Henson, Jim (1936-1990), an American puppeteer, created the Muppets, a combination of marionettes and foam-rubber hand puppets. The Muppets gained international popularity with children and adults through TV and movies. The best-known Muppets include Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Oscar the Grouch, and The Cookie Monster. Henson was the manipulator and voice of several Muppets, including Kermit.
James Maury Henson was born on Sept. 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. He created the Muppets in 1954. They first appeared in 1955 on a local Washington, D.C., TV program called “Sam and Friends.” During the 1960’s, Henson and his company of puppeteers appeared as guests on national TV shows. In 1969, the Muppets first appeared on the educational public TV show “Sesame Street.” From 1976 to 1981, Henson produced “The Muppet Show,” which became the most widely seen TV program in the world. The Muppets starred in The Muppet Movie (1979) and other motion pictures. Henson died of pneumonia on May 16, 1990.
