Jim Henson was the best known puppeteer of American origin, famous for having created such endearing characters as “The Muppets”And movies full of magic, fantasy and love.
James maury henson was born September 24, 1936 in the city of Greenville, located within the state of Mississippi in the United States of America.
Their parents were Paul Ransom Henson, an agronomist from Agriculture department of the USA, Y Elizabeth Marcella Henson; who after being born moved to Hyattsville, near Washington dc.
He always remembered the moment when television entered his life as one of the most important events of his entire career. A short time later, while still attending the Northwestern High School, began working on children’s programs.
His task itself was to create puppets to entertain them, but little by little this became a passion that he would carry even while he enrolled in the University of Maryland, inside of the College park.
During its first year, the WRC-TV He asked him to make puppets for a 5 minute show that was to be held on Sunday mornings. His creations were the first Muppets, among which already existed the immortal Kermit the Frog (Kermit the frog in the original).
Unlike the puppets of the time, Henson believed that these characters should have life and be able to show more feelings. In this way he began to use more flexible materials than wood and also rods from below instead of ropes.
By then “Sam & friends”He was already a commercial success, but once he graduated from college in 1960, he wondered if he really wanted to be a puppeteer all his life. The answer came to him during a months-long trip to Europe.
Upon returning to the USA got married with Jane nebel, who had helped him create the characters for the Muppets. Together they had five children: Lisa on 1960, Cheryl on 1962, Brian on 1963, John on 1965 Y Heather on 1970.
During the decade of ’60, the popularity of his characters led him to do many varied jobs, especially in advertising and current affairs throughout the country.
On 1963 moved to New York where he created and founded the Muppets Inc. and hired more employees to help him create new characters. Among them Frank Oz He was his right hand man and best friend.
On 1969 chain Children’s Television Workshop asked him to join the cast of “Sesame Street”, An innovative children’s program that could surely put Henson’s puppets to good use.
Immediately all the characters he created became the most popular of the moment, being to this day remembered and idolized by entire generations. Among them: The Cookie Monster, Big bird, Bert Y Ernie Y Oscar the Grouch.
The Muppets then they began to invade not only television screens, but all kinds of formats, such as works on the street Broadway, Christmas specials and different holidays and who knows how many other things.
On 1979 the first film of the Muppets at the movies, leaving an impressive profit margin of more than $ 65 million only in the USA, one of the 100 best films so far.
In addition to his own projects, Henson helped others such as George Lucas within the creation of characters for “Star wars”. The Teacher Jedi Yoda, it was a creation of Frank Oz under its representation, both in voice and in its corporeal form.
On 1982 Henson’s work opened up horizons that no one had ever imagined. Created the Jim Henson Foundation to promote the art of puppeteers throughout the field of USA and he also started working on new movies.
That same year he launched “The Dark Crystal”, With concepts of art totally different from those of the Muppets. This attracted a much more adult audience, since in this case the puppets were not puppets, but real living creatures.
On 1986 produced, wrote and directed “Labyrinth”, Feature film starring Jennifer connelly Y David Bowie. Despite its enormous cost, the film was barely a success, being Henson’s first disappointment in his career.
That same year, he and his wife ended up separating, since he hardly ever spent time at home as he was totally absorbed by work. His children remember that the only time they spent together was when they were in his workshop.
On 1989 decided to sell his company to The Walt Disney CompanySince I was tired of dealing with all the red tape and wanted to focus more on creativity and new characters. The business closed in $ 150 million.
The May 13, 1990, Henson began to have cold symptoms and went to see a doctor for a prescription. “Aspirin only”They told him and sent him home. The next day he was spitting up blood and was taken to a hospital to be placed on a ventilator.
The May 16, 1990 Henson died of lung failure, aged just 53. His toxic shock was triggered by possessing a pneumonial bacterium that had already consumed a large part of his organs.
At his funeral, as he himself had requested, no one wore black, and his death was celebrated as if it were a party, with a jazz band and many of his creations being handled by his employees.
After this his children continued his legacy with the Jim Henson Creature Shop, which currently provides puppets for all kinds of films and also the Jim Henson Foundation.