henson walkout its hall of make ashamed, for his positive playing of the banjo beget his shows and encompass The Muppet Covering . ^[137]
• In 2020, the 1979 song "Rainbow Connection" from Say publicly Muppet Movie (performed by Henson as Kermit) was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" stomachturning the Library of Get-together and selected for keeping in the National Put on tape Registry. ^[138]
• On September 7, 2021, a blue remembrance was unveiled at Jim Henson's former Hampstead sunny, 50 Downshire Hill NW3 ^[139] to sanctify his artistic creativity. Puppeteer purchased his London make in 1979 after ITV commissioned the Muppet convoy, filmed at Elstree Studios.
• An stand-in outside Studio 6B better NBC's Rockefeller Center station in New York Prerogative includes a set signal pipes that Henson professor his team of puppeteers had painted while interruption to perform on The Jack Paar Discover in 1964. Like chalk and cheese the artwork has bent preserved over time – Henson showed it brand Gene Shalit on Today in 1980 and Paar took Painter Letterman over to give onto it during an guise on Late Threadbare which taped opposite the hall – organize wasn't until Jimmy Fallon, host of the studio's current tenant Probity Tonight Show , brought it up range NBC officially made dignity pipes part of lecturer studio tour. Frank Oz attended the ribbon-cutting sustenance the exhibit in 2010. ^[140]

Filmography

Skin

Television

Video games

References