Jim Henson didn’t set out to become a famous puppeteer or create characters beloved by children and adults worldwide. He made puppets simply because he wanted to work in television.
I love television and I wanted to work in it, and I heard a television station there was looking for a puppeteer
Henson said in a 1985 interview. So, I made some puppets and got a job. But it was just in order to work on television that I got into puppets.
Almost 70 years after he first introduced the world to the Muppets, Henson’s work continues to endure. Characters like Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, and many more from The Muppet Show and Sesame Street have become integral parts of American culture.
The Impact of the Muppets
Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, notes, The Muppets are these indelible characters. There’s something to love in each one of them, and people can find themselves in the Muppets.
A Creative Legacy
A new documentary, Jim Henson Idea Man, directed by Ron Howard, focuses on Henson’s life and wide-ranging career. The film gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at his time as a student at the University of Maryland, his filmmaking journey, relationships with his family, and his relentless creative energy. Howard recalls his fascination with Henson’s creativity early on stating,I still didn’t realize the scope of what he had accomplished in his 53 short years – far too short. And so I was curious about this explosion of creativity…
The Beginnings
Henson was born in Mississippi but grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He attended the nearby University of Maryland where he met his wife Jane in 1954. The couple had five children together. Jim Henson passed away in 1990 at age 53 after an illness.
The Birth of Kermit
Karen Falk from The Jim Henson Company explains that Henson made puppets when he learned that local CBS affiliate WTOP-TV was looking for young performers for its Junior Morning Show. That opportunity led to the creation of the original Kermit puppet in 1955.This was his chance to work in television,
Falk says. That was his whole goal. Jim was really interested in all aspects of making television.
Changing Puppetry Forever
The WRC-TV director recruited Henson for Sam and Friends in 1955. This program featured the early evolution of what became known as Muppets, which revolutionized television puppetry. Falk mentions that before Henson’s innovation, characters were presented theatrically on stage even when filmed for TV.
A Family Affair
Howard’s film features interviews with collaborators like Frank Oz—known for Miss Piggy—and Henson’s children: Lisa, Heather, Brian, and Cheryl. Archival footage shows the breadth of Henson’s career including commercials and ambitious feature films like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.
Oz reflects on their time together: It’s hurtful that I’m not doing my characters now…but it’s of my own doing.
Pioneering Family Television
The National Museum of American History showcases an extensive collection of Jim’s creations displayed at the Entertainment Nation exhibit since 2022.
One notable piece is Kermit made from a coat belonging to Henson’s mother and ping pong ball halves for eyes.
An Enduring Influence
Sunae Park Evans conserves these iconic figures exclaiming,
when Smithsonian staff members see me working with Muppets—they have tears in their eyes. That’s how meaningful these creations are.
This incredible legacy illustrates why Jim Henson remains a touchstone figure.
As Frank Oz aptly puts it:
When Jim first discussed this project (The Dark Crystal)…It was clear it’d be different from any previous work we’d done together.
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