Highest rated as cast or director
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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jim Henson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Directed 43
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
The Best of Ernie and Bert
Director
- 1986
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Director
- 1984
- 1983
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Director
Fraggle Rock: Live by the Rule of the Rock
Director
The World of 'The Dark Crystal'
Director
- 1982
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Director
- 1981
1970s
- 1977
- 1975
Muppet Picker Upper
Director
- 1972
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Director
- 1971
The King of Eight
Director
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
Director
The Queen of Six
Director
Number Twelve Rocks
Director
- 1970
Doll House
Director
1960s
- 1969
Sam the Snake
Director
Hey Cinderella!
Director
The Wizard of Id
Director
- 1967
Wheels That Go
Director
The Paperwork Explosion
Director
Ripples
Director
Bufferin: Memories
Director
- 1966
Limbo: The Organized Mind
Director
The Idea Man
Director
Rowlf the Salesman
Director
- 1965
The Reindeer
Director
Alexander the Grape
Director
Run, Run
Director
Time Piece
Director
- 1963
Robot
Director
- 1962
Shearing Animation
Director
- 1961
Drums West
Director
- 1960
Cat and Mouse
Director
Acted in 116
2010s
- 2019
Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Various Characters
- 2014
- 2011
2000s
- 2006
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
- 2004
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Kermit the Frog
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Mah Na Mah Na / Fat Blue / The Baker / King of 8 (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites
Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage)
- 2003
Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!'
Muppet Performer
- 2002
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)
- 2001
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob
- 2000
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Singing, Drawing & More!
Ernie (archive)
1990s
- 1999
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef
- 1998
The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street
Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
- 1997
Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO!
Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Quiet Time
Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)
- 1996
Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet
Ernie (voice)
Sesame Street: Imagine That!
Ernie (voice) (archive footage)
- 1995
Orson Welles: The One-Man Band
Movie
- 1994
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)
- 1993
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
Ernie
- 1992
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Getting Ready to Read
Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)
- 1990
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice)
Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)
Sesame Street: Monster Hits!
Harvey Monster (voice)
1980s
- 1989
50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration
Kermit the Frog
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
Waldorf
- 1988
Free to Be... a Family
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Wow, You're A Cartoonist!
Kermit The Frog
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
The Best of Ernie and Bert
Ernie
Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along
Rowlf the Dog (voice)
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
Kermit the Frog (voice)
- 1987
A Muppet Family Christmas
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self
Dolly
Kermit the Frog (voice) · 1 episode
Down at Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host
Sesame Street: Sing Along
Movie
- 1986
The Christmas Toy
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Sesame Street: Learning About Letters
Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Dog (voice)
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Kermit the Frog / Ernie / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Mahna Mahna / Harry the Hipster / Self
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)
Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers
Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)
- 1985
Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
TV
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Kermit the Frog
The Muppet Revue
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Night of 100 Stars II
Kermit the Frog
Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets
Kermit the Frog (voice)
- 1984
The Bells of Fraggle Rock
Cantus the Minstrel (voice)
- 1983
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ernie (voice)
Big Bird in China
Ernie (voice)
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice)
- 1982
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Kermit The Frog (voice)
I Love Liberty
Kermit the Frog (voice)
- 1981
Muppet Side Splitter
Leo (voice)
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef / Waldorf (voice)
1970s
- 1979
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice)
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street
Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)
Grump Critic
Leo
Let's Have the Dam Break
Leo
Meal Break
Leo / Spaghetti
- 1978
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)
Hip Hip Parade!
Kermit the Frog
Mickey's 50
Kermit the Frog (voice)
Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth
- 1977
- 1976
Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun!
Kermit the Frog
- 1975
Julie: My Favourite Things
Kermit the Frog / Dr. Teeth
Muppet Picker Upper
Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice)
Just a Few Announcements
Kermit the Frog
- 1974
Out to Lunch
Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)
- 1973
Julie on Sesame Street
Ernie/ Kermit the Frog (voice)
- 1972
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice)
- 1971
The King of Eight
The King of Eight
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice)
- 1970
The Great Santa Claus Switch
Fred / Lothar (voice)
1960s
- 1969
This Way to Sesame Street
Ernie/Kermit
Sam the Snake
Sam the Snake
Sesame Street Pitch Reel
Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook
Hey Cinderella!
Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice)
The Wizard of Id
The Wizard / The Spook (voice)
- 1967
The Paperwork Explosion
Movie
- 1966
Limbo: The Organized Mind
Limbo (voice)
The Idea Man
Limbo
Rowlf the Salesman
Rowlf the Dog
- 1965
The Reindeer
Dasher / Prancer (voice)
Alexander the Grape
Freddy the Fierce (voice)
Time Piece
Man
- 1962
Tales of the Tinkerdee
Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice)
1950s
- 1955
Sam and Friends
Kermit the Frog · 1 episode
No release date
Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party
Ernie / Himself
Wrote 65
2020s
- 2025
The Muppet Script
Original Concept
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
2010s
- 2019
- 2018
- 2015
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow
Story
- 2014
- 2013
Lady Gaga & the Muppets Holiday Spectacular
Characters
- 2011
2000s
- 2008
Studio DC: Almost Live
Characters
- 2006
Muppets TV
Characters
- 2005
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
Characters
- 2002
Kermit's Swamp Years
Characters
- 2001
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
Writer
1990s
- 1999
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
Writer
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Writer
- 1996
Muppet Sing Alongs: Treasure Island
Characters
- 1995
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Characters
- 1992
- 1990
Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration
Characters
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
Characters
1980s
- 1987
A Muppet Family Christmas
Characters
- 1986
The Christmas Toy
Characters
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Characters
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Characters
- 1985
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Writer
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
Writer
Fraggle Rock: Scared Silly
Writer
Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets
Writer
- 1984
- 1983
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Characters
- 1982
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Characters
- 1981
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Writer, Characters
1970s
- 1979
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
Characters
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Characters
- 1977
- 1976
- 1975
- 1972
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Characters
- 1971
Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince
Characters
- 1970
The Great Santa Claus Switch
Characters
The Muppets on Puppets
Characters
1960s
- 1969
Sam the Snake
Writer
Hey Cinderella!
Characters
- 1967
- 1965
Alexander the Grape
Writer
Time Piece
Writer
- 1962
Tales of the Tinkerdee
Writer
No release date
Untitled Labyrinth Sequel
Original Film Writer
Produced 47
2000s
- 2001
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3
Producer
1990s
- 1999
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Producer
The Very Best of the Muppet Show
Producer
- 1991
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Daedalus & Icarus
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Orpheus & Eurydice
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Perseus & the Gorgon
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Theseus & the Minotaur
Executive Producer
- 1990
Living with Dinosaurs
Executive Producer
The Muppets at Walt Disney World
Executive Producer
1980s
- 1989
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989
Executive Producer
- 1988
The Storyteller: The True Bride
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Sapsorrow
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: The Three Ravens
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Hans My Hedgehog
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: A Story Short
Executive Producer
Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along
Executive Producer
Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: The Luck Child
Executive Producer
The Storyteller: Fearnot
Executive Producer
- 1987
A Muppet Family Christmas
Executive Producer
Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series
Executive Producer
- 1986
The Christmas Toy
Producer
The Tale of the Bunny Picnic
Producer
- 1985
Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story
Producer
Fraggle Rock: Scared Silly
Executive Producer
- 1984
- 1983
Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets
Producer
- 1982
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Producer
- 1981
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Producer
1970s
- 1979
- 1978
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Executive Producer
- 1977
- 1976
- 1973
Julie on Sesame Street
Producer
- 1972
The Muppet Musicians of Bremen
Producer
- 1970
The Great Santa Claus Switch
Executive Producer
1960s
- 1967
The Paperwork Explosion
Producer
- 1965
Run, Run
Producer
Time Piece
Producer
- 1962
Tales of the Tinkerdee
Producer
Created 15
2020s
- 2020
1990s
- 1992
- 1990
Little Mermaid's Island
Creator
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
- 1987
Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series
Creator
- 1985
Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters
Creator
- 1984
- 1983
1970s
- 1978
1, rue Sésame
Creator
- 1976
1960s
- 1969
1950s
- 1955
Sam and Friends
Creator
No release date
Takalani Sesame
Creator
Other crew 8
2010s
- 2015
Fozzie's Bear-ly Funny Fridays
Creator
1990s
- 1999
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2
Creator
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
Basil Hears a Noise
In Memory Of
1980s
- 1986
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Creator
- 1984
The Bells of Fraggle Rock
Creator
Visual effects 3
1960s
- 1966
Limbo: The Organized Mind
Animation Director
- 1965
Alexander the Grape
Animation
Time Piece
Animation
Camera 1
1960s
- 1965
Run, Run
Director of Photography
Art department 1
1960s
- 1965
Alexander the Grape
Storyboard Artist
Appearances30
2020s
- 2025
The Muppet Script
Self (archive footage)
- 2024
Joan Rivers at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
- 2021
2010s
- 2015
In Their Own Words: Jim Henson
Self (archive footage)
In Their Own Words
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
Self
2000s
- 2007
Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal'
Self
1990s
- 1994
The World of Jim Henson
Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)
- 1990
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Self / Various Muppets (archive footage)
Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music
Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
1980s
- 1989
An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz
Self
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989
Self – Kermit the Frog / Ernie
- 1986
- 1984
Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets
Self
- 1983
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
Self
The World of 'The Dark Crystal'
Self
- 1982
- 1981
Of Muppets & Men
Self
1970s
- 1979
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Self / Kermit / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldof / Swedish Chef / Pig
The Orson Welles Show
Self / Kermit the Frog (voice)
- 1975
Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?
Self
- 1970
The Muppets on Puppets
Self / Rowlf the Dog / Kermit the Frog / Various Characters
1950s
- 1954
- 1953
No release date
The World Of Puppetry with Bruce Schwartz
Self