Jim Henson

Jim Henson

Directing

Born September 24, 1936 · Greenville, Mississippi, USA

67 films as director · Active 1955–2020

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. Hens…

Known for

Sesame Street

Sesame Street

1969

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

1975

Great Performances

Great Performances

1971

Wogan

Wogan

1982

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

1968

Directed(67)

Fozzie's Bear-ly Funny Fridays

2015Fozzie's Bear-ly Funny Fridays

2009Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland

2004Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments

2004Muppet History 101

The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2

1999The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2★ 6.0

Dog City

1989Dog City★ 7.9

The Song of the Cloud Forest

1989The Song of the Cloud Forest

The Best of Ernie and Bert

1988The Best of Ernie and Bert★ 7.0

The Storyteller: The Soldier and Death

1988The Storyteller: The Soldier and Death

The Storyteller: The Heartless Giant

1988The Storyteller: The Heartless Giant

The Tale of the Bunny Picnic

1986The Tale of the Bunny Picnic★ 7.0

Labyrinth

1986Labyrinth★ 7.3

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

1986The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years★ 6.2

The Bells of Fraggle Rock

1984The Bells of Fraggle Rock★ 6.0

Fraggle Rock: Live by the Rule of the Rock

1983Fraggle Rock: Live by the Rule of the Rock

Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets

1983Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets★ 6.7

The World of 'The Dark Crystal'

1983The World of 'The Dark Crystal'★ 6.7

The Dark Crystal

1982The Dark Crystal★ 7.1

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show

1982The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show★ 7.8

The Great Muppet Caper

1981The Great Muppet Caper★ 6.9

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

1977Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas★ 6.9

Muppet Picker Upper

1975Muppet Picker Upper★ 6.0

The Muppet Musicians of Bremen

1972The Muppet Musicians of Bremen★ 6.4

Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince

1971Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince★ 6.8

The King of Eight

1971The King of Eight★ 10.0

The Queen of Six

1971The Queen of Six

Number Twelve Rocks

1971Number Twelve Rocks

Doll House

The Cube

1969The Cube★ 7.1

The Wizard of Id

1969The Wizard of Id

Hey Cinderella!

1969Hey Cinderella!★ 7.0

Sam the Snake

1969Sam the Snake

Ripples

1967Ripples★ 6.7

Wheels That Go

1967Wheels That Go★ 6.4

The Paperwork Explosion

1967The Paperwork Explosion★ 5.0

Bufferin: Memories

1967Bufferin: Memories

Limbo: The Organized Mind

1966Limbo: The Organized Mind★ 8.5

The Idea Man

1966The Idea Man

Rowlf the Salesman

1966Rowlf the Salesman

I'm Nobody

Time Piece

1965Time Piece★ 7.1

Alexander the Grape

1965Alexander the Grape★ 6.0

Run, Run

1965Run, Run★ 7.0

The Reindeer

1965The Reindeer

Robot

1963Robot★ 4.8

Shearing Animation

1962Shearing Animation★ 6.8

Drums West

1961Drums West★ 7.2

Visual Thinking

1961Visual Thinking

Cat and Mouse

1960Cat and Mouse

Acting(169)

2025The Muppet ScriptSelf (archive footage)

2024Joan Rivers at the BBCSelf (archive footage)

2024Jim Henson Idea ManSelf (archive footage)

Jim Henson — Watchpile | Watchpile

2021Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetSelf (archive footage)

2019Sesame Street: 50 Years and CountingErnie

2015In Their Own Words: Jim HensonSelf (archive footage)

2015The Late Show with Stephen ColbertErnie (archive footage)

2015In Their Own WordsSelf (archive footage)

2015I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney StorySelf

2014Jim Henson: Behind the Seams

2014Muppets Most WantedKermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited)

2011The MuppetsKermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited)

2009Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story

2009Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland

2007Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal'Self

2006A Sesame Street Christmas CarolErnie (voice) (archive footage)

2004Muppet History 101

2004Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments

2004Muppet Music MomentsSelf

2004AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the MoviesKermit the Frog

2004Sesame 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)

2004Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best BitesGuy Smiley (voice, archive footage)

2003Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!'Muppet Performer

2002Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word PlayKermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage)

2002Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame

2001The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob

1999The Very Best of the Muppet ShowKermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef

1999The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef

1999Sesame Unpaved

1998The Best of Kermit on Sesame StreetKermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)

1997Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO!Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage)

1997Sesame Street: Quiet TimeErnie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage)

1996Sesame Street: Do the AlphabetErnie (voice)

1996Sesame Street: Imagine That!Ernie (voice) (archive footage)

1995Orson Welles: The One-Man Band

1994The World of Jim HensonSelf / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage)

1994Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage)

1993Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!Ernie

1993Sesame Street Jam: A Musical CelebrationErnie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice)

1992A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan ShowKermit the Frog (voice)

1992Getting Ready to ReadKermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice)

1990The Muppets Celebrate Jim HensonSelf / Various Muppets (archive footage)

1990Jim Henson: In Performance

1990Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His MusicSelf / Kermit the Frog (voice)

1990The Muppets at Walt Disney WorldKermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice)

1990Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice)

1990The Earth Day SpecialKermit the Frog (voice)

1990Sesame Street: Monster Hits!Harvey Monster (voice)

198950 Years of Television: A Golden CelebrationKermit the Frog

1989An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank OzSelf

1989Miss Piggy's HollywoodWaldorf

1989Dog CitySelf / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice)

1989The Jim Henson HourSelf / Various

1988Free to Be... a FamilyKermit the Frog (voice)

1988Wow, You're A Cartoonist!Kermit The Frog

1988Sesame Street: Put Down the DuckieKermit the Frog/Ernie (voice)

1988The Best of Ernie and BertErnie

1988Muppet Studios Presents: You're the DirectorKermit the Frog / Swedish Chef / Rowlf the Dog / Link Hogthrob (voice)

1988Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-AlongRowlf the Dog (voice)

1988Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie BearKermit the Frog (voice)

1987A Muppet Family ChristmasKermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self

1987DollyKermit the Frog (voice)

1987Down at Fraggle RockCantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host

1987Muppet BreakawayLeo (voice)

1987Muppet Coffee BreakLeo (voice)

1987Sesame Street: Sing Along

1986Inside the LabyrinthSelf

1986The Christmas ToyKermit the Frog (voice)

1986LabyrinthGoblins (uncredited)

1986Sesame Street: Learning About LettersErnie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice)

1986The Tale of the Bunny PicnicDog (voice)

1986The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 YearsKermit the Frog / Ernie / Dr. Teeth / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Mahna Mahna / Harry the Hipster / Self

1986Wedden, dat..?Self

1986Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & StoriesErnie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice)

1986Sesame Street: Learning About NumbersErnie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited)

1985Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the MuppetsRowlf (voice)

1985Jim Henson's Little Muppet Monsters

1985Follow That BirdKermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)

1985Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird StuffKermit the Frog

1985Muppet TreasuresKermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman

1985The Muppet RevueKermit the Frog (voice)

1985Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy StoryKermit the Frog (voice)

1985Night of 100 Stars IIKermit the Frog

1985Into the NightMan on Phone

1985Children's Songs and Stories with the MuppetsKermit the Frog (voice)

1984The Bells of Fraggle RockCantus the Minstrel (voice)

1984The Muppets Take ManhattanKermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice)

1984Henson's Place: The Man Behind the MuppetsJim Henson (self)

1983Classic Creatures: Return of the JediSelf

1983Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of ArtErnie (voice)

1983Reading RainbowKermit the Frog

1983Big Bird in ChinaErnie (voice)

1983Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the MuppetsKermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice)

1983Fraggle RockCantus

1983The World of 'The Dark Crystal'Self

1983Muppet BreakthroughLeo

1982The Dark CrystalJen / High Priest, Ritual Master

1982The Fantastic Miss Piggy ShowKermit The Frog (voice)

1982I Love LibertyKermit the Frog (voice)

1981Of Muppets & MenSelf

1981Muppet Side SplitterLeo (voice)

1981The Great Muppet CaperKermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman / Zeke / Man in Dubonnet Club

1981The Muppets Go to the MoviesKermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf

1979John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas TogetherKermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice)

1979The Muppet MovieKermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice)

1979The Muppets Go HollywoodVarious Muppets

1979A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetErnie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited)

1979The Orson Welles ShowSelf / Kermit the Frog (voice)

1979Meal BreakLeo / Spaghetti

1979Grump CriticLeo

1979Let's Have the Dam BreakLeo

1979Muppet Breaker UpperLeo

1979Muppet Gimme a BreakLeo / Pasta in "Meal Break"

1978Christmas Eve on Sesame StreetKermit the Frog / Ernie (voice)

1978Hip Hip Parade!Kermit the Frog

1978Mickey's 50Kermit the Frog (voice)

1978Julie Andrews: One Step Into SpringKermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth

1978The Vent EventKermit the Frog

1977The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy SpecialKermit the Frog / Rowlf

1977Emmet Otter's Jug-Band ChristmasKermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice)

1977The Royal Variety Performance 1977

1976The Muppet ShowKermit the Frog, Waldorf, Rowlf the Dog, Link Hogthrob, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, The Newsman (voice)

1976Kagayake! Gorō Mapetto Geba Geba 90-pun!Kermit the Frog

1976The Muppet Show Pitch ReelLeo / Kermit the Frog (voice)

1975Sesame Street- Do you know where Ernie lives?Self

1975Saturday Night LiveKing Ploobis (voice)

1975Julie: My Favourite ThingsKermit the Frog/Dr. Teeth

1975Muppet Picker UpperKermit the Frog / Leo (voice)

1975The Muppet IntroductionKermit the Frog

1975Just a Few AnnouncementsKermit the Frog

1974Out to LunchKermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice)

1973Julie on Sesame StreetErnie/ Kermit the Frog (voice)

1973Keep U.S. BeautifulMuppets

1972The Muppet Musicians of BremenKermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice)

1971The King of EightThe King of Eight

1971Tales from Muppetland: The Frog PrinceKermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice)

1971Pure GoldieKermit the Frog (voice)

1971Great PerformancesKermit the Frog (voice)

1970The Great Santa Claus SwitchFred / Lothar (voice)

1970The Muppets on PuppetsSelf / Rowlf the Dog

1969Sesame Street

1969This Way to Sesame StreetErnie/Kermit

1969Sam the SnakeSam the Snake

1969Sesame Street Pitch ReelKermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook

1969Hey Cinderella!Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice)

1969Peter Alexander präsentiert SpezialitätenSelf

1969The CubeGorilla (voice)

1969The Wizard of IdThe Wizard / The Spook (voice)

1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest

1967The Paperwork Explosion

1967NBC Experiment in TelevisionGorilla (voice)

1966Limbo: The Organized MindLimbo (voice)

1966The Idea ManLimbo

1966I'm NobodyLimbo (voice)

1966Rowlf the SalesmanRowlf the Dog

1965The ReindeerDasher / Prancer (voice)

1965Alexander the GrapeFreddy the Fierce (voice)

1965Time PieceMan

1964Einer wird gewinnenSelf

1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf (archive footage)

1962Tales of the TinkerdeeKermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice)

1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf

1961Visual ThinkingKermit / Harry the Hipster (voice)

1955Sam and FriendsKermit the Frog

1954The Wonderful World of DisneySelf

1953The OscarsSelf / Kermit The Frog / Waldorf

1948Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Sesame Street 1986 Wrap PartyErnie / Himself