Jim Henson
Directing
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.
TV Shows(24)
In Their Own Words
Self (archive footage)
2015
Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame
2002
Sesame Unpaved
1999
The Jim Henson Hour
1989
Dolly
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1987
Wedden, dat..?
Self
1986
Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
1985
Reading Rainbow
Kermit the Frog
1983
Fraggle Rock
Cantus
1983
Wogan
Self
1982
The Muppet Show
Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice)
1976
Saturday Night Live
King Ploobis (voice)
1975
Great Performances
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1971
Sesame Street
1969
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
Self
1969
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
NBC Experiment in Television
Gorilla (voice)
1967
Einer wird gewinnen
Self
1964
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self (archive footage)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Sam and Friends
Kermit the Frog
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Self
1954
The Oscars
Self / Kermit The Frog / Waldorf
1953
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1948
Movies(138)
The Muppet Script
Self (archive footage)
2025
Joan Rivers at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2024
Jim Henson Idea Man
Self (archive footage)
2024
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
Self (archive footage)
2021
Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting
Ernie
2019
In Their Own Words: Jim Henson
Self (archive footage)
2015
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
Self
2015
Jim Henson: Behind the Seams
2014
Muppets Most Wanted
Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)
2014
The Muppets
Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited)
2011
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story
2009
Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland
2009
Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal'
Self
2007
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
2006
Muppet History 101
2004
Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments
2004
Muppet Music Moments
Self
2004
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Kermit the Frog
2004
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites
Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage)
2004
Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!'
Muppet Performer
2003
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)
2002
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob
2001
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
1999
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
1999
The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street
Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
1998
Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO!
Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)
1997
Sesame Street: Quiet Time
Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
1997
Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet
Ernie (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: Imagine That!
Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
1996
The World of Jim Henson
Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)
1994
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)
1994
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
Ernie
1993
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice)
1993
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1992
Getting Ready to Read
Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)
1992
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Self / Various Muppets (archive footage)
1990
Jim Henson: In Performance
1990
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
1990
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice)
1990
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)
1990
The Earth Day Special
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1990
Sesame Street: Monster Hits!
Harvey Monster (voice)
1990
50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration
Kermit the Frog
1989
An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz
Self
1989
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
Waldorf
1989
Dog City
Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice)
1989
Free to Be... a Family
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1988
Wow, You're A Cartoonist!
Kermit The Frog
1988
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Kermit the Frog/Ernie (voice)
1988
The Best of Ernie and Bert
Ernie
1988
Muppet Studios Presents: You're the Director
Kermit the Frog / Swedish Chef / Rowlf the Dog / Link Hogthrob (voice)
1988
Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along
Rowlf the Dog (voice)
1988
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1988
A Muppet Family Christmas
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self
1987
Down at Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host
1987
Sesame Street: Sing Along
1987
Inside the Labyrinth
Self
1986
The Christmas Toy
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1986
Labyrinth
Goblins (uncredited)
1986
Sesame Street: Learning About Letters
Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)
1986
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Dog (voice)
1986
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
1986
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)
1986
Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)
1986
Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets
Rowlf (voice)
1985
Follow That Bird
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
1985
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Kermit the Frog
1985
Muppet Treasures
Kermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman
1985
The Muppet Revue
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1985
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Kermit the Frog
1985
Into the Night
Man on Phone
1985
Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1985
The Bells of Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel (voice)
1984
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice)
1984
Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets
Jim Henson (self)
1984
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
Self
1983
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ernie (voice)
1983
Big Bird in China
Ernie (voice)
1983
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice)
1983
The World of 'The Dark Crystal'
Self
1983
Muppet Breakthrough
Leo
1983
The Dark Crystal
Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master
1982
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Kermit The Frog (voice)
1982
I Love Liberty
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1982
Of Muppets & Men
Self
1981
Muppet Side Splitter
Leo (voice)
1981
The Great Muppet Caper
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman
1981
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf
1981
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice)
1979
The Muppet Movie
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice)
1979
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Various Muppets
1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)
1979
The Orson Welles Show
Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
1979
Meal Break
Leo / Spaghetti
1979
Grump Critic
Leo
1979
Let's Have the Dam Break
Leo
1979
Muppet Breaker Upper
Leo
1979
Muppet Gimme a Break
Leo / Pasta in "Meal Break"
1979
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
1978
Hip Hip Parade!
Kermit the Frog
1978
Mickey's 50
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1978
Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth
1978
The Vent Event
Kermit the Frog
1978
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf
1977
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Kermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice)
1977
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977
Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun!
Kermit the Frog
1976
The Muppet Show Pitch Reel
Leo / Kermit the Frog (voice)
1976
Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?
Self
1975
Julie: My Favourite Things
Kermit the Frog/Dr. Teeth
1975
Muppet Picker Upper
Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice)
1975
The Muppet Introduction
Kermit the Frog
1975
Just a Few Announcements
Kermit the Frog
1975
Out to Lunch
Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)
1974
Keep U.S. Beautiful
Muppets
1973
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice)
1972
The King of Eight
The King of Eight
1971
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice)
1971
Pure Goldie
Kermit the Frog (voice)
1971
The Great Santa Claus Switch
Fred / Lothar (voice)
1970
The Muppets on Puppets
Self / Rowlf the Dog
1970
This Way to Sesame Street
Ernie/Kermit
1969
Sam the Snake
Sam the Snake
1969
Sesame Street Pitch Reel
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook
1969
Hey Cinderella!
Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice)
1969
The Wizard of Id
The Wizard / The Spook (voice)
1969
The Paperwork Explosion
1967
Limbo: The Organized Mind
Limbo (voice)
1966
The Idea Man
Limbo
1966
I'm Nobody
Limbo (voice)
1966
Rowlf the Salesman
Rowlf the Dog
1966
The Reindeer
Dasher / Prancer (voice)
1965
Alexander the Grape
Freddy the Fierce (voice)
1965
Time Piece
Man
1965
Tales of the Tinkerdee
Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice)
1962
Visual Thinking
Kermit / Harry the Hipster (voice)
1961
Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party
Ernie / Himself