James Maury Henson September 24, — May 16, was an American puppeteer , animator, actor, and filmmaker who achieved worldwide notability as the creator of the Muppets.
Henson was also well known for creating Fraggle Rock — and as the director of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth Born in Greenville, Mississippi , and raised in both Leland, Mississippi , and University Park, Maryland , Henson began developing puppets in high school. Henson and Nebel co-founded Muppets, Inc. Henson graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in home economics. In , Henson joined the children's educational television program Sesame Street —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 —present. He produced the sketch comedy television series The Muppet Show — 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. 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 , and was named a Disney Legend in He was raised as a Christian Scientist and spent his early childhood in nearby Leland, Mississippi , before moving with his family to University Park, Maryland , near Washington, D.
Henson attended a variety of grade schools in his youth, including Hyattsville High School until it was closed in He completed his high school career at the newly opened Northwestern High School , where he joined the puppetry club. He enrolled at the University of Maryland, College Park , the following fall as a studio arts major, thinking that he might become a commercial artist.
