Major Works
Nonfiction
- Doodling with Jim Henson (2011)
- It’s Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider (2005)
- The Muppet Show Book (1978)
Television
- Muppets Tonight (1996-1997)
- Dinosaurs (television series, 1991-1994)
- Storyteller: Greek Myths (1990)
- Storyteller (1987)
- Muppet babies (1984-1990)
- Fraggle Rock (1983-1987)
- Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas (1977)
- The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
- Saturday Night Live (first season, 1975)
- Sesame Street (Nov. 10, 1969 -1990)
- The Jimmy Dean Show (1963-1966)
- Sam and friends (1955-1963/4)
Screenplays
- A Tale of Sand (2011)
- Buddy (1997)
- The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)
- Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
- Muppet Treasure Island (1995)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- Muppetvision 3-D (1991)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (1991)
- The Witches (1990)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
- Bear (1989)
- Willow (1988)
- The Labyrinth (1986)
- Tale of the Bunny Picnic (1986)
- Into the Night (1985)
- Dreamchild (1985)
- Follow That Bird (1985)
- Muppets take Manhattan (1984)
- The Return of the Jedi (Star Wars, 1983)
- The Dark Crystal (1982)
- The Muppet Caper 1981)
- The Empire Strikes Back ( Star Wars, 1980)
- The Muppet Movie (1979)
- Final Speech (1975)
- The Frog Prince (1971)
- The Cube (1969)
- Organized Brain (1968)
- Hey Cinderella (1968)
- Youth ’68 (1968)
- Run, Run (1967)
- Time Piece (1965)
Biography of Jim Henson
by Robert B. McIntyre (SHS)
Paul Ransoth Henson and Elizabeth Marcella ( Brown) Henson were the proud parents of a new baby boy on September 24, 1936, at King’s Daughters Hospital in Greenville, Mississippi. The second son of the Henson family, James Maury Henson, but would be known to the world as Jim Henson.
Growing up in Leland, Mississippi, while his father was on assignment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jim remembered spending hour after hour exploring the shorelines of Deer Creek not far from his house. Throughout his childhood, Jim was enthralled with both art and television. Jim’s grandmother was a painter, quilter, needle worker, and the encourager of Jim’s vivid imagination. She was the one that encouraged him to use his imagination to delight the world around him.
When Jim was in the fifth grade, the Henson family moved to Maryland. In Maryland, Jim and his older brother Paul practiced several artistic methods. In 1954, while still in high school, he began his television career of performing puppets on a local Washington, D.C. His show was on Saturday mornings on WTOP-TV. The following year while Jim was just a freshman at the University of Maryland, his show ran twice a day, each five minutes in length with the characters he created for Sam and Friends.
Jim Henson’s performing partner was a woman named Jane Nebel, who later would become his wife. Jim’s most famous creation of all came while at the television station, Kermit the Frog. Jim Henson met Jane Anne Nebel at the University of Maryland. They became the best friends and on May 28, 1954, Jim Henson married Jane Nebel. They had five children: Lisa Marie, Cheryl Lee, Brian David, John Paul, and Heather Beth Henson ( May 208).
Jim Henson was becoming a demand in New York. While there, Henson met Don Sahlin, master puppet builder, and Frank Oz, a puppeteer. The threesome were about to become some of the most famous creators of all time. They came up with a dog named Rowlf, the first character created as a group. Rowlf appeared on The Jimmy Dean Show. The group soon became comfortable enough to venture into the film making industry. They had several experimental films, including Youth ’68, The Cube, and the award winning Time Piece.
Joan Ganz Cooney, a television producer, approached Henson about doing some puppets for an up-coming children’s show. Cooney approached Henson because of his reputation in creating short, funny skits. Henson agreed and soon began work on his characters that would become his most famous of creations, the muppets. Henson had created creatures that taught counting, the alphabet, and other helpful concepts to children. With help from characters such as Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird, children today have learned to read, write, and count at an earlier age.
Henson and his group next tackled The Muppet Show. While on the show, more characters were created. The additions of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, and Rizzo the Rat completed the current cast of muppets. With all of the muppet characters created, Henson created five full length movies. The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, Muppets Take Manhattan, Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppet Treasure Island all follow The Muppet Showand are somewhat like sequels to them.
Henson was achieving his every wish and desire. A television show calledMuppet Babies was in creation for his company next. When the show had begun its work, Henson was offered a special project to work on. Home Box Office, or HBO, who approached him about doing a show. Henson came up with Fraggle Rock. The critically acclaimed show was a huge hit Filmography).
Jim Henson was about to hit the top of his career. Henson was approached by the famous George Lucas about creating some characters for the sequel to Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back. Lucas loved Henson’s work so much that he hired him again to help him on The Return of the Jedi. Finishing the project Henson began work on The Dark Crystal. The movie was in production for over five years. By the time it finished. Henson had created every little detail in the movie. The next and most famous movie Henson created was The Labyrinth. Henson created everything but a few people in the movie. He had been able to get the much sought-after David Bowie to play the role of the Goblin King. The movie was an instant success for critics, fans, and the company (Filmography).
Jim Henson also became quite the collector of awards. He had eight Emmy Awards, the Peabody Award, eight Grammy Awards, six ACE Awards, and three WGA. Henson was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987. To add to his numerous of awards, he received more than 100 international honors ( Awards at www.henson.com).
Unfortunately, Jim Henson fell ill with pneumonia, and he didn’t realize how ill he was until it was too late. James Maury Henson died on May 16, 1990, of walking pneumonia, less than twelve hours after he walked into the hospital. The news was a shock to the world. Henson was just fifty-three years old when he passed away.
In 1991, Henson was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Henson Company today is run by his son Brian. The business is a Fortune 500 company. Jim Henson will always live on in the hearts of his fans, including me.
Henson was inducted into the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) Hall of Fame in 2017.
Related Websites
- The official Jim Henson Company web site.
- An Interview with Jim Henson by Jane Harris.
Bibliography
- ” The Awards.” [Online] Available at http://www.henson.com/company/index.html , April 14, 2000.
- ” The Company.” [Online] Available athttp://www.henson.com/company/index.html , April 14, 2000.
- ” The Creators.” [Online] Available athttp://www.henson.com/creators/biography/index.html , April 14, 2000.
- Harris, Judy. Interview. Interview with Jim Henson on September 21, 1982. Editor Judy Harris. [Online] Available at
http://www.bestweb.net/~foosie/henson.htm , November 12, 1999. - James, Susie. ” A pad for Kermit the frog.” Southern Scrapbook. May/June, 1997.
- ” Jim Henson.” [Online] Available a thttp://geocities.com/Hollywood/4015/henson.htm , April 14, 2000.
- ” Jim Henson.” [Online] Available at http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/3108/chjh.html , April 14, 2000.
- ” Jim Henson Filmography.” [Online] Available athttp://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/3108/jhfilm.html , April 14, 2000.
- May, Hal, and Susan M. Trosky, editors. ” Jim Henson.” Contemporary Authors. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research
Incorporated, 1988. 208-211. - May, Hal, and Susan M. Trosky, editors. ” Jim Henson.” Contemporary Authors. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research
Incorporated, 1991. 236. - ” Muppography.” [Online] Available athttp://vr.ncsa.uiuc.edu/BS/Muppets//muppography.html , April 14, 2000.