Remembering Jim Henson: The Beloved Creator of the Muppets Who Died 36 Years Ago Today
Exactly 36 years ago today, the world was absolutely shocked to learn that a truly beloved entertainer and creator had suddenly died. Jim Henson was such an impactful and beloved person that his death at what appeared to be the prime of his life and career is still heartbreaking for many to think of.
Jim Henson Died Suddenly on May 16, 1990, at Only 53 Years Old
On May 4, 1990, Jim Henson appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show and seemed to be as enthusiastic and joyful as usual. At the time, there was no way for anyone to know that would mark his final public appearance. While speaking to People for an article that chronicled Henson's passing, his publicist, Arthur Novell, revealed the famed puppeteer was feeling sick during that appearance. "He admitted he was tired, that he had a sore throat, but he insisted it would go away."
Days later, Henson began feeling extreme tiredness, even struggling to eat or get out of bed. After initially refusing to see doctors, he would ultimately be hospitalized and undergo tests. At first, X-rays showed small pockets of infection, but it would quickly spread throughout his body.
After Henson was anesthetized, he suffered two cardiac arrests and passed away on May 16, 1990, from toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. He was 53 years old and was survived by his five children. Four of his five children work for The Jim Henson Company today, with Brian Henson serving as chairman and Lisa Henson as CEO. Cheryl Henson and Heather Henson both serve on the company's Board of Directors, with the former also being the President of The Jim Henson Foundation. After also working for his father's company, including as an accomplished puppeteer and board member, John Henson passed away in 2014.
Why Jim Henson Was So Beloved
As the creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson's creations have never been forgotten since they were first introduced to the world. While he didn't create Sesame Street, he voiced and performed several of that show's characters, and he devised many more. He went on to actually create several other series, including The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Jim Henson's Muppet Babies. He also worked on several popular movies in combinations of roles like screenwriter, director, producer, actor, and story creator. Those films include The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Dark Crystal, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and Labyrinth.
Before he died, generations of children grew up watching shows and/or movies about characters that Jim Henson played a pivotal role in creating. As a result, even people from that era who tend to have wildly divergent opinions on popular media almost always hold the same special place in their hearts for the Muppets. In addition to creating the Muppets, Henson also voiced many of them, including Kermit the Frog, Ernie, Swedish Chef, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, The Newsman, and Guy Smiley.
In May 2024, Smithsonian Magazine published an article that labeled Jim Henson "one of the nation's most beloved cultural figures." Given how he affected the childhoods of the masses, the love the world has for Henson makes total sense. However, that ignores one other factor that made him so immensely popular.
In May 2020, Syfy published an article that quoted Muppet performers talking about what Jim Henson was like as a person. Based on their remarks, he was universally remembered as a kind and compassionate person who was a joy to work with and for. One of his former colleagues even noted that the way to know that Henson was angry or upset was that he would become silent. While his fans never got to experience what he was like as a person, his kind spirit came across in everything he did and during his interviews.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 11:28 AM.