Remembering Jim Henson: The Man Who Brought The Muppets To Life

Let me tell you about Jim Henson, a guy who was so much more than just a puppeteer. He was a creative genius who left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. Through his work with the Muppets, Jim Henson became a household name. But his sudden passing in 1990 at the young age of 53 shocked not just Hollywood, but fans all around the globe. His legacy lives on, and his contributions to the entertainment industry remain unmatched.

The Early Days of Jim Henson

Jim Henson was born on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. From a young age, he was fascinated by art and ventriloquism, which sparked his lifelong love for puppetry. As a teenager, his passion led him to land a job at WTOP-TV, where he began his journey into the world of television. This was the start of something truly magical, and it wouldn’t be long before the world would fall in love with his creations.

While attending the University of Maryland, Jim made a name for himself with the puppet show Sam and Friends, which aired on NBC affiliate WRC-TV. This was where the world was first introduced to a prototype of Kermit the Frog. Alongside his work on the show, Jim met fellow student Jane Nebel, who became his partner in both life and art. The two eventually tied the knot in 1959 and went on to have five children: Lisa, Brian, John, Cheryl, and Heather. Together, they built a life filled with creativity and love.

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As Jim's career took off, his puppets began appearing on various TV programs and commercials. Alongside collaborators like Don Sahlin and Frank Oz, Jim crafted unforgettable characters like Rowlf the Dog, who became a regular on The Jimmy Dean Show. When approached to create a family of colorful characters for Sesame Street, Jim’s imagination soared, bringing beloved icons like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Bert and Ernie to life.

But Jim wasn’t content to stop there. He directed films like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, pushing the boundaries of puppetry and storytelling. He once said, “My feeling about puppetry relates to stylization, simplicity, boiling down to — it’s a wonderful form and I really love it. But with The Dark Crystal, instead of puppetry we’re trying to go toward a sense of realism — toward a reality of creatures that are actually alive and we’re mixing up puppetry and all kinds of other techniques. It’s into the same bag as E.T. and Yoda, wherein you’re trying to create something that people will actually believe, but it’s not so much a symbol of the thing, but you’re trying to do the thing itself.”

Jim Henson's Later Years and Lasting Legacy

In the final decade of his life, Jim continued to innovate and inspire. He worked on groundbreaking projects like Fraggle Rock, The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years, and The StoryTeller. One of his last completed projects was The Muppets at Walt Disney World in 1990. His work never faltered, even as he faced new challenges.

The Tragic End of a Brilliant Career

On May 4, 1990, Jim made his final TV appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, alongside Kermit the Frog. Just weeks later, he was rushed to the hospital after falling ill. On May 16, 1990, Jim passed away at the age of 53 due to streptococcus pneumonia, a massive bacterial infection that overwhelmed his body. The hospital released a statement explaining the severity of his condition: “Tragically, the acute infection had already progressed to such an extent that he had multiorgan failure: kidney failure, inability of the blood to clot, heart failure and shock. At this stage, (high-dose) antibiotics could not reverse the process.”

Even though Jim is no longer with us, his children have kept his memory alive through The Jim Henson Company. As his son Brian told Closer in July 2018, “He inspired people to realize their weird and wonderful ideas. He came up with an original idea and presented it to the world, who embraced it because it’s sweet and positive.”