Jim Henson
Known for Directing · 169 credits
- Born
- 1936-09-24
- Died
- 1990-05-16
- Place of birth
- Greenville, Mississippi, USA
- Also known as
- James Maury Henson
Biography
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.
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Known For
TV Shows (25)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Ernie (archive footage)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street
1969
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
Saturday Night Live
1975
as King Ploobis (voice)
Wogan
1982
as Self
Great Performances
1971
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
The Oscars
1953
as Self / Kermit The Frog / Waldorf
Reading Rainbow
1983
as Kermit the Frog
Fraggle Rock
1983
as Convincing John / Gobo Fraggle, Convincing John, Cantus (voice) / Cantus the Minstrel, Convincing John, Additional Muppets (voice) / Cantus the Minstrel (voice) / Convincing John (voice, uncredited) / Convincing John (voice)
The Muppet Show
1976
as Kermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice)
Einer wird gewinnen
1964
as Self
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Self
The Jim Henson Hour
1989
as Self / Various
Sesame Unpaved
1999
Dolly
1987
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1948
Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame
2002
Wedden, dat..?
1986
as Self
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
1969
as Self
In Their Own Words
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
1985
NBC Experiment in Television
1967
as Gorilla (voice)
Sam and Friends
1955
as Kermit the Frog
Movies (144)
The Dark Crystal
1982
as Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master
Labyrinth
1986
as Goblins (uncredited)
The Muppets
2011
as Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited)
Muppets Most Wanted
2014
as Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)
Dog City
1989
as Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice)
The Muppet Movie
1979
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice)
Jim Henson Idea Man
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Muppet Treasures
1985
as Kermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman
The Earth Day Special
1990
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Muppets Take Manhattan
1984
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice)
The Great Muppet Caper
1981
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man in Dubonnet Club
Into the Night
1985
as Man on Phone
Pure Goldie
1971
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
The World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)
The Muppet Introduction
1975
as Kermit the Frog
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977
Night of 100 Stars II
1985
as Kermit the Frog
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
1985
as Kermit the Frog
Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party
as Ernie / Himself
Follow That Bird
1985
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
A Muppet Family Christmas
1987
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self
Down at Fraggle Rock
1987
as Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host
Wow, You're A Cartoonist!
1988
as Kermit The Frog
The Orson Welles Show
1979
as Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
Out to Lunch
1974
as Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
1972
as Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice)
I Love Liberty
1982
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
Hip Hip Parade!
1978
as Kermit the Frog
Joan Rivers at the BBC
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Muppet Picker Upper
1975
as Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice)
Visual Thinking
1961
as Kermit / Harry the Hipster (voice)
The Muppets Go Hollywood
1979
as Various Muppets
Julie: My Favourite Things
1975
as Kermit the Frog/Dr. Teeth
The 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
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
1993
as Ernie
Inside the Labyrinth
1986
as Self
Mickey's 50
1978
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Cube
1969
as Gorilla (voice)
An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz
1989
as Self
Sesame Street: Learning About Letters
1986
as Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)
Tales of the Tinkerdee
1962
as Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice)
Muppet Side Splitter
1981
as Leo (voice)
The Christmas Toy
1986
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?
1975
as Self
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
1983
as Self
Keep U.S. Beautiful
1973
as Muppets
Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun!
1976
as Kermit the Frog
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994
as Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)
Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments
2004
This Way to Sesame Street
1969
as Ernie/Kermit
Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets
1985
as Rowlf (voice)
Grump Critic
1979
as Leo
Julie on Sesame Street
1973
as Ernie/ Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street Pitch Reel
1969
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook
Free to Be... a Family
1988
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
The Reindeer
1965
as Dasher / Prancer (voice)
Orson Welles: The One-Man Band
1995
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice)
The Best of Ernie and Bert
1988
as Ernie
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Muppet Gimme a Break
1979
as Leo / Pasta in "Meal Break"
The Muppet Script
2025
as Self (archive footage)
The World of 'The Dark Crystal'
1983
as Self
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
1989
as Waldorf
Muppet Music Moments
2004
as Self
Muppet Breakthrough
1983
as Leo
Let's Have the Dam Break
1979
as Leo
Getting Ready to Read
1992
as Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)
The Muppets on Puppets
1970
as Self / Rowlf the Dog
Sesame Street: Quiet Time
1997
as Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990
as Self / Various Muppets (archive footage)
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
2015
as Self
The Great Santa Claus Switch
1970
as Fred / Lothar (voice)
Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers
1986
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)
Just a Few Announcements
1975
as Kermit the Frog
Muppet Breaker Upper
1979
as Leo
Sesame Street: Monster Hits!
1990
as Harvey Monster (voice)
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
1990
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice)
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
1982
as Kermit The Frog (voice)
Limbo: The Organized Mind
1966
as Limbo (voice)
The Muppet Revue
1985
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
2006
as Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
The Muppets Go to the Movies
1981
as Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
1979
as Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)
Muppet History 101
2004
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
1971
as Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice)
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
1983
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice)
Sesame Street: Imagine That!
1996
as Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Sing Along
1987
Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
1978
as Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
1986
as Dog (voice)
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
1977
as Kermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice)
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
1988
as Kermit the Frog/Ernie (voice)
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
1999
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
1990
as Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
1992
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
Meal Break
1979
as Leo / Spaghetti
Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting
2019
as Ernie
Big Bird in China
1983
as Ernie (voice)
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
2001
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob
The Vent Event
1978
as Kermit the Frog
Hey Cinderella!
1969
as Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice)
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
2002
as Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
1986
as Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)
In Their Own Words: Jim Henson
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal'
2007
as Self
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
1999
as Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
1988
as Kermit the Frog (voice)
Of Muppets & Men
1981
as Self
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
1979
as Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice)
Alexander the Grape
1965
as Freddy the Fierce (voice)
Sesame 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)
Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland
2009
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
1990
as Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites
2004
as Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage)
Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO!
1997
as Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet
1996
as Ernie (voice)
Jim Henson: Behind the Seams
2014
The Bells of Fraggle Rock
1984
as Cantus the Minstrel (voice)
Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!'
2003
as Muppet Performer
About Jim Henson
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 create… With 169 credits spanning from 1948 to 2025, Jim Henson has appeared in 144 films and 25 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jim Henson movies, Jim Henson filmography, or the latest projects starring Jim Henson can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jim Henson Movies
- The Dark Crystal (1982) — as Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master
- Labyrinth (1986) — as Goblins (uncredited)
- The Muppets (2011) — as Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited)
- Muppets Most Wanted (2014) — as Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)
- Dog City (1989) — as Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice)
Where to Watch Jim Henson Films
Most Jim Henson movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jim Henson, check our movies catalogue and browse page.