Jim Henson
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 The Jim Henson Company – in 1958, and married less than a year later in 1959. Henson graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in home economics.
In 1969, Henson joined the children's television program Sesame Street (1969–present) where he helped to develop Muppet characters for the series. He and his creative team also appeared on the first season of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (1975–present). He produced the sketch comedy television series The Muppet Show (1976–1981) during this period. Henson revolutionized the way puppetry is captured and presented in video media, and he won fame for his characters – particularly Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, and the characters on Sesame Street. During the later years of his life, he founded the Jim Henson Foundation and Jim Henson's Creature Shop. He won the Emmy Award twice for his involvement in The Storyteller (1987–1988) and The Jim Henson Hour (1989).
Henson died in New York City from toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. At the time of his death, he was in negotiations to sell his company to The Walt Disney Company, but talks fell through after his death. He was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991, and was named a Disney Legend in 2011.
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Fotos
Filmes (193)
A Magia Começa na Rocha Encantada
2025 · Characters
The Muppet Script
2025 · Self (archive footage), Original Concept
Joan Rivers at the BBC
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Jim Henson, o Homem-Ideia
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Muppets Haunted Mansion: A Festa Aterrorizante
2021 · Characters
Gangue de Rua: Como Chegamos à Vila Sésamo
2021 · Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting
2019 · Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Various Characters
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow
2015 · Story
In Their Own Words: Jim Henson
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Fozzie's Bear-ly Funny Fridays
2015 · Creator
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
2015 · Self
Jim Henson: Behind the Seams
2014
Muppets 2: Procurados e Amados
2014 · Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited), Characters
Lady Gaga & the Muppets Holiday Spectacular
2013 · Characters
Os Muppets
2011 · Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited), Characters
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story
2009
Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland
2009 · Director
Os Marretas - Cartas Para o Pai Natal
2008 · Characters
Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal'
2007 · Self
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
2006 · Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
Os Muppets e o Mágico de Oz
2005 · Characters
Muppet History 101
2004 · Director
Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments
2004 · Director
Muppet Music Moments
2004 · Self
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
2004 · Kermit the Frog
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!
2004 · Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Mah Na Mah Na / Fat Blue / The Baker / King of 8 (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites
2004 · Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage)
Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!'
2003 · Muppet Performer
O Natal dos Muppets
2002 · Characters
Os Melhores Anos de Caco
2002 · Characters
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
2002 · Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
2001 · Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob, Producer, Writer
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Singing, Drawing & More!
2000 · Ernie (archive)
Elmo na Terra dos Rabugentos
1999 · Characters
Muppets do Espaço
1999 · Characters
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
1999 · Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef, Producer, Writer
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
1999 · Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef, Producer, Writer, Creator
The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street
1998 · Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO!
1997 · Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Quiet Time
1997 · Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
Os Muppets na Ilha do Tesouro
1996 · Characters
Muppet Sing Alongs: Treasure Island
1996 · Characters
Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet
1996 · Ernie (voice)
Sesame Street: Imagine That!
1996 · Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
1995 · Characters
Orson Welles: The One-Man Band
1995
The World of Jim Henson
1994 · Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994 · Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
1993 · Ernie
Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration
1993 · Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice)
O Conto de Natal dos Muppets
1992 · In Memory Of, Characters
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
1992 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Getting Ready to Read
1992 · Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Daedalus & Icarus
1991 · Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Orpheus & Eurydice
1991 · Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Perseus & the Gorgon
1991 · Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Theseus & the Minotaur
1991 · Executive Producer
As Tartarugas Ninja II: O Segredo do Ooze
1991 · In Memory Of
Living with Dinosaurs
1990 · Executive Producer
Basil Hears a Noise
1990 · In Memory Of
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990 · Self / Various Muppets (archive footage)
Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration
1990 · Characters
Convenção das Bruxas
1990 · Executive Producer
Jim Henson: In Performance
1990
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
1990 · Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
1990 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice), Executive Producer, Characters
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
1990 · Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)
The Earth Day Special
1990 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street: Monster Hits!
1990 · Harvey Monster (voice)
50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration
1989 · Kermit the Frog
The Song of the Cloud Forest
1989 · Director
An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz
1989 · Self
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
1989 · Waldorf
Dog City
1989 · Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice), Director
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989
1989 · Self – Kermit the Frog / Ernie, Executive Producer
Free to Be... a Family
1988 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Wow, You're A Cartoonist!
1988 · Kermit The Frog
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
1988 · Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
The Best of Ernie and Bert
1988 · Ernie, Director
The Storyteller: The True Bride
1988 · Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Sapsorrow
1988 · Executive Producer
The Storyteller: The Three Ravens
1988 · Executive Producer
Muppet Studios Presents: You're the Director
1988 · Kermit the Frog / Swedish Chef / Rowlf the Dog / Link Hogthrob (voice), Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Hans My Hedgehog
1988 · Executive Producer
The Storyteller: A Story Short
1988 · Executive Producer
Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along
1988 · Rowlf the Dog (voice), Executive Producer
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
1988 · Kermit the Frog (voice), Executive Producer
The Storyteller: The Luck Child
1988 · Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Fearnot
1988 · Executive Producer
A Muppet Family Christmas
1987 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self, Executive Producer, Characters
Down at Fraggle Rock
1987 · Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host
Muppet Breakaway
1987 · Leo (voice)
Muppet Coffee Break
1987 · Leo (voice)
Sesame Street: Sing Along
1987
Inside the Labyrinth
1986 · Self, Writer
The Christmas Toy
1986 · Kermit the Frog (voice), Producer, Characters
Labyrinth
1986 · Goblins (uncredited), Director, Story
Sesame Street: Learning About Letters
1986 · Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
1986 · Dog (voice), Director, Producer, Characters
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
1986 · Kermit the Frog / Ernie / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Mahna Mahna / Harry the Hipster / Self, Creator, Characters
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
1986 · Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)
Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers
1986 · Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)
Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets
1985 · Rowlf (voice)
Follow That Bird
1985 · Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice), Characters
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
1985 · Kermit the Frog, Writer
Muppet Treasures
1985 · Kermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman, Writer
The Muppet Revue
1985 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
1985 · Kermit the Frog (voice), Producer, Writer
Fraggle Rock: Scared Silly
1985 · Writer, Executive Producer
Night of 100 Stars II
1985 · Kermit the Frog
Into the Night
1985 · Man on Phone
Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets
1985 · Kermit the Frog (voice), Writer
The Bells of Fraggle Rock
1984 · Cantus the Minstrel (voice), Creator
The Muppets Take Manhattan
1984 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice), Executive Producer, Characters
Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets
1984 · Self
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
1983 · Self
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
1983 · Ernie (voice)
Big Bird in China
1983 · Ernie (voice)
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
1983 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice), Director, Producer, Characters
Fraggle Rock: Live by the Rule of the Rock
1983 · Director
The World of 'The Dark Crystal'
1983 · Self, Director
Muppet Breakthrough
1983 · Leo
The Dark Crystal
1982 · Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master, Producer, Director, Story
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
1982 · Kermit The Frog (voice), Producer, Director, Characters
I Love Liberty
1982 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Of Muppets & Men
1981 · Self
Muppet Side Splitter
1981 · Leo (voice)
The Great Muppet Caper
1981 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man in Dubonnet Club, Director, Characters
The Muppets Go to the Movies
1981 · Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef / Waldorf (voice), Writer, Producer, Characters
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
1979 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice), Characters
The Muppet Movie
1979 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice), Producer, Characters
The Muppets Go Hollywood
1979 · Self / Kermit / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldof / Swedish Chef / Pig, Characters
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
1979 · Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Orson Welles Show
1979 · Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
Grump Critic
1979 · Leo
Let's Have the Dam Break
1979 · Leo
Meal Break
1979 · Leo / Spaghetti
Muppet Breaker Upper
1979 · Leo
Muppet Gimme a Break
1979 · Leo / Pasta in "Meal Break"
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
1978 · Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice), Executive Producer
Hip Hip Parade!
1978 · Kermit the Frog
Mickey's 50
1978 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
1978 · Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth
The Vent Event
1978 · Kermit the Frog
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
1977 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
1977 · Kermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice), Director, Producer, Characters
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977
Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun!
1976 · Kermit the Frog
The Muppet Show Pitch Reel
1976 · Leo / Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?
1975 · Self
Julie: My Favourite Things
1975 · Kermit the Frog / Dr. Teeth
Muppet Picker Upper
1975 · Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice), Director
Just a Few Announcements
1975 · Kermit the Frog
The Muppet Introduction
1975 · Kermit the Frog
Out to Lunch
1974 · Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)
Julie on Sesame Street
1973 · Ernie/ Kermit the Frog (voice), Producer
Keep U.S. Beautiful
1973 · Muppets
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
1972 · Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice), Director, Characters, Producer
The King of Eight
1971 · The King of Eight, Director
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
1971 · Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice), Director, Characters
The Queen of Six
1971 · Director
Pure Goldie
1971 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Number Twelve Rocks
1971 · Director
The Great Santa Claus Switch
1970 · Fred / Lothar (voice), Characters, Executive Producer
Doll House
1970 · Director
The Muppets on Puppets
1970 · Self / Rowlf the Dog / Kermit the Frog / Various Characters, Characters
This Way to Sesame Street
1969 · Ernie/Kermit
Sam the Snake
1969 · Sam the Snake, Director, Writer
Sesame Street Pitch Reel
1969 · Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook
Hey Cinderella!
1969 · Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice), Director, Characters
The Cube
1969 · Gorilla (voice), Director, Writer
The Wizard of Id
1969 · The Wizard / The Spook (voice), Director
Youth '68
1968 · Writer, Producer
Wheels That Go
1967 · Director
The Paperwork Explosion
1967 · Producer, Director
Ripples
1967 · Director
Bufferin: Memories
1967 · Director
Limbo: The Organized Mind
1966 · Limbo (voice), Director, Animation Director
The Idea Man
1966 · Limbo, Director
Rowlf the Salesman
1966 · Rowlf the Dog, Director
The Reindeer
1965 · Dasher / Prancer (voice), Director
Alexander the Grape
1965 · Freddy the Fierce (voice), Director, Storyboard Artist, Writer, Animation
Run, Run
1965 · Director of Photography, Producer, Director
Time Piece
1965 · Man, Director, Writer, Producer, Animation
Robot
1963 · Director
Tales of the Tinkerdee
1962 · Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice), Writer, Producer
Shearing Animation
1962 · Director
Drums West
1961 · Director
Cat and Mouse
1960 · Director
Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party
· Ernie / Himself
The World Of Puppetry with Bruce Schwartz
· Self
Untitled Labyrinth Sequel
· Original Film Writer
Untitled Miss Piggy Film
· Characters
Séries (43)
Muppets e o Caos Elétrico
2023 · Characters
A Rocha Encantada: De Volta à Caverna
2022 · Characters
Agora Muppets
2020 · Creator
O Cristal Encantado: A Era da Resistência
2019 · Characters
Muppet Babies
2018 · Characters
Os Muppets
2015 · Characters
In Their Own Words
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Studio DC: Almost Live
2008 · Characters
Muppets TV
2006 · Characters
5, Rue Sésame
2005 · Creator
Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame
2002
Sesame Unpaved
1999
Dog City
1992 · Creator
Família Dinossauros
1991 · In Memory Of
Little Mermaid's Island
1990 · Creator
Mother Goose Stories
1990 · Creator
The Jim Henson Hour
1989 · Self / Various, Executive Producer, Director, Creator
The Storyteller
1988 · Director, Executive Producer, Creator
Dolly
1987 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series
1987 · Executive Producer, Creator
CBS Summer Playhouse
1987 · Executive Producer
Wedden, dat..?
1986 · Self
Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
1985 · Creator
Muppet Babies
1984 · Director, Executive Producer, Creator
Reading Rainbow
1983 · Kermit the Frog
Fraggle Rock
1983 · Convincing John, Gobo Fraggle, Convincing John, Cantus (voice), Cantus, Cantus the Minstrel, Convincing John, Additional Muppets (voice), Cantus the Minstrel (voice), Convincing John (voice, uncredited), Convincing John (voice), Producer, Director, Creator
Wogan
1982 · Self
1, rue Sésame
1978 · Creator
The Muppet Show
1976 · Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice), Producer, Writer, Creator
Saturday Night Live
1975 · King Ploobis (voice), Writer
Great Performances
1971 · Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street
1969 · Ernie/Kermit the Frog/Guy Smiley, Creator
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
1969 · Self
The Dick Cavett Show
1968 · Self - Guest
NBC Experiment in Television
1967 · Gorilla (voice), Director, Writer
Einer wird gewinnen
1964 · Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self
Sam and Friends
1955 · Kermit the Frog, Creator
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954 · Self
The Oscars
1953 · Self / Kermit The Frog / Waldorf
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1948
Takalani Sesame
· Creator
Kermit's Swamp Years
· Creator