Jim Henson

 JIM   HE N S ON  (  SEP T E M B E R   2 4  t h, 1 9 3 6  - May  1 6 t h ,  1 99 0  ) was the creator of  the Muppet s. He was also the performer  behind many of the  troupe  ’ s most famous  character s , including  KERMIT THE FROG  ,  ERNIE  ,  ROWLF THE DOG  ,  D R . TEETH  ,  MAHNA MAHNA  ,  WAL DORF  ,  LINK HOG THROB  ,  THOMAS TWIDDLE BUG  ,  T HE SWEDISH CHEF  ,  THE NEW S MAN  ,  GUY S MILE Y  ,  CONVINCING JOHN  &  CANTUS THE MINSTREL .

Early Y ear s
 JAMES   MAURY   HE N S ON  was born i n Green ville ,  Mississippi  o n  SEP T E M B E R   2 4  t h ,  1 9 3 6  , the younger of 2| 2  boy s , the older be in g his brother Paul Jr. . His parents w e r e Betty Mar cella ( n é e Brown ) & Paul Ransom Hen son, an agronomist for the U S  Department o f Agriculture. 1 0 y ear s later, i n  1 9 4 6  , Paul S r. moved t he family  t o  Hyattsville ,  Mary land  , a suburb n ear  Washing t o n  ,  D . C ..  Henson , while growing up , loved watching Disney  films & movie s with comic legend s like  Bob Hope  &  George Burns. & enjoy ed listening t o such radio act s as Edgar Bergen  &  Charlie McCarthy. He would grow up to pay tribute to & work w / many of these same legends. Henson graduated as a member of the National Honor Society fro m North western Senior High School in Hyatts ville ,  Mary l and  , o n June 1 4 t h ,  1 9 5 4.

Sam & Friends
 HENSON  made his earliest foray into TV puppetry friend & 1| 1 st puppeteer in g partner, Russell Wall in t he summer o f  1 9 5 4. T h e 2| 2  create d  &  performed  the puppet s  Pierre the French Rat  &  Long horn & Short horn  for  The Junior Morning Show  on local station W| W T| T O| O P| P. Although the show lasted only 3| 3 week s before be in g canceled,  Henson  quickly landed a puppeteer in g job on the show  After noon  at  N B C  affiliate  W R C - T V.

In 1 9 55 , while a college student at the University o f  Mary land  ,  W R C - T V  offered  HENSON  his own s how , resulting in the creation of  Sam & Friends . T he 5| 5 - minute show s aired live twice a day after the new s, & often involve d the  puppet s  lip - synch in g to a comedy or novelty record.  HENSON  ’ s co - puppeteer  was the woman who would l ate r become his  wife ,  Jane Nebel. They wed on May 2 8 t h, 1 9 5 9. Of the cast of character s  created for this  series , only  Kermit the Frog  would remain as a major figure w it h  JIM   HENSON  for l ate r product i on s.

 JIM   HENSON  made several important innovation s in term s of how puppet s were use d on T V. The 1| 1 st i s that he did away with tiny 1| 1  - hand puppet s whose head s only bobbed w hen the y talked, prefer ring instead to use puppet s with moving mouth s & often real hand s. The 2| 2 n d innovation was to get rid of the stage that all puppet s on T V hid be hind, just as they did in conventional theater. He wisely realize d that the TV screen it s elf is the st age. Free in g the puppet s  from the simple constrict i on s of the past,  Henson  found that the  character s  were able to move a round their environment in a much m o r e imaginative & exciting way.

Beginning in the late 1 9 5 0 s , while still  producing   Sam & Friend s  ,  HENSON  kept his fledgling  company  a float by using his  puppet s  in the early T V  commercial s. Several new Early forays included Wilkin s & Wontkin s  & other  character s  for local companies, under t he name "  Muppet s  In c . " , form e d in  1 9 5 8. But not too before then, most unfortunately , his brother Paul was killed in a car crash in 1 9 5 6  when Jim was  1 9  y ear s of age. By t h e 1 9 6 0 s , the burgeon in g  Muppet s In c .  had expanded t o national campaign s , & 1| 1  of the  character s  created for these commercial s w as  Rowlf the Dog .  Rowlf  helped  Henson  get nation wide attention for the 1| 1 st time by appear in g in regular comedy bit s on  The Jimmy Dean Show . This led to increase d appearance s by the Muppet s  on variety show s & talk shows, including  Today  &  The Ed Sullivan Show .

During this same time,  JIM   HENSON  both met & hire d 2| 2 more people who would become  enormously   important  to his work :  FRANK OZ  , who had once been referred to by  JIM  as " absolutely the greatest puppeteer in the world " , who , sooner or late r , be come  Jim  ’ s  best   friend  i n t h e world , &  Jerry Juhl  , who would have a hand in writing nearly every  Muppet   product i on  for 3 5 y ear s. In 1 9 6 2 ,  Don Sahlin  also joined  the Muppet s  ,  build in g   Rowlf the Dog  & laying the foundation s for t he  Muppet   Work s hop. Apart from puppetry, Henson also experiment ed as an animator & film make r , with such film s as t he 1 9 6 5   Academy Award  nominate d short  Time Piece  ( which  Jim  h ad also  wrote  ,  directed  , & starred in ) , several comedic industrial films ( paving the way for the  Muppet Meet in g Film s  ) , the documentary  Youth ' 6 8  , & the hour - long experiment a l drama  T he Cube  i n  1 9 6 9.

SESAME STREET
In 1 9 6 9 ,  Joan Ganz Cooney  & the newly - form ed  C h i l d r e n ’ s Television Work s hop  approach ed  Henson  about possibly creating & perform in g puppet s on a new show aimed at pre - school er s. T he show would b e come  SESAME STREET , & soon i t  introduce d viewer s t o such memorable  character s  a s  BIG BIRD  ,  OSCAR THE GROUCH  ,  Count von Count  ,  Ernie  &  Bert  ,  Cookie Monster  ,  Grover  & eventually  Elmo  as w e ll.

 Jim   Henson  was initially reluctant to use his character s  on an educational k i d s ' series, for fear of be in g typecast as a C h i l d r e n ’ s enter tain e r. How ever, Joan Ganz Cooney  , once remarked that while the  show  ' s creative team had a collective brilliance ,  Henson  was t h e only " individual genius . " : " He was ou r e ra ' s  Char lie Chaplin  , Mae W est , W . C . Field s &  The Marx Brother s  , "  Coon e y  s a i d " & indeed he drew from all of them to create a new art form t h at influence d popular culture a round t h e world . "

By the late 1 9 7 0 s  / early  1 9 8 0 s ,  Henson  became more involve d w / other project s & he mainly just voice d his  character s  in inserts rather than in main  street  p lot s. But he was still involve d in relate d product i on s, voicing his character s  in t he 1| 1  s t  SESAME STREET   movie  ,  Follow T hat  BIRD  ,  perform in g  his  character s  ' voice s in various  SESAME STREET   Live   show s  , & also perform in g in  Chris t m as  Eve on  SESAME   STREET  ,  BIG   BIRD  in China  ,  DON ’ T  Eat the P i c t u r e s  ,  The  SESAME   STREET  Special  , &  SESAME   STREET  : 2 0 & Still  Count  in g . In the last product i on mention e d, Henson also appear ed a s him s elf in 2| 2 scene s. He w as also interview ed o n  T h e  SESAME   STREET  Experiment  &  SESAME   STREET  Remember s Joe Raposo & H is Music S i n g ! .

 JIM   HENSON  ’ s last segment s f or the show  were tape d on November 2 1 s t,  1 9 8 9. His later perform a n c e s include a  SESAME STREET  News Flash   segment  in which  Kermit   interviews  a bird whose par ent s live in different t r ees,  Kermit  ’ s  song  "  I  Wonder ' B o ut the W o r ld A b o v e U p T h ere  " &  Ernie  ’ s  song  "  Don ’ t Throw That  TRASH  o n t he Ground  ".

The Muppet Show
 JIM   HENSON  always felt puppetry should be f or all age s, including a d u l t s , & he was frustrated that  SESAME STREET  , even w / it  s appeal t o a d u l t s , was still c h i l d r e n ’ s programming. The Muppet s were labeled " kid die entertainment " by net work executives. His agent Bernie Brill stein  got him as an act on sea s on 1| 1  of the g round break in g  S N L  w / the  The Land of Gorch , but w / the content not written by his  st af f  & w / certain  cast members  annoyed of sharing the  show  w /  puppet s  , Henson just never felt right there. Fortunately, he receive d another break when Lord Lew Grade  invited him to produce a propose d half - hour show in  England. The result ing  Muppet Show  became 1| 1 of the great est, most success ful T V show s o f all. &, in addition to  KERMIT THE FROG  as the host , the show  feature d  character s  that would quickly become house hold name s , such as  Miss Piggy  ,  Fozzie Bear  ,  Gonzo the Great  ,  Rizzo t he Rat  ,  Statler  &  W a l d or f  ,  Dr . Bunsen Honeydew  &  Beaker  , &  Dr . Teeth  &  the E l e c t r i c May hem .

Performer s who eventually joined  Henson  ’ s ever - growing  t e am  during this period include  DAVE GOELZ ,  STEVE WHITMIRE  ,  Jim   HENSON  ’ s right - hand man perform in g some of his own  Muppet   character s  , ( as well a s , follow in g  Henson  ’ s unfortunate very tragic death ,  HENSON  ’ s eventual success or f or  Ernie  ,  The Muppet New s man  ,  KERMIT THE FROG  &  Link Hog throb  ) &  Louise Gold.

 HENSON  created another innovation start in g w /  The Muppet Show  : from now on, all product i on s would be platformed up , so that hum ans could move about freely & interact convincingly w / the Muppet   character s  , while the  Muppeteer s  could re main easily hidden , & move about  the ir  environment w / even greater fluidity than be fore.

In 1 9 7 9 ,  Jerry Juhl  describe d  HENSON  ’ s unique work in g style in an article about the making of "  The Muppets Go Holly wood   special  : " The [ product i on assistant s ] are running around scream in g , ' How are w e ever go in g to do all this ? ' & Jim is wander ing around in the middle of it all, perfect l y calm , perfect l y content. You go t o him & a s k, ' How ' s it go in g ? ' & he say s, ' Oh , fin e. There were hardly any air plane s over head when w e filmed  Miss Piggy  by t he pool. ' He ' s just like  Kermit  - - if  The Muppet Show  had a basket ball  team, the score would always be  Frog  99 , Chaos 9 8. "

 The Muppet Show  was so successful that it spawned 3| 3  movie s  during  Henson  ’ s life time ( &  more  since ) :  The Muppet Movie ,  The Great Muppet Caper  , &  The Muppet s Take Manhattan . Each film  provide d him w / further opportunities to break technological barrier s, including letting  KERMIT  ride a  bike.

Fraggle Rock
In 1 9 8 3 ,  Henson  introduce d a new show for children called  Fraggle Rock . The show  was concerned w / promoting under stand in g across culture s & around the world, a subject that was very important t o him. Henson was the guiding force in develop in g the concept for the series , which began with his own notes for "  The Woozle World  " scribble d on a small pad. Late r, i n collaboration w / such team member s as Jerry Juhl  &  Jocelyn Stevenson  , this extended to specific personality detail s coining &  character  names ( with  Boober  name d after a cow encountered by  HENSON  ’ s  dau  ght  ers  ). As Henson defined the series  ' purpose in that 1| 1  st d raft, " What the  show  is really about is p e o p l e getting a long wit h other p e o p l e , & under stand in g the delicate balance of the natural world . These are topic s that can be deal t with in a symbolic w ay , which is what puppets basically d o all t he t i m e . " From the beginning ,  HENSON  also insisted that the  show  be tailored for different countries , so that t he message about brother hood & under stand in g conflict in g culture s could be spread to as many nations as possible. This led to c o - production s , with involvement s ranging from completely new frame sequences tailored to each nation to unique  Uncle Traveling Matt  post card insert s , to simple dialogue dub s.

Although very much involve d in the series  as the creator, & serving as a  director  on several  episode s  , by this point  JIM   HENSON  was becoming increasingly " hand s - off " as a  perform er  & beginning to look at ambitious " realistic " puppet projects , instead assigning the regular  role s  to  T h e Muppet Show   veterans  as well as up- & - comer s &  Cana dian  talent. However, his very occasional appearances on  Fraggle Rock  show case d 2| 2 scene - steal in g  character s  , the enigmatic , " implacably calm "  Cantus the Minstrel  , who represented  Henson  ’ s Zen - like belief s & musical interest s , & t he flamboyant , fast - talk in g  Convincing John  , represent in g  HENSON  ’ s more frenetic , show man qualities.

Fantasy Film s
Never 1| 1 to rest on his laurels,  HENSON  move d on to an even more ambitious project. With the help o f fantasy illustrator Brian Froud , he created a Tolkien - like world for the film  The Dark Crystal . This production was entirely populated by extremely detailed, realistic - looking puppet s  - - a major break through & change from t he ( intended ) cartoon y look of t he earlier  Muppet s. Though an initial box - office failure,  The Dark Crystal  later developed a following as a widely respected cult film.

Base d on what he & his te am  learned from  the ir  experience s on  The Dark Crystal ,  JIM   HENSON  founded the  Creature Shop  to create new  character s  both for  HENSON  movie s & for out side product i on s. In - house product i on s during his life time include d  Labyrinth  &  The StoryTeller , while out side product i on s include d  Dream child  ,  T h e Bear  ,  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle s  , &  T he Witches .

HENSON &  OZ  ’ s friend ship
After work in g together for so many y ear s, every 1| 1 of  HENSON  ’ s fellow  Muppeteer s  eventually grew very close to him in no time at all. How ever, the Muppeteer  i t is clear he was always closest w / was  FRANK OZ  cause of the incredible partner ship & friend ship that th  ey  share d. There have been  count  less occasion s where  HENSON  ’ s character s  were paired up w /  OZ  ’ s  character s. While it was actually  RICHARD HUNT  who voiced  Statler  t o  JIM   HENSON  ’ s  Waldorf , ( the famous heckle r s from  T he Muppet Show  ) , the friend ship that  HENSON  &  OZ  share d was the  best  i n t h e whole Muppet   business. At his Memorial Service , 5| 5  s hort day s after  JIM  ’ s death ,  FRANK  speak s of a  Chris t mas  gift  JIM  had personally give n  him  , which he h a d apparently name d "  BERT  in Self - Contemplation ". He start s to cry but manage s to say "  I  think that ’ s w hen  I  knew, he love d  me  &  I  love d him , which t hen make s  OZ  start cry in g.

JIM  HE N S ON  /  F RAN K OZ  Muppet  Pair in g s

 *  ERNIE  /  BERT 
 *  ERNIE  /  BART 
 *  ERNIE  /  COOKIE MONSTER 
 *  ERNIE  /  GROVER 
 *  ERNIE  /  Beautiful Day Monster 
 *  ERNIE  / Professor Hastings
 *  ERNIE  /  LEFT Y T HE S ALE S MA N 
 *  ERNIE  / Fred ( monster )
 *  ERNIE  /  Harvey Knee slapper 
 *  ERNIE  / Mailman
 *  ERNIE  /  Fozzie Bear 
 *  Kermit the Protazoa  /  Fozzie Amoeba 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Bert 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Pinocchio 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Harvey Knee slapper 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Aladdin 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  T - Shirt Sales man 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  The Cat 
 *  Kermit the Frog  / Prince Charm in g
 *  Kermit the Frog  / The Pied Piper
 *  Kermit the Frog  / The Little Bad Wolf
 *  Kermit the Frog  / Augustine Washington
 *  Kermit the Frog  / Lamont the Dog
 *  Kermit the Frog  / Professor Hastings
 *  Kermit the Frog  / The Old Woman Who Live s in a Shoe
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Grover 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Cookie Monster 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Beautiful Day Monster 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Marvin Suggs 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Sam the Eagle 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Miss Piggy 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Fozzie Bear 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Animal 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Humpty Dumpty 
 *  Kermit the Frog  / The Wood s man
 *  Kermit the Frog  / The Tortoise
 *  Kermit the Frog  / Gawain
 *  Kermit the Frog  / Bruce Rumpelstiltskin
 *  Kermit the Frog  / Splurge
 *  Kermit the Frog  / The Encyclopedia Salesman
 *  Dr . Teeth  /  Animal 
 *  Dr . Teeth  /  Sam the Eagle 
 *  Dr . Teeth  /  Fozzie Bear 
 *  Dr . Teeth  /  Miss Piggy 
 *  Dr . Teeth  / Mildred Huxtetter
 * The Mechanical Wind - up TV Show Host /  Miss Piggy 
 * Green Heap /  Purple Heap
 * Roberta /  Rocky  ' s  Mother  ( w /  Jerry Nelson  ' s  Rocky  )
 * Tony /  2  large  Mons ter s  i n the  song  "  I ' m Between  "
 * Tony /  Beautiful Day Monster
 * Garth /  Gawain
 * Maurice /  Susie
 *  Rowlf the Dog  /  Fozzie Bear 
 *  Rowlf the Dog  /  Miss Piggy 
 *  Rowlf the Dog  /  Sam the Eagle 
 *  Rowlf the Dog  /  Marvin Suggs 
 *  Rowlf the Dog  / Gorgon Heap  ( once in  The Muppet Show   Episode 1 0 3  ;  Sherlock Holmes &amp; the Case of t h e Disappearing Clue s  )
 * Lothar /  Thig
 * Lothar /  Boppity
 *  Thomas Twiddlebug  /  Tessie Twiddlebug 
 * Herry Monster /  Cookie Monster 
 * Maurice Monster /  Grover 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Grover 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Cookie Monster 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Beautiful Day Monster 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Sally Screamer 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Mr s . Rooney 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Frances Oznowicz 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Jascha Lombardi 
 *  Guy Smiley  /  Tooth 
 *  Guy Smiley  / Baskerville the Hound
 *  Guy Smiley  / Lucy Jones
 *  Guy Smiley  / Farmer Frankie
 *  Guy Smiley  / Cloud
 *  Guy Smiley  / Lefty the Salesman
 *  Guy Smiley  / Scudge
 *  Guy Smiley  / Professor Hastings
 *  The Newsman  /  Sam the Eagle 
 *  Little Bird  / Baskerville the Hound
 *  Little Bird  /  Beautiful Day Monster 
 *  Little Bird  / Lucy Jones
 * Maurice /  Pumpkin   Anything Muppet  i n "  I Want to Hold Your Ear  "
 * Wally Whoopie /  Fozzie Bear
 *  The Swedish Chef  /  Dough 
 *  The Swedish Chef  /  Miss Piggy 
 *  The Swedish Chef  /  Sam the Eagle 
 *  The Swedish Chef  /  Animal 
 *  The Swedish Chef  /  Fozzie Bear 
 *  Link Hog throb  /  Miss Piggy 
 *  Link Hog throb  /  Fozzie Bear 
 *  Link Hog throb  /  Animal 
 *  Link Hog throb  /  Marvin Suggs 
 *  Waldorf  /  Bert 
 *  Waldorf  /  Cookie Monster 
 *  Waldorf  /  Grover 
 *  Waldorf  /  Fozzie Bear 
 * Jim /  Frank  ( w it h  Jerry Nelson  ’ s  Jerry  )
 * Leo /  Grump
 * Leo /  Quongo
 * Hippie /  Fuzzyface
 * Nigel /  Sam the Eagle 
 *  Mahna Mahna  / The Snowths
 *  Mahna Mahna  / Grump
 *  Sinister Sam  / Doc Holiday
 * As I Was Go in g to St . Ives  Any thin g Muppet s  :


 * Purple Boy /  Green Girl
 * King Peter the Persnickety /  Princess Penelope
 * Howard Snake /  Chuck Stoat
 * Lance /  Little Miss Muffet 
 * Flakey /  Snow White 
 * Pokey /  Snow White 
 * Sneaky /  Snow White 
 * The Genie /  Cookie Monster 
 * George Washington /  Teddy Roosevelt  (  Mount Rush more  )
 * Harold Happy /  Helen Happy
 * Grandmother Happy /  Helen Happy
 * Harvey Monster /  Clancy
 * The King /  The Tallest Person in the Kingdom
 * The King /  The Smallest Person in the Kingdom
 * Beginning /  End
 * Freddy Smith /  Grover  ( as  Super Grover  )

Muppeteer  veteran   STEVE WHITMIRE  can be seen & h ear d taking  HENSON  ’ s place in these 8| 8  pair in g s  he  originally share d with  OZ  before his death :


 *  Ernie  /  Bert 
 *  Ernie  /  Cookie Monster 
 *  Ernie  /  Grover 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Miss Piggy 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Fozzie Bear 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Grover 
 *  Kermit the Frog  /  Sam the Eagle 
 *  The Swedish Chef  /  Fozzie Bear  ( I Lo v e Lucy   Movie Mania Screen Test  )

 See also : 
 *  JIM   HEN SON  &amp;  FRANK   OZ 
 *  JIM   HENSON  /  FRANK   OZ  Muppet Pair in g s

The JIM   HENSON  Hour
 JIM   HENSON  continued to innovate with the creation of the computer - generate d puppet   character   Waldo C . Graphic  for  T h e  JIM   HENSON  Hour  in  1 9 8 9. Y ear s before the wide spread use o f C| C G| G I| I & the rise of  Pixar Animation Studios ,  HENSON  had a computerize d  character  interacting with  Muppet s  on a weekly T V show. A Muppet eer  could perform the  character  i n real time with the other  Muppet s , thanks to the  HENSON  Performance Control System. Waldo would l ate r have a prominent role i n  Muppet* Vision 3 D .

On  T h e  JIM   HENSON  Hour ,  JIM   HENSON  appeared as himself in introduction s & closing s for the show. He hosted  JIM   HENSON  Hour pitch tape &  The Secret s of the Muppet s .  JIM   HENSON  also won an Emmy  for  direct in g  1| 1   special  feature d in this  series ,  Dog City . Even though most of his major character s  from  The Muppet Show  made at least 1| 1  appearance on  T h e  JIM   HENSON  Hour ,  JIM  did n ’ t  perform  any new recurring  characters  in the  series.

HEN SON ’ s Death & Legacy
In late 1 9 8 9 ,  JIM   HENSON  made a radical change in his career. Wanting to become less of a business man & focus more on the creative side of the production, he entered into talk s w / Michael Eisner  t o s ell his  company  &  character s  ( minus  SESAME STREET  ) to t he  Walt Disney   Company. Negotiation s went awry after  Henson  ’ s sudden &  UN  timely death, & Disney  did n ’ t acquire  the Muppet s  till February  2 00 4  , which it now controls through the wholly owned subsidiary  The Muppet s Studio.

 JIM  became infected w / a very rare bacterium called Group A| A streptococcus  in May  1 99 0  that was, very tragically , discovered too late for him to actually receive all the proper treat ment. The most horrible tragedy of the Muppet  World actually happen ed. The  Great   JAMES   MAURY   HENSON  tragic ally pass ed away a t 1| 1  :  2 1  a. m. o n Wednesday, May   1 6  t h ,  1 99 0  , approximately  2 0  h our s & 2 3 minute s after checking him self into the emergency room at  New York  Hospital , n o t realizing j u st how sick he w a s.  HENSON  ’ s right hand man,  STEVE WHITMIRE  then took over f or  Kermit the Frog  , only month s after  JIM  passed away , then  he  took over for  Ernie  in  1 99 3  to  FRANK OZ  ’ s  Bert  on  SESAME STREET .  Waldorf , in 1 99 2  , had bee n take n over by  DAVE GOELZ . Starting in 1 99 1  the role o f  Dr . Teeth  had bee n officially take n over by  JOHN KENNEDY . However, the character  only had made brief appearance s with very little dialogue. How ever, follow in g his death ,  Rowlf the Dog  was kept completely silent until episode 2  of  Muppet s Tonight  , on which  he  broke that silence thanks to the vocal help of  BILL BARRETTA  , who now perform s  The Swedish Chef  ,  Mahna Mahna  &  Dr . Teeth  , a s of  2 00 5  , as well as  Rowlf the Dog  , primarily ever since  1 99 6  on  Muppet s Tonight .  Guy Smiley , start in in 2 00 5  , has bee n take n over by  ERIC JACOB SON  , who happen s to b e  FRANK OZ  ’ s primary successor. Most of  HENSON  ' s main  Muppet Show  character s  have been inherited by both  STEVE WHITMIRE  &  BILL BARRETTA  in recent  product i on s , including  2 0 11  ’ s  The Muppet s .

Accord in g to various source s,  HENSON  w as cremate d , & his ashes were then scattered a t his ranch out side Santa Fe  ,  New Mexico.

 JIM   HENSON  ' s legacy is carried on in different forms today.  SESAME  Workshop ( once the  C h i l d r e n ’ s Television Workshop  ) owns all the  Sesame Street   characters  & continues to experiment with it s format. How ever, in 2 00 1  , they lost the rights to  Kermit the Frog  since  he  is mainly part of the  Muppet   gang. As noted, the Walt Disney   Company  owns the  Muppet   character s  & continues to use them in new  product i on s. Fortunately, the  Jim   Henson  Company  it s elf , under t h e guidance of  Henson  ’ s children :  Lisa  , &  Cheryl  ,  Brian  &  Heather  (  John Henson  died of a sudden massive  heart   attack  o n February 1 4 ,  2 0 1 4  ) , continue s to release new material , including  Creature Shop   film s  &  original content.

Muppeteer Credit s

 *  HENSON  ’ s  primary  Muppet   character s  :


 *  Kermit the Frog  :  Sam & Friend s  ( 1 9 55  ) -  The Muppet s at Walt Disney World  (  1 99 0  ) (  take n from u s  on Wednesday, May 1 6 t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  STEVE WHIT MIRE  :  The Muppet s Celebrate  Jim   HENSON  ( 1 99 0  ) -  2 0 1 6


 *  MATT VOGEL  ( 2 0 1 7  - present )


 *  Rowlf the Dog  : Prina Dog  Commercial s (  1 9 6 2  ) -  The Muppet s at Walt Disney World  (  1 99 0  ) (  take n from u s  o n Wednesday, May  1 6  t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  B ill Barretta  :  Muppet s Tonight  episode 2  (  1 99 6  ) - present
 *  Ernie  :  SESAME STREET   EPISODE 1  ( 1 9 6 9  ) -  Season 21  (  1 99 0  ) (  take n from u s  o n Wednesday,  M ay   1 6  t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  STEVE WHIT MIRE  :  SESAME   STREET  Stay s Up Late  ( 1 99 3  ) -  2 0 1 4
 * Billy Bark hurst :  2 0 1 4  -  2 0 1 7
 *  PETE R LINZ  : 2 0 1 7  - present


 *  Guy Smile y  :  Sesame Street  Sea s on 1  (  1 9 6 9  ) -  Season 2 1  (  1 99 0  ) (  take n from u s  o n Wednesday,  M ay   1 6  t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  Eric Jacob son  :  Sesame   Street  Present s : T he Bo dy  ( 2 00 5  ) - present )
 *  Dr . Teeth  :  T he Muppet Show : Sex & Violence  ( 1 9 7 5  ) -  The Muppets at Walt Disney World  (  1 99 0  ) (  take n from u s  on Wednesday, May 1 6 t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  John Kenn ed y  :  Muppet s on Location : Days o f Swine &amp; Rose s  ( 1 99 1  ),  Muppet Treasure I s la n d   video game  (  1 99 6  ) ,  Muppet s from Sp ace  (  1 999  ) ,  Muppet R ace Mania  video game (  2 000  ) ,  W e A re Fam ily  music video (  2 00 2  ) ,  Muppet s P art y Cruise  video game (  2 00 3  )
 *  B ill Barretta  :  The Muppet s ' Wizard o f O z  ( 2 00 5  ) - present
 *  Wal dorf  :  T he Muppet Show : Sex & Violence  (  1 9 7 5  ) -  The Muppet s at Walt Disney World  (  1 99 0  ) (  take n from u s  on Wednesday, May 1 6 t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  Dave Goelz  :  The Muppet Christ mas Carol  (  1 99 2  ) - present
 *  The Swedish Chef  :  T he Muppet Show : Sex & Violence  ( 1 9 7 5  ) -  The Muppets at Walt Disney World  (  1 99 0  ) (  take n from u s  on Wednesday, May 1 6 t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  B ill Barretta  :  Muppet Treasure I s la n d  ( 1 99 6  ) - present )
 *  The News man  :  T h e Muppet Show  ( 1 9 7 6  ) -  T h e  Jim   Henson  Hour  (  1 9 8 9  ) ;  1 99 0  ) (  taken from u s  o n Wednesday,  May   1 6  t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  STEVE WHIT MIRE  : Muppet s . com  (  2 00 8  ) - present
 *  Link Hog throb  :  T h e Muppet Show  ( 1 9 77  )  -  The Muppet s at Walt Disney World  (  1 99 0  ) (  taken from u s  o n Wednesday,  May   1 6  t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  STEVE WHIT MIRE  :  Muppet R a ce Mania  ( 2 000  ) - present
 *  Mah n a Mah n a  :  The Ed Sullivan Show  ( 1969  ) -  The Muppet Show  (  1 9 7 6  ) (  take n from u s  on Wednesday, May 1 6 t h ,  1 99 0  )


 *  B ill Barretta  :  The Muppet Show Live  ( 2 00 1  ) - present
 *  Sam & Friend s  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Sam  ,  Professor Madcliffe  ,  Harry the Hipster  ,  O mar  ,  Pierre the French Rat  ,  Yorick  , many other s
 *  Commercial s  : Clown - Grabb er ,  Kermit the Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf t h e Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Scoop & Skip  ,  Wilkins & Wontkins  ,  Mack  ,  Baskerville the Hound  ,  Delbert the La Choy Dragon  ( voice ) ,  Mert  ,  Sir Linit  ,  T he Southern Colonel  ,  Arnold  ,  Fred  ,  Nutty Bird  ,  Sour Bird  ,  Kenner Gooner Bird  ,  Boy Twin  ,  Tommy & F re d  ,  Sneegle
 *  Tales of the Tinkerdee  : Charlie the Ogre
 * T V Appearance s : The Floating Face
 *  T h e Ed Sullivan Show  : Amanda ,  Beautiful Day Monster  ,  Talking Machine  ,  Business Business Creatures  ( Blue Monster , Orange Creature ) ,  Conrad Love  ,  Dasher  ,  Donner  ,  T he Glutton  ,  Thudge  , p roto -  Cookie Monster .
 *  The Wizard of Id  : The Wizard ,  The Spook
 *  The Great San t a Cla us Switch  : Fred the Elf ,  Lothar
 *  Sesame Street  : Anything Muppet s , an apple f rom "  Bilingual Fruit Song  " ,  As I Was Go ing t o St . Ives  boy ,  Baby Monster  (  1 9 6 9  ) ,  Bad Bart  ,  Barry Rhymie  ,  Beautiful Day Monster  ,  Beginning  ,  B en  ,  Betty Lou  ( occasionally ) ,  Big Jeffy  ( i n  a sketch where he demonstrates scatting  ) ,  Billy Monster  ,  Bip Bippadotta  ,  Captain Vegetable  ,  Charlie  ( occasion ally ) ,  Dan  ,  Ernie  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Fath er  ,  Fenwick  ,  Flakey  ,  Freddy Smith  ,  T he Geefle  ,  T h e Gen ie  (  1 9 7 3  ) ,  George Washington  (  The Ame ri can Re v o l u t i o n  ) ,  G ran d mother Happy  ,  Grover  (  1 9 7 0  " N ea r & F a r " sketch ) ,  Guy Smiley  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Harold Happy  ,  Harvey Monster  ( occasion ally ) ,  Henry  , Herm an the Hoppity - Hop ,  Herry Monster  (  1 9 7 0  ) ,  Hippie  (  1 9 6 9  ) ,  J Friend Singer  ,  Kermit the Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ) , The King ,  King Gerry the Generous  ,  King Pete r the Persnickety  ,  Lance  ,  Lavender  "  Fat   Cat  " performer  ,  Librarian  ,  Little Bird  (  1 9 6 9  ) ,  Little Chrissy  (  Muppetry  ) , Lost & Found Clerk ,  Marshal Mc Clean  ,  Mar vin  ,  Maurice  ,  Maurice Monster  ( occasionally ) ,  Mr . Essex  ,  M r . John son  ( ear l y segment s ) ,  M r . Nose  ,  Old King Cole  ' s Band  Fat Blue  fiddler &  Pumpkin  bass player ,  Pat P lay jack s  ,  Pokey  ,  Salvador Dada  ,  Sam  ,  Sammy the Snake  ( i n  1 9 8 6   pair e d up  w it h  Carol Channing  )      ,  Scudge  (  1 9 6 9  ) ,  Showered Rosell  ,  Sinister Sam  ,  Sneaky  , 1| 1  of the  Singing Dentist s  (  Muppetry  ) ,  Spaceship Surprise Captain  ,  Stan ( police officer )  ,  Thomas Twiddle bug  , 1| 1  of the 3| 3   Little Pigs  ,  Tony  ,  The Two - Headed Monster  ' s  Mother   Warren Wolf  ,  W itch  ,  Yellow   Submarine  Fat Blue train engineer  ,  Yip Yip Martians  ,  Zizzy Zoomer
 *  Tale s from Muppet land 
 *  T he  Frog  Prince  ( 1 9 7 1  ) :  Kermit the Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Garth  ,  King Rupert the Second
 *  H e y Cind er e ll a !  : King Gosh posh ,  Mean Floyd  ,  Ru fus  &  Kermit the Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  )
 *  Herb Alpert & t he Tijuana Brass  :  Gonzo the Great  ( n o n - s p e a k i n g ) & Hoggie Marsh
 *  Muppet Meeting Films  : Leo ,  Kermit the Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ) (  1 9 7 5  appearance )
 *  Cher  ( 1 9 7 5  - " Some thing " musical number ) :  Sweetums 
 *  The Muppet Show : Sex & Violence  : George Washington ,  Hudson  ,  Nigel  ,  Waldorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) &  Kermit t he Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  )
 *  The Muppet Show  character s  :  Accordion Player ,  Balloon - Head Conductor  ,  Beaver  (  episode 2 1 7 : Julie Andrews  ) ,  Black Rooster  (  episode 3 0 3 : Roy C l ar k  ) ,  Blue Frackle  (  epi sode 2 0 3 : Milton Berle  ) ,  Brown Bear  , 1| 1  o f the  Bun - Bun Brothers  ,  Butch  (  episode 4 1 6 : Jonathan Winters  ) ,  Dancers  ,  Dog lion  (  episode 22 4 : Cloris Leach man  ) ,  Droop  (  episode 11 5 : Candice Bergen  ) ,  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  The Eel  (  episode 1 2 4 : Mummenschanz  ) ,  Flower - Eating Monster  ,  Fazoob  ,  Frog s  (  Muppet ry  ) ,  Fuzz Brother  ,  Gills Brother  ,  Green Heap  ,  Green Frackle  ( occasion a l l y i n sea son 1| 1  ) ,  Hill billy Singer  ,  Jim  ,  Kermit the Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Kermit t he Protozoa  ,  Lenny the Lizard  (  episode 2 0 4 : R ich Little  ) ,  Link Hog throb  (  1 9 77  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Left y  ,  Mahna Mahna  ,  Mary Louise  (  episode 1 2 1 : Twiggy  ) ,  Mean Mama  (  episode 2 0 3 : Milton Berle  ) ,  M iss Kitty  (  episode 11 3  ) , 1| 1  of the  Muppaphone  ,  The News man  (  1 9 77  -  1 99 0  ) ,  T he New s pig  ,  Nigel  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 9 7 6  ) ,  Penguins  (  epi sode 4 2 3 : Carol Channing  ) ,  Pigs  ,  Prairie Dogs  ,  Robot   Kermit  ,  Rover Joe  ( occasion a l l y ) ,  Rowlf the Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  The Scientist  ,  Silver Beak  ,  Slim Wil son  (  episode 4 1 3 : Dizzy Gillespie  ) ,  The Swedish Chef  ( (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Timmy Monster  ( occasion ally ) ,  Waldorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Wally  ,  Wally Whoopie  ,  What no t s  ,  Zeke  (  1 9 77  -  1 9 7 8  ,  1 9 8 3  )
 *  S N L  : King Ploobis
 *  Emmet Otter ' s Jug Band Christ mas  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Harrison Fox  ,  Harvey Beaver  ,  Howard Snake
 *  Fraggle Rock  :  Cantus the Minstrel  &  Convincing John 
 *  T h e Dark Crystal  : SkekZok  (  Muppet r y  ),  Jen  (  Muppet r y  ) ,  Skek So  (  Muppetry  )
 *  Chris t mas Eve on  Sesame   Street  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ) &  Ernie  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0
 *  T he Muppet Movie  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Ernie  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf the Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Waldorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) &  The Swedish Chef  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  )
 *  The Great Muppet Caper  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf the Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Waldorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  The Swedish Chef  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) , &  The New s man  (  1 9 7 6  -  1 99 0  )
 *  The Muppets Take Manhattan  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Ernie  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf the Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Wal dorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  T he Swedish Chef  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  The New s man  (  1 9 7 6  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Baby Kermit  ,  Baby Rowlf  ,  Penguins
 *  Follow That  Bird  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Ernie  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  )
 *  P lay house Video  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf the Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Wal dorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  T he Swedish Chef 
 *  The Muppet s : A Celebration of 3 0 Y ear s  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf t he Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Ernie  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Wal dorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  T he Swedish Chef  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  )
 *  The Chris t mas Toy  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ) &  Jack - i n - t he - Box  ( Un credited )
 *  Labyrinth  : 1| 1 of the  Goblin s  (  Muppet ry  )
 *  The Tale of the Bunny Picnic  : Dog
 *  A Muppet Family Christ mas  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Ernie  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf the Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Wal dorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  T he Swedish Chef  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  The New s man  (  1 9 7 6  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Guy S mile y  (  1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ) & a  penguin
 *  Down at Fraggle Rock : Behind the Scene s  : Doozer  ( demonstration )
 *  The  Jim   Henson  Hour  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Link Hog throb  (  1 9 77  -  1 99 0  ) ,  T he Swedish Chef  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Time caster  , Teddy Bear ,  GARBAGE  Bag s ,  Timrek the Gorf  ,  Scream in g  NO  -  NO  s  , various demonstration s in "  Secret s of the Muppet s  "
 *  Dog City  : Bugsy Them
 *  The Muppet s a t Walt Disney World  :  Kermit the Frog  ( 1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ),  Dr . Teeth  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Rowlf the Dog  (  1 9 6 2  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Wal dorf  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Link Hog throb  (  1 9 77  -  1 99 0  ) &  The Swedish Chef  (  1 9 7 5  -  1 99 0  )
 *  Sing Your self Silly !  :  Ernie  ( 1 9 6 9  -  1 99 0  ),  Kermit t he Frog  (  1 9 55  -  1 99 0  ) ,  Lead Singer  from  One  Banana 

Directing Credit s



 *  Ti me Piece  ( 1 9 6 5  ) ( also wrote & starr ed a s " The M a n " )
 *  T he Cube  ( 1 9 6 9  )
 *  H e y Cinder ell a !  ( 1 9 6 9  )
 *  SESAME STREET  ( 1 9 6 9  - present )


 * Number Song Series (  1 9 6 9  )
 * D oll House (  1 9 7 0  )
 *  1  -  2  -  3  -  4  -  5  ( 1 9 7 5  )
 * King of 8 (  1 9 7 0  )
 * Queen of 6 (  1 9 7 1  )
 * Eleven Chee r (  1 9 7 3  )
 * Number Twelve Rock s (  1 9 7 1  )
 *  The  FROG  Prince  ( 1 9 7 1  )
 *  T he Muppet Musicians of Bremen  ( 1 9 7 2  )
 *  The Muppets Valen tine Show  ( 1 9 7 4  )
 * Muppet Meeting Films ( select  episode s  )
 *  Emmet Otter ' s Jug - Band Christ mas  ( 1 9 77  )
 *  The Great Muppet Caper  ( 1 9 8 1  )
 *  T he Dark Crystal  ( 1 9 8 2  ) ( co -  director  with  Frank Oz  )
 *  Rocky Mountain Holiday  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  Fraggle Rock  ( 1 9 8 3  -  1 9 8 6  )


 * Episode 1 0 1 (  1 9 8 3  )
 * Episode 1 0 2 (  1 9 8 3  )
 * Episode 1 0 6 (  1 9 8 3  )
 * Episode 111 (  1 9 8 3  )
 * Episode 11 3 (  1 9 8 3  )
 * Episode 11 8 (  1 9 8 3  )
 * Episode 1 22 (  1 9 8 3  )
 * Episode 2 0 8 (  1 9 8 4  )
 * Episode 2 1 0 (  1 9 8 4  )
 * Episode 2 1 9 (  1 9 8 4  )
 * Episode 3 0 3 (  1 9 8 5  )
 *  Labyrinth  ( 1 9 8 6  )
 *  The Tale of the Bunny Picnic  ( 1 9 8 6  )
 *  The Story teller  ( 1 9 8 7  )


 * Episode 1 0 5 (  1 9 8 9  )
 * Episode 1 0 6 (  1 9 8 9  )
 *  T h e  JIM   HENSON  Ho u r  ( 1 9 8 9  ) ( select  episode s  )


 *  Dog City  ( 1 9 8 9  )
 *  The Song of the Cloud For est  ( 1 9 8 9  )
 *  The E a r t h Day Special  ( 1 99 0  ) (  Kermit  segment )
 *  Muppet* Vision 3 D  ( 1 99 1  )

Writing Credit s

 *  Sam & Friend s  ( 1 9 55  -  1 9 6 1  )
 *  Tale s o f the Tinker dee  ( 1 9 6 2  )
 *  Ti me Piece  ( 1 9 6 5  )
 *  SESAME STREET  ( u n credit ed ) ( 1 9 6 9  - present )
 *  The Muppet Show  ( 1 9 7 6  -  1 9 8 1  )

Song writing Credit s

 * " Numb er Son g Series  " (  1 9 7 0  )
 * " T he Queen of Six  " (  1 9 7 1  )
 * " T he King of Eight  " (  1 9 7 0  )
 * " Number Three B all Film  " (  1 9 7 0  )
 *  T he Muppet Show  " Theme Song  " (  1 9 7 6  )

Produce r Credit s

 *  Sam & Friend s  ( 1 9 55  -  1 9 6 1  )
 *  Ti me Piece  ( 1 9 6 5  )
 *  The Muppet Show  ( 1 9 7 6  -  1 9 8 1  )
 *  The Muppet Movie  ( 1 9 7 9  )

Executive Produce r Credit s

 *  Fraggle Roc k  ( 1 9 8 3  )
 *  The Muppets Take Manhattan  ( 1 9 8 4  )
 *  The Witches  ( 1 99 0  )

Trivia

 *  HENSON  w as right - handed.
 *  HENSON  share s the same birth day  ( September 2 4 t h ) with  STEVE WHIT MIRE , a fellow  Muppet eer  who took over both  KERMIT THE FROG  &  Ernie  after  HENSON  ’ s death.
 * In 1 99 1 , an  album  that focused exclusive l y on  song s  sung b y  HENSON  ’ s  character s  ,  JIM   HENSON  : A  SESAME   STREET  Celebration  , w as release d.
 * A young  JIM   HENSON  was also portrayed in  Kermit  ’ s Swamp Y ear s  by Christian Kebbel  .  Kebbel , ironically , was born in  1 99 0  the same year  HENSON  die d.
 *  JIM   HENSON , in the 1 9 6 0 s  , wrote & illustrate d an un release d c h i l d r e n ’ s book called  Watermellon ’ s I Don ’ t Know .
 *  HENSON  drew the tattoo s see n on Lydia , the  pig  who performed in "  Lydia the Tattooed Lady  " in  episode 1 0 2  of  The Muppet Show .
 * Accord in g to 4| 4 Ki ds Entertainment, in publicity materials for the upcoming  JIM   HENSON  Designs  product line ,  HENSON  ’ s name " achieve s 9 5 % aware ness among consumer s survey e d , & a 9 8 % favorability rating among these same consume r s ".
 *  HENSON  share s his birth day  with the death da te o f  D r . Seuss  &  SESAME STREET   w rite r   JEFF MOSS .
 *  HENSON  ’ s final on - screen appearance was a guest appearance on The  Arsenio Hall Show  on May 4 th 1 99 0.
 *  JIM  made a cameo in  Into the Night  talking to his agent Bernie  on the phone before he was asked t o leave.
 *  JIM  ’ s image can b e spotted on a banner in  The Muppets , right outside The Muppet Theater  . His birth date is shown on the curtain rail system above the stage , depicting the date of installation.
 * Characters of  JIM   HENSON  ’ s  Muppeteer   Veteran   STEVE WHITMIRE  has performed once or consistently are :


 *  Kermit the Frog  :  T h e Muppet s Celebrate  JIM   HENSON  ( 1 99 0  ) -  2 0 1 6
 *  Ernie  :  SESAME   STREET  Stay s Up Late  ( 1 99 3  ) -  2 0 1 4
 *  The New s man  : Muppets . com  (  2 00 8  ) -  2 0 1 6
 *  Link Hog throb  :  Muppet R a ce Mania  ( 2 000  ) -  2 0 1 6
 *  Rowlf the Dog  ( occasion a l l y o n  Th e Muppet Show  ; right hand only )
 *  Dr . Teeth  (  The Muppet Show Live  ( 2 00 1  ) ( assistant t o  JOHN KENNEDY  ;  Muppet r y  only ; Hand s o f  D r . Teeth  ( assistant t o  BILL BARRETTA  ; c a .  2 00 5  - pre sent ) )
 *  Guy Smiley  :  SESAME STREET  sea s on 3 2  (  2 00 1  )
 *  T he Swedish Chef  :  I Love Lucy  Mania Screen T est  (  1 999  )
 * Zeke (  1 9 7 9  - ca .  1 9 8 0 s  )
 * Leo :  The Muppet Show   Episode 4 0 3  ) (  1 9 7 9  )
 *  Wal dorf  : P ar t s o f Little Big Plane t 2  (  2 0 11  )


 * Characters of  JIM   HENSON  ’ s  Muppeteer   Veteran   BILL BARRETTA  has voiced once or consistently are :


 *  Rowlf the Dog  :  Muppets Tonight  Episode 1 0 2  (  1 99 6  ) - present )
 *  T he Swedish Chef  :  Muppet Treasure I s la n d  ( 1 99 6  ) - present )
 *  Mah na Mahna  :  The Muppet Show Live  ( 2 00 1  ) - present
 *  Dr . Teeth  :  The Muppets ' Wizard o f Oz  ( 2 00 5  ) - present )
 *  Bip Bippadotta  :  SESAME STREET   EPISODE 4 2 0 3  ( 2 00 9  ) )

S e e a l s o

 *  JIM   HE N S ON  : A war d s & Honor s
 *  JIM   HE N S ON  C am e o s
 *  JIM   HE N S ON  Film s
 *  JIM   HE N S ON  Bio g rap h i e s
 *  HE N S ON  & Muppet s picture s
 *  Muppet eer  s
 * Muppet  Performer s
 * Muppet  Puppeteer s
 * Muppet  Voice Act or s
 * Animator s
 * Compose r s
 * Creature Shop  Puppeteer s
 * Designer s
 * Produce r s
 * W rite r s
 * Jim M art in, a fell o w  SESAME STREET   Muppeteer   veteran
 *  JIM  ( disambiguation  )
 *  JIM HE N S ON  o n t h e Muppet   W i k i
 *  JIM HE N S ON  o n t h e Puppet W i k i
 *  JIM HE N S ON  o n t h e  OSCAR   THE   GROUCH  W i k i

[[Category:J]]