Directing · Greenville, Mississippi, USA · Born September 24, 1936
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.
MovieThe Muppet Script
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJoan Rivers at the BBC
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJim Henson Idea Man
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MovieStreet Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSesame Street: 50 Years and Counting
2019
as Ernie
MovieIn Their Own Words: Jim Henson
2015
as Self (archive footage)
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Ernie (archive footage)
TVIn Their Own Words
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MovieI Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
2015
as Self
Jim Henson: Behind the Seams
2014
MovieMuppets Most Wanted
2014
as Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)
MovieThe Muppets
2011
as Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited)
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story
2009
Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland
2009
MovieReflections of 'The Dark Crystal'
2007
as Self
MovieA Sesame Street Christmas Carol
2006
as Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
Muppet History 101
2004
Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments
2004
Muppet Music Moments
2004
as Self
MovieAFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
2004
as Kermit the Frog
MovieSesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!
2004
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Mah Na Mah Na / Fat Blue / The Baker / King of 8 (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieSesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites
2004
as Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage)
MovieMuppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!'
2003
as Muppet Performer
MovieSesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
2002
as Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)
TVSesame Street: Play with Me Sesame
2002
MovieThe Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
2001
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob
MovieThe Very Best of the Muppet Show
1999
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
MovieThe Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
1999
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
TVSesame Unpaved
1999
MovieThe Best of Kermit on Sesame Street
1998
as Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
MovieSesame Street: Elmo Says BOO!
1997
as Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)
MovieSesame Street: Quiet Time
1997
as Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
MovieSesame Street: Do the Alphabet
1996
as Ernie (voice)
MovieSesame Street: Imagine That!
1996
as Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
MovieOrson Welles: The One-Man Band
1995
MovieThe World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)
MovieSesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)
MovieSesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
1993
as Ernie
MovieSesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice)
MovieA Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
1992
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieGetting Ready to Read
1992
as Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)
MovieThe Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990
as Self / Various Muppets (archive footage)
Jim Henson: In Performance
1990
MovieSing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
1990
as Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieThe Muppets at Walt Disney World
1990
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice)
MovieSesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
1990
as Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)
MovieThe Earth Day Special
1990
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieSesame Street: Monster Hits!
1990
as Harvey Monster (voice)
Movie50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration
1989
as Kermit the Frog
MovieAn Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz
1989
as Self
MovieMiss Piggy's Hollywood
1989
as Waldorf
MovieDog City
1989
as Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice)
TVThe Jim Henson Hour
1989
as Self / Various
MovieFree to Be... a Family
1988
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieWow, You're A Cartoonist!
1988
as Kermit The Frog
MovieSesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
1988
as Kermit the Frog/Ernie (voice)
MovieThe Best of Ernie and Bert
1988
as Ernie
Muppet Studios Presents: You're the Director
1988
as Kermit the Frog / Swedish Chef / Rowlf the Dog / Link Hogthrob (voice)
MovieJim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along
1988
as Rowlf the Dog (voice)
MovieHey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
1988
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieA Muppet Family Christmas
1987
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self
TVDolly
1987
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieDown at Fraggle Rock
1987
as Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host
Muppet Breakaway
1987
as Leo (voice)
Muppet Coffee Break
1987
as Leo (voice)
MovieSesame Street: Sing Along
1987
MovieInside the Labyrinth
1986
as Self
MovieThe Christmas Toy
1986
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieLabyrinth
1986
as Goblins (uncredited)
MovieSesame Street: Learning About Letters
1986
as Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)
MovieThe Tale of the Bunny Picnic
1986
as Dog (voice)
MovieThe Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
1986
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Mahna Mahna / Harry the Hipster / Self
Wedden, dat..?
1986
as Self
MovieSesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
1986
as Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)
MovieSesame Street: Learning About Numbers
1986
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)
Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets
1985
as Rowlf (voice)
TVJim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
1985
MovieFollow That Bird
1985
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
MovieGonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
1985
as Kermit the Frog
MovieMuppet Treasures
1985
as Kermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman
MovieThe Muppet Revue
1985
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieMuppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
1985
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieNight of 100 Stars II
1985
as Kermit the Frog
MovieInto the Night
1985
as Man on Phone
MovieChildren's Songs and Stories with the Muppets
1985
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieThe Bells of Fraggle Rock
1984
as Cantus the Minstrel (voice)
MovieThe Muppets Take Manhattan
1984
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice)
MovieHenson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets
1984
as Jim Henson (self)
MovieClassic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
1983
as Self
MovieDon't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
1983
as Ernie (voice)
TVReading Rainbow
1983
as Kermit the Frog
MovieBig Bird in China
1983
as Ernie (voice)
MovieRocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
1983
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice)
TVFraggle Rock
1983
as Convincing John
MovieThe World of 'The Dark Crystal'
1983
as Self
Muppet Breakthrough
1983
as Leo
MovieThe Dark Crystal
1982
as Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master
MovieThe Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
1982
as Kermit The Frog (voice)
TVWogan
1982
as Self
MovieI Love Liberty
1982
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieOf Muppets & Men
1981
as Self
MovieMuppet Side Splitter
1981
as Leo (voice)
MovieThe Great Muppet Caper
1981
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man in Dubonnet Club
MovieThe Muppets Go to the Movies
1981
as Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf
MovieJohn Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
1979
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice)
MovieThe Muppet Movie
1979
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice)
MovieThe Muppets Go Hollywood
1979
as Various Muppets
MovieA Walking Tour of Sesame Street
1979
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThe Orson Welles Show
1979
as Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
Meal Break
1979
as Leo / Spaghetti
Grump Critic
1979
as Leo
Let's Have the Dam Break
1979
as Leo
Muppet Breaker Upper
1979
as Leo
Muppet Gimme a Break
1979
as Leo / Pasta in "Meal Break"
MovieChristmas Eve on Sesame Street
1978
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
MovieHip Hip Parade!
1978
as Kermit the Frog
MovieMickey's 50
1978
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieJulie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
1978
as Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth
The Vent Event
1978
as Kermit the Frog
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
1977
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf
MovieEmmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
1977
as Kermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice)
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977
TVThe Muppet Show
1976
as Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice)
Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun!
1976
as Kermit the Frog
The Muppet Show Pitch Reel
1976
as Leo / Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieSesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?
1975
as Self
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as King Ploobis (voice)
MovieJulie: My Favourite Things
1975
as Kermit the Frog/Dr. Teeth
MovieMuppet Picker Upper
1975
as Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice)
Just a Few Announcements
1975
as Kermit the Frog
MovieThe Muppet Introduction
1975
as Kermit the Frog
MovieOut to Lunch
1974
as Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)
MovieJulie on Sesame Street
1973
as Ernie/ Kermit the Frog (voice)
Keep U.S. Beautiful
1973
as Muppets
MovieThe Muppet Musicians of Bremen
1972
as Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice)
MovieThe King of Eight
1971
as The King of Eight
MovieTales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
1971
as Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice)
MoviePure Goldie
1971
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
MovieThe Great Santa Claus Switch
1970
as Fred / Lothar (voice)
MovieThe Muppets on Puppets
1970
as Self / Rowlf the Dog
TVSesame Street
1969
MovieThis Way to Sesame Street
1969
as Ernie/Kermit
MovieSam the Snake
1969
as Sam the Snake
MovieSesame Street Pitch Reel
1969
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook
MovieHey Cinderella!
1969
as Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice)
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
1969
as Self
MovieThe Cube
1969
as Gorilla (voice)
MovieThe Wizard of Id
1969
as The Wizard / The Spook (voice)
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Paperwork Explosion
1967
TVNBC Experiment in Television
1967
as Gorilla (voice)
MovieLimbo: The Organized Mind
1966
as Limbo (voice)
MovieThe Idea Man
1966
as Limbo
MovieI'm Nobody
1966
as Limbo (voice)
MovieRowlf the Salesman
1966
as Rowlf the Dog
MovieThe Reindeer
1965
as Dasher / Prancer (voice)
MovieAlexander the Grape
1965
as Freddy the Fierce (voice)
MovieTime Piece
1965
as Man
Einer wird gewinnen
1964
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self (archive footage)
MovieTales of the Tinkerdee
1962
as Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice)
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
MovieVisual Thinking
1961
as Kermit / Harry the Hipster (voice)
TVSam and Friends
1955
as Kermit the Frog
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Self
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self / Kermit The Frog / Waldorf
TVMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1948
MovieSesame Street 1986 Wrap Party
as Ernie / Himself
