1936-09-24 Greenville, Mississippi, USA
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.
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The Muppet Script | Self (archive footage) | 2025-02-09 |
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Joan Rivers at the BBC | Self (archive footage) | 2024-09-08 |
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Jim Henson Idea Man | Self (archive footage) | 2024-05-18 |
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Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street | Self (archive footage) | 2021-04-23 |
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Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting | Ernie | 2019-10-01 |
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I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story | Self | 2015-05-06 |
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In Their Own Words: Jim Henson | Self (archive footage) | 2015-09-15 |
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Muppets Most Wanted | Kermit The Frog (archival recordings) (uncredited) | 2014-03-20 |
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Jim Henson: Behind the Seams | 2014-06-21 | |
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The Muppets | Kermit the Frog (archive voice) (uncredited) | 2011-11-23 |
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Jim Henson's Tales from Muppetland | 2009-07-28 | |
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Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story | 2009-12-12 | |
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Reflections of 'The Dark Crystal' | Self | 2007-08-01 |
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A Sesame Street Christmas Carol | Ernie (voice) (archive footage) | 2006-12-01 |
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Jim Henson: Commercials and Experiments | 2004-11-20 | |
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Muppet Music Moments | Self | 2004-11-20 |
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Muppet History 101 | 2004-11-21 | |
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Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites | Guy Smiley (voice, archive footage) | 2004-01-27 |
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AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies | Kermit the Frog | 2004-06-22 |
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Muppets Magic from 'The Ed Sullivan Show!' | Muppet Performer | 2003-01-01 |
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Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play | Kermit the Frog / Bip Bippadotta / Lavender Anything Muppet in Fat Cat (voice) (archive footage) | 2002-05-31 |
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The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3 | Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob | 2001-07-17 |
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The Very Best of the Muppet Show | Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef | 1999-05-17 |
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The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 2 | Kermit the Frog / Waldorf / Rowlf / The Swedish Chef | 1999-05-17 |
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The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street | Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage) | 1998-09-01 |
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Sesame Street: Quiet Time | Ernie ("Naptime") / Kermit the Frog (voice) (archive footage) | 1997-04-01 |
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Sesame Street: Elmo Says BOO! | Ernie / Harvey Monster (voice) (archive footage) | 1997-07-08 |
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Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet | Ernie (voice) | 1996-02-06 |
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Sesame Street: Imagine That! | Ernie (voice) (archive footage) | 1996-01-01 |
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Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! | Kermit the Frog / Ernie (archive footage) | 1994-05-18 |
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The World of Jim Henson | Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf (archive footage) | 1994-11-23 |
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Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration | Ernie / Kermit the Frog / Guy Smiley (archive footage) (voice) | 1993-10-29 |
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Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration! | Ernie | 1993-10-29 |
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A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1992-10-25 |
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Getting Ready to Read | Kermit / Ernie / Bip Bippadotta (voice) | 1992-06-18 |
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Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music | Self / Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1990-05-16 |
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Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! | Ernie / Singer / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (segment "One Banana") (voice) | 1990-04-30 |
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The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson | Self / Various Muppets (archive footage) | 1990-11-21 |
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The Earth Day Special | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1990-04-22 |
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Sesame Street: Monster Hits! | Harvey Monster (voice) | 1990-01-01 |
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Jim Henson: In Performance | 1990-05-16 | |
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The Muppets at Walt Disney World | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Link Hogthrob (voice) | 1990-05-06 |
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Miss Piggy's Hollywood | Waldorf | 1989-05-14 |
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An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz | Self | 1989-07-14 |
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50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration | Kermit the Frog | 1989-11-26 |
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Dog City | Self / Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Bugsy Them (voice) | 1989-05-05 |
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Muppet Studios Presents: You're the Director | Kermit the Frog / Swedish Chef / Rowlf the Dog / Link Hogthrob (voice) | 1988-06-15 |
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Free to Be... a Family | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1988-12-14 |
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Jim Henson: Sing-Along, Dance-Along, Do-Along | Rowlf the Dog (voice) | 1988-06-01 |
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Hey, You're as Funny as Fozzie Bear | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1988-06-01 |
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Wow, You're A Cartoonist! | Kermit The Frog | 1988-10-12 |
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Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie | Kermit the Frog/Ernie (voice) | 1988-10-05 |
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The Best of Ernie and Bert | Ernie | 1988-09-12 |
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Down at Fraggle Rock | Cantus the Minstrel / Convincing John / Self / Host | 1987-07-13 |
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A Muppet Family Christmas | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Ernie / Self | 1987-12-16 |
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Sesame Street: Sing Along | 1987-01-01 | |
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The Christmas Toy | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1986-12-06 |
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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 | 1986-01-21 |
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Labyrinth | Goblins (uncredited) | 1986-06-27 |
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The Tale of the Bunny Picnic | Dog (voice) | 1986-03-26 |
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Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers | Ernie / Kermit the Frog / King of 8 (voice) (uncredited) | 1986-01-01 |
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Sesame Street: Learning About Letters | Ernie/Kermit the Frog/King Peter the Persnickety (voice) | 1986-05-12 |
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Inside the Labyrinth | Self | 1986-12-13 |
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Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories | Ernie / The King (Bedtime Stories & Songs) (voice) | 1986-01-01 |
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Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets | Rowlf (voice) | 1985-10-01 |
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Follow That Bird | Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice) | 1985-08-02 |
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Muppet Treasures | Kermit The Frog / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf / Link Hogthrob / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / The Newsman | 1985-07-09 |
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Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff | Kermit the Frog | 1985-07-09 |
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The Muppet Revue | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1985-04-16 |
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Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1985-04-16 |
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Children's Songs and Stories with the Muppets | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1985-01-01 |
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Night of 100 Stars II | Kermit the Frog | 1985-03-10 |
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Into the Night | Man on Phone | 1985-02-22 |
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The Bells of Fraggle Rock | Cantus the Minstrel (voice) | 1984-12-24 |
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Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets | Jim Henson (self) | 1984-01-01 |
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The Muppets Take Manhattan | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / Ernie / Granny / Horse & Carriage Rider / Link Hogthrob / The Newsman (voice) | 1984-06-27 |
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Big Bird in China | Ernie (voice) | 1983-05-29 |
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Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art | Ernie (voice) | 1983-11-16 |
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The World of 'The Dark Crystal' | Self | 1983-01-09 |
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Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi | Self | 1983-11-21 |
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Muppet Breakthrough | Leo | 1983-01-01 |
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Rocky Mountain Holiday with John Denver and the Muppets | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Waldorf / Zeke (voice) | 1983-05-12 |
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The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show | Kermit The Frog (voice) | 1982-09-17 |
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The Dark Crystal | Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master | 1982-12-17 |
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I Love Liberty | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1982-03-21 |
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The Muppets Go to the Movies | Kermit / Rowlf / Link Hogthrob / The Swedish Chef / Waldorf | 1981-05-20 |
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The Great Muppet Caper | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Swedish Chef / The Muppet Newsman | 1981-06-26 |
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Muppet Side Splitter | Leo (voice) | 1981-10-22 |
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Of Muppets & Men | Self | 1981-10-31 |
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A Walking Tour of Sesame Street | Ernie / Kermit the Frog (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1979-03-01 |
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Let's Have the Dam Break | Leo | 1979-01-02 |
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Grump Critic | Leo | 1979-01-02 |
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Muppet Gimme a Break | Leo / Pasta in "Meal Break" | 1979-01-01 |
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Muppet Breaker Upper | Leo | 1979-01-01 |
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The Muppet Movie | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Dr. Teeth / Waldorf / Doc Hopper's Men / Link Hogthrob / Swedish Chef (voice) | 1979-06-22 |
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The Muppets Go Hollywood | Various Muppets | 1979-05-16 |
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Meal Break | Leo / Spaghetti | 1979-01-02 |
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The Orson Welles Show | Self / Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1979-02-01 |
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John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Waldorf / Dr. Teeth / The Swedish Chef (voice) | 1979-12-05 |
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The Vent Event | Kermit the Frog | 1978-03-03 |
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Christmas Eve on Sesame Street | Kermit the Frog / Ernie (voice) | 1978-12-03 |
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Hip Hip Parade! | Kermit the Frog | 1978-11-21 |
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Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring | Kermit The Frog / Rowlf the Dog / Dr. Teeth | 1978-03-09 |
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Mickey's 50 | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1978-11-19 |
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The Royal Variety Performance 1977 | 1977-11-27 | |
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Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas | Kermit the Frog / Harrison Fox / Harvey / Snake (voice) | 1977-12-04 |
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The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf | 1977-12-19 |
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輝け!五郎・マペット ゲバゲバ90分! | Kermit the Frog | 1976-03-30 |
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The Muppet Show Pitch Reel | Leo / Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1976-01-01 |
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Sesamstraße - Wissen Sie wo Ernie wohnt? | Self | 1975-12-14 |
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Julie: My Favourite Things | Kermit the Frog/Dr. Teeth | 1975-04-18 |
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The Muppet Introduction | Kermit the Frog | 1975-01-01 |
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Just a Few Announcements | Kermit the Frog | 1975-01-01 |
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Muppet Picker Upper | Kermit the Frog / Leo (voice) | 1975-01-01 |
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Out to Lunch | Kermit / Ernie / Guy Smiley / Person with Cue Card (voice) | 1974-12-10 |
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Keep U.S. Beautiful | Muppets | 1973-03-27 |
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The Muppet Musicians of Bremen | Kermit the Frog / Mean Floyd / Rat (voice) | 1972-04-26 |
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Pure Goldie | Kermit the Frog (voice) | 1971-02-15 |
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Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince | Kermit / Garth / King Rupert (voice) | 1971-05-12 |
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The King of Eight | The King of Eight | 1971-05-21 |
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The Muppets on Puppets | Self / Rowlf the Dog | 1970-01-05 |
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The Great Santa Claus Switch | Fred / Lothar (voice) | 1970-12-20 |
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Sam the Snake | Sam the Snake | 1969-10-10 |
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The Wizard of Id | The Wizard / The Spook (voice) | 1969-01-01 |
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Hey Cinderella! | Kermit The Frog / King Goshposh / Rufus (voice) | 1969-03-16 |
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This Way to Sesame Street | Ernie/Kermit | 1969-11-08 |
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Sesame Street Pitch Reel | Kermit the Frog / Rowlf / Grump / Conrad Love / The Spook | 1969-09-01 |
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The Paperwork Explosion | 1967-01-01 | |
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I'm Nobody | Limbo (voice) | 1966-07-20 |
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Rowlf the Salesman | Rowlf the Dog | 1966-03-01 |
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The Idea Man | Limbo | 1966-07-20 |
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Limbo: The Organized Mind | Limbo (voice) | 1966-07-20 |
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Time Piece | Man | 1965-05-07 |
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The Reindeer | Dasher / Prancer (voice) | 1965-12-20 |
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Alexander the Grape | Freddy the Fierce (voice) | 1965-11-24 |
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Tales of the Tinkerdee | Kermit the Frog / King Goshposh / Charlie the Ogre (voice) | 1962-06-06 |
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Visual Thinking | Kermit / Harry the Hipster (voice) | 1961-04-01 |
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Sesame Street 1986 Wrap Party | Ernie / Himself |
