Jim Henson
Directing
Born: September 24, 1936 · Greenville, Mississippi, USA
Died: May 16, 1990 (aged 53)
Highest Rated
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 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jim Henson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Labyrinth
1986
The Muppets
2011
The Witches
1990
The Dark Crystal
1982
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991
The Muppet Christmas Carol
1992
Dinosaurs
1991
Muppets Most Wanted
2014
The Muppet Movie
1979
Muppet Treasure Island
1996
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
2019
The Muppets Take Manhattan
1984
Photos (2)
Movies (97)
Labyrinth
Goblins (uncredited)
The Muppets
Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited)
The Muppet Movie
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice)
Muppets Most Wanted
Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)
Into the Night
Man on Phone
The Dark Crystal
Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice)
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Great Muppet Caper
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man in Dubonnet Club
Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice)
Follow That Bird
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
The Earth Day Special
Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Cube
Gorilla (voice)
Pure Goldie
Kermit the Frog (voice)
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Singing, Drawing & More!
Ernie (archive)
The Muppet Introduction
Kermit the Frog
Out to Lunch
Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)
Muppet Treasures
Kermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman
Night of 100 Stars II
Kermit the Frog
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Mah Na Mah Na / Fat Blue / The Baker / King of 8 (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites
Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage)
Hip Hip Parade!
Kermit the Frog
Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO!
Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)
I Love Liberty
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Various Characters
The Christmas Toy
Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Muppet Revue
Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice)
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)
Getting Ready to Read
Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Imagine That!
Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
Free to Be... a Family
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Mickey's 50
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Hey Cinderella!
Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice)
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef / Waldorf (voice)
Sesame Street: Learning About Letters
Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)
Big Bird in China
Ernie (voice)
Time Piece
Man
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Kermit the Frog/Ernie (voice)
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Kermit the Frog
Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth
50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration
Kermit the Frog
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice)
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob
Limbo: The Organized Mind
Limbo (voice)
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ernie (voice)
Julie on Sesame Street
Ernie/ Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street: Monster Hits!
Harvey Monster (voice)
Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Kermit the Frog
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice)
Sesame Street Pitch Reel
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Dog (voice)
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Kermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice)
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)
The Great Santa Claus Switch
Fred / Lothar (voice)
Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along
Rowlf the Dog (voice)
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
Ernie
The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street
Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
Muppet Picker Upper
Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice)
Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet
Ernie (voice)
Julie: My Favourite Things
Kermit the Frog/Dr. Teeth
The Reindeer
Dasher / Prancer (voice)
This Way to Sesame Street
Ernie/Kermit
Tales of the Tinkerdee
Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice)
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Wow, You're A Cartoonist!
Kermit The Frog
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun!
Kermit the Frog
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Kermit The Frog (voice)
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice)
The Best of Ernie and Bert
Ernie
Sesame Street: Quiet Time
Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
Visual Thinking
Kermit / Harry the Hipster (voice)
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
Waldorf
Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!'
Muppet Performer
Sesame Street: Sing Along
1987
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)
Orson Welles: The One-Man Band
1995
The Paperwork Explosion
1967
Alexander the Grape
Freddy the Fierce (voice)
The Bells of Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel (voice)
Muppet Side Splitter
Leo (voice)
The Wizard of Id
The Wizard / The Spook (voice)
I'm Nobody
Limbo (voice)
Rowlf the Salesman
Rowlf the Dog
The Idea Man
Limbo
Sam the Snake
Sam the Snake
The King of Eight
The King of Eight
TV Shows (19)
Sesame Street
3277 eps
Saturday Night Live
King Ploobis (voice) · 12 eps
Great Performances
Kermit the Frog (voice) · 1 eps
The Muppet Show
Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice) · 120 eps
Reading Rainbow
Kermit the Frog · 1 eps
Fraggle Rock
Cantus
Fraggle Rock
Convincing John
Fraggle Rock
Gobo Fraggle, Convincing John, Cantus (voice)
Fraggle Rock
Convincing John (voice) · 2 eps
Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel (voice) · 5 eps
Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel, Convincing John, Additional Muppets (voice) · 24 eps
Fraggle Rock
Convincing John (voice, uncredited) · 1 eps
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1 eps
Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame
26 eps
Sesame Unpaved
67 eps
Dolly
Kermit the Frog (voice) · 1 eps
NBC Experiment in Television
Gorilla (voice) · 1 eps
Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
13 eps
Sam and Friends
Kermit the Frog · 1 eps
Self / Appearances (32)
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · 5 eps
Wogan
Self · 1 eps
The Oscars
Self / Kermit The Frog / Waldorf · 1 eps
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · 1 eps
The Jim Henson Hour
Self / Various · 12 eps
Jim Henson Idea Man
Self (archive footage)
The Wonderful World of Disney
Self · 1 eps
Dog City
Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice)
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
Self (archive footage)
In Their Own Words
Self (archive footage) · 1 eps
The World of Jim Henson
Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)
A Muppet Family Christmas
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Self / Various Muppets (archive footage)
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Kermit the Frog / Ernie / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Mahna Mahna / Harry the Hipster / Self
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Self / Kermit / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldof / Swedish Chef / Pig
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989
Self – Kermit the Frog / Ernie
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
Self
Inside the Labyrinth
Self
The Orson Welles Show
Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets
Self
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
Self
The Muppet Script
Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?
Self
Joan Rivers at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz
Self
Of Muppets & Men
Self
Down at Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host
Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal'
Self
The Muppets on Puppets
Self / Rowlf the Dog / Kermit the Frog / Various Characters
In Their Own Words: Jim Henson
Self (archive footage)
The World of 'The Dark Crystal'
Self
Upcoming (3)
Directing (47)
Fraggle Rock
Director
Muppet Babies
Director
Labyrinth
Director
The Storyteller
Director
The Jim Henson Hour
Director
The Dark Crystal
Director
NBC Experiment in Television
Director
Dog City
Director
The Great Muppet Caper
Director
The Cube
Director
Run, Run
Director
Ripples
Director
The Storyteller: The Soldier and Death
Director
The Storyteller: The Heartless Giant
Director
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Director
Hey Cinderella!
Director
Time Piece
Director
Fraggle Rock: Live by the Rule of the Rock
Director
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
Director
Limbo: The Organized Mind
Director
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Director
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Director
Muppet Picker Upper
Director
The Reindeer
Director
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Director
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Director
The Best of Ernie and Bert
Director
Visual Thinking
Director
Wheels That Go
Director
Drums West
Director
The Song of the Cloud Forest
Director
Robot
Director
Cat and Mouse
Director
The Paperwork Explosion
Director
Alexander the Grape
Director
Shearing Animation
Director
The World of 'The Dark Crystal'
Director
Number Twelve Rocks
Director
The Wizard of Id
Director
I'm Nobody
Director
Rowlf the Salesman
Director
The Queen of Six
Director
Bufferin: Memories
Director
Doll House
Director
The Idea Man
Director
Sam the Snake
Director
The King of Eight
Director
Writing (67)
Saturday Night Live
Writer
Muppet Babies
Characters
The Muppet Show
Writer
Epic Rap Battles of History
Characters
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
Characters
Labyrinth
Story
The Muppets
Characters
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
Characters
Muppet Treasure Island
Characters
The Muppets
Characters
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Characters
The Muppet Movie
Characters
The First Snow of Fraggle Rock
Characters
The Muppets Mayhem
Characters
Muppets Haunted Mansion
Characters
Muppets Most Wanted
Characters
The Dark Crystal
Story
Muppets from Space
Characters
Muppets TV
Characters
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Characters
NBC Experiment in Television
Writer
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Characters
The Great Muppet Caper
Characters
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Characters
Studio DC: Almost Live
Characters
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
Characters
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Characters
Kermit's Swamp Years
Characters
Follow That Bird
Characters
Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration
Characters
The Cube
Writer
A Muppet Family Christmas
Characters
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Characters
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Characters
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
Characters
Muppet Treasures
Writer
Lady Gaga & the Muppets Holiday Spectacular
Characters
Inside the Labyrinth
Writer
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Writer
The Christmas Toy
Characters
The Muppet Script
Original Concept
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Characters
Muppet Sing Alongs: Treasure Island
Characters
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
Writer
Hey Cinderella!
Characters
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Writer
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Characters
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow
Story
Time Piece
Writer
Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets
Writer
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
Characters
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
Writer
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Writer
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
Characters
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Characters
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Characters
The Great Santa Claus Switch
Characters
Tales of the Tinkerdee
Writer
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
Writer
Fraggle Rock: Scared Silly
Writer
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Characters
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Characters
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Characters
Visual Thinking
Writer
The Muppets on Puppets
Characters
Alexander the Grape
Writer
Sam the Snake
Writer
Producing (44)
The Muppet Show
Producer
Fraggle Rock
Producer
Muppet Babies
Executive Producer
The Storyteller
Executive Producer
The Muppet Movie
Producer
The Jim Henson Hour
Executive Producer
The Witches
Executive Producer
The Dark Crystal
Producer
Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series
Executive Producer
CBS Summer Playhouse
Executive Producer
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Executive Producer
A Muppet Family Christmas
Executive Producer
Run, Run
Producer
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989
Executive Producer
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Executive Producer
Living with Dinosaurs
Executive Producer
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Producer
The Christmas Toy
Producer
The Storyteller: The Soldier and Death
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: The Heartless Giant
Executive Producer
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Producer
The Storyteller: Sapsorrow
Executive Producer
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
Producer
The Storyteller: The True Bride
Executive Producer
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Producer
Time Piece
Producer
The Storyteller: Hans My Hedgehog
Executive Producer
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
Producer
Julie on Sesame Street
Producer
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
Executive Producer
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Producer
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Producer
The Storyteller: The Luck Child
Executive Producer
The Great Santa Claus Switch
Executive Producer
Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: A Story Short
Executive Producer
Tales of the Tinkerdee
Producer
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
Producer
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
Executive Producer
Fraggle Rock: Scared Silly
Executive Producer
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Producer
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Producer
The Storyteller: Fearnot
Executive Producer
The Paperwork Explosion
Producer
Other Crew (28)
Sesame Street
Creator
Dinosaurs
In Memory Of
The Muppet Show
Creator
Fraggle Rock
Creator
Muppet Babies
Creator
The Storyteller
Creator
The Muppet Christmas Carol
In Memory Of
The Jim Henson Hour
Creator
Muppets Now
Creator
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
In Memory Of
Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series
Creator
Dog City
Creator
Mother Goose Stories
Creator
1, rue Sésame
Creator
Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
Creator
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Creator
Run, Run
Director of Photography
Little Mermaid's Island
Creator
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Creator
Time Piece
Animation
Sam and Friends
Creator
Limbo: The Organized Mind
Animation Director
Visual Thinking
Prop Designer
Alexander the Grape
Storyboard Artist
Alexander the Grape
Animation
The Bells of Fraggle Rock
Creator
Basil Hears a Noise
In Memory Of
Fozzie's Bear-ly Funny Fridays
Creator