Discover the cause of Jim Henson’s untimely death – the visionary creator behind the beloved Muppets and Sesame Street characters. Find out how he tragically died at the age of 53 from a severe strep infection that led to organ failure on May 16, 1990.
Jim Henson’s cause of death
Jim Henson, the creative genius behind the beloved Muppet and Sesame Street characters, died tragically on May 16, 1990 at the age of 53 from a severe strep infection that quickly led to organ failure.
Henson’s contribution to the entertainment industry was profound. Characters like Big Bird, Ernie, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy have become beloved icons, appreciated by audiences around the world. The success of PBS’s Sesame Street and The Muppet Show has elevated him to the pinnacle of his career, and he recently agreed to sell Henson Associates to the Walt Disney Co. for a considerable sum.
Beyond his talent, what made Henson truly special was his good-natured nature and gentle demeanor in an often competitive industry. He had a unique ability to infuse kindness and positivity into his characters, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of millions. Despite his enormous success, Henson remained extremely humble, once describing puppetry as a way of hiding.
The circumstances of Henson’s death were deeply sad. In the days leading up to his death, he appeared to be battling a cold, but dismissed it as mere fatigue. Concerned family members noticed his unusual behavior, and it became clear that something was seriously wrong when he started coughing up blood. Unfortunately, by the time he sought medical help in a New York hospital, his organs were already failing, and despite the efforts of his family and friends, he died after two cardiac arrests.
After his death, there was uncertainty over the fate of his company, and Disney initially backed away from the acquisition. However, Henson’s son, Brian, took legal action and eventually reached a settlement. Jim Henson’s legacy lives on through the ongoing operation of the Henson Creature Shop and the continued popularity of characters like Ernie and the Muppets, reflecting his benevolent spirit.
Jim Henson’s ability to portray the “good guy” as the most interesting and eccentric character in his storytelling has endeared himself to countless individuals, and his influence on the entertainment industry remains unparalleled.
In a broader context, 1990 was marked by significant events in various fields. The movie Pretty Woman and the TV show America’s Funniest Home Videos won the hearts of audiences, while Janet Jackson’s music and George Will’s baseball book struck a chord with fans in their respective domains.
What happened to Jim Herson?
Jim Henson, the brilliant creative mind behind the beloved Muppets and iconic Sesame Street characters, died tragically on May 16, 1990. At the age of 53, he succumbed to a severe strep infection that quickly led to organ failure, resulting in his untimely death. .
Throughout his illustrious career, Henson has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. His lovable characters, such as Big Bird, Ernie, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, have become beloved by audiences around the world. His extraordinary success with PBS’ Sesame Street and The Muppet Show catapulted him to the top of his profession. In addition, he recently agreed to sell Henson Associates to Walt Disney Co. for a considerable sum, further consolidating its influence in that area.
What set Henson apart was not just his talent, but also his good-natured nature and gentle demeanor in the midst of the competitive world of entertainment. He possessed a unique ability to infuse kindness and positivity into his characters, making them relatable and endearing to millions of fans. Despite his huge success, Henson remained extremely humble, often resorting to puppetry as a way to cover himself up.
The circumstances of Henson’s death were deeply tragic. In the days leading up to his death, he appeared to be battling a cold, but dismissed it as mere fatigue. Concerned family members noticed the unusual behavior, and when he started coughing up blood, it became obvious that something was seriously wrong. Unfortunately, by the time he sought medical attention at a New York hospital, his organs were already failing, and despite the best efforts of family and friends, he eventually passed away after suffering two cardiac arrests.
After his untimely death, there was uncertainty about the future of his company, and Disney initially backed away from the acquisition. However, Henson’s son, Brian, took legal action, eventually settling the matter. Jim Henson’s legacy lives on through the continued operation of the Henson Creature Shop and the enduring popularity of characters like Ernie and the Muppets, keeping his benevolent spirit alive.
In conclusion, Jim Henson’s death on May 16, 1990 was the result of a serious strep infection that led to organ failure. His contributions to the entertainment industry, along with his good-natured nature and ability to infuse goodness into his characters, have left a lasting impact on the hearts of millions, ensuring that his legacy continues to shine in the world of entertainment.
How did Jim Henson die?
Jim Henson, the visionary creator of the beloved Muppets and iconic Sesame Street characters, died on May 16, 1990 at the age of 53. The cause of his death was a severe strep infection that quickly led to organ failure.
In the days leading up to his death, Henson had not been feeling well and appeared to be battling a cold. At first he dismissed his symptoms as fatigue. Concerned family members noticed his unusual behavior, and when he started coughing up blood, it became clear that something was seriously wrong. Unfortunately, at the moment when he sought medical help in a New York hospital, his condition suddenly worsened, and his organs were already failing. Despite the efforts of family and friends, Jim Henson died after suffering two cardiac arrests.
Henson’s untimely death was a huge loss to the entertainment world as he left an indelible mark with his endearing characters and incredible contributions to children’s television. Fans around the world continue to remember and celebrate the impact of his work and his good-natured nature.
Who was James Henson?
James Maury Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was a multi-talented American puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, and director who gained worldwide recognition as the creative force behind the Muppets. In addition to the Muppets, he was also known for his work on Fraggle Rock (1983–1987) and as the director of The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986). Born in Greenville, Mississippi, he grew up in Leland, Mississippi, and University Park, Maryland.
Henson’s journey into puppetry began during high school, when he began developing puppet characters. While attending the University of Maryland, College Park as a freshman, he co-created the television program Sam and Friends (1955–1961), a short-form comedy show, in collaboration with Jane Nebel, a senior at the time, whom he later married. After earning degrees in home economics from the University of Maryland, Henson and Jane began producing coffee commercials and exploring experimental film projects. In 1958, they co-founded Muppets, Inc., which eventually evolved into the Jim Henson Company.
His breakthrough came in 1969 when Henson joined Sesame Street, the famous children’s educational television program, where he played a significant role in developing the Muppet characters for the series. During this time, Henson and his creative team also appeared on the first season of Saturday Night Live, a popular comedy sketch show. Henson’s notable accomplishments include producing The Muppet Show (1976–1981) and bringing to fame his beloved characters such as Kermit the Toad, Rowlf the Dog, and Ernie. In his later years, he founded the Jim Henson Foundation and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, further expanding his creative efforts. For his involvement in The StoryTeller (1987–1988) and The Jim Henson Hour (1989), he was awarded two Emmy Awards.
Tragically, on May 16, 1990, Henson died in New York at the age of 53 from streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. At the time of his death, he was in the middle of negotiations to sell his company to the Walt Disney Company, but the negotiations were abruptly ended after his death. In honor of his lasting legacy, he received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991 and was named a Disney Legend in 2011, commemorating his lasting impact on the world of entertainment.
James Henson Bio
Name | Henson |
date of birth | September 24, 1936 |
Died | 16 May 1990 (age 53), New York City, USA |
Rest area | Cremated; ashes scattered in Taos, New Mexico in 1992 |
Alma mater | University of Maryland, College Park (BS) |
Occupations | Puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, filmmaker |
Active for years | 1954–1990 |
Board member from | The Jim Henson Foundation, The Jim Henson Company (1958–1990), Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (1979–1990) |
Husband | Jane Nebel (b. 1959; September 1986) |
children | Lisa, Cheryl, Brian, John, Heather |
Prizes | Courage Award, Emmy Award, Disney Legend, Inkpot Award[2] |
Disclaimer: The above information is for general information purposes only. All information on the website is provided in good faith, but we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the website.
Categories: General
Source: HIS Education