Jim Henson

Full Name: James Maury Henson
Profession: Muppeteer and Filmmaker

Nationality:

Biography: Jim Henson was a puppeteer and filmmaker whose work proved to be not only extremely popular but hugely influential. He is the creator of not only The Muppets but also many of the puppet characters on Sesame Street as well as a number of other films and television specials.

Henson's puppet act was first developed when he was at college in Washington D.C. for a local TV show "Sam and Friends" with his later wife Jane Nebel. Later, working with Frank Oz, his puppets appeared in commercials and TV specials before the children's show "Sesame Street" was launched in 1969 with characters like Kermit the Frog, the Cookie Monster and the Grouch.

Aimed at a more general audience, "The Muppet Show" was launched on TV in 1976 and ran till 1981. Successful movies followed starting with "The Muppet Movie" in 1979. Muppets characters like Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo have since become embedded in popular culture.

In his later years Henson pursued a darker vision though such animated films as Labyrinth (1986) starring David Bowie. Henson died unexpectedly of streptococcus pneumonia at the age of 53.

Born: September 24, 1936
Birthplace: Greenville, Mississippi, USA

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Libra

Died: May 16, 1990 (aged 53)
Cause of Death: Bacterial pneumonia