(1936 – 1990) Master puppeteer and creator of the unmistakable Muppets. Henson broke into television via early morning local children’s television (1955–61), where he and his wife Jane Nebel worked with hand and stick puppets. Stardom came with Sesame Street (1969–), for which he created lively and enduring characters Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, and others who have been companions for and teachers to generations of children worldwide. Not only are these characters colorful and cuddly— as later marketing has shown—but they also attract us by their humanity—fears and questions, selfishness (Miss Piggy, created by collaborator Frank Oz, has become a satiric icon for the “me”-generation) and dealing with difference. Henson continued to experiment in other venues like Saturday Nïght Liυe (1975–6), but needed English support to produce his variety format Muppet Shows (1976–81), with guest stars from Milton Berle to Steve Martin, and movies like the Muppet Moυie (1979). Henson’s London studios, The Creature Shop, run by the family and with associations with Disney, have changed the way animals and fantasy creatures appear in movies like Dark Crystal (1983) and Babe (1997).