Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets and the original voice of Kermitthe Frog, is born James Maury Henson in Greenville, Mississippi.Henson first named his puppets, "Muppets," in 1954 while working as a producer of the Washington, D.C. TV show, Sam and Friends. Henson was the leading force behind the Muppets long run in the television series Sesame Street and The Muppet Show and films such as The Muppet Movie and creator of advanced puppets for projects like Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Return of the Jedi. Sadly in May 1990, Henson passed away suddenly at the age of 53 while in negotiations to sell his company to Disney. He was named a Disney Legend in 2011.
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