Jim Henson Timeline

  • Jim Henson born

    Jim Henson born
    James Maury Henson was born in Leland Mississippi
  • Jim begins first work with puppets

    Jim begins first work with puppets
    Jim Henson began working at the WTOP-TV for The Junior Morning Show as a puppeteer
  • Jim Begins going to college

    Jim Begins going to college
    Jim Henson attended the University of Maryland
    (Fun fact: there is a statue of him talking to Kermit on a bench there!"
  • Jim meets Jane Nebel

    Jim meets Jane Nebel
    Jane and Jim met in a puppetry course at the University of Maryland, College Park.
  • Period: to

    Jim attends the University of Maryland

  • Jim begins working on Sam & Friends

    Jim begins working on Sam & Friends
    Jim Henson starts working at WRC-TV for the Sam and Friends show, starring some characters that would later become muppets
  • John Ransom Henson Jr passes

    John Ransom Henson Jr passes
    Jim's brother John Henson Jr died in a car crash, which made Jim very depressed
  • Jim founds Muppets Inc.

    Jim founds Muppets Inc.
    Jim founds his first company, Muppets Inc
  • Jim Henson and Jane Nebel marry

    Jim Henson and Jane Nebel marry
    Jim and Jane get married after meeting in college and working together on Sam and Friends
  • Jim graduates college

    Jim graduates college
    He graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics
  • Lisa Henson is Born

    Jim and Jane have their first child, Lisa.
  • Cheryl Henson is born

  • Tales of the Tinkerdee

    Tales of the Tinkerdee
    The muppets first pilot for a show, which heavily featured Kermit the frog (species unknown at the time)
  • Period: to

    Rowlf featured on the Jimmy Dean Show

    Rowlf the Dog was performed on the Jimmy Dean Show, which led to lots of publicity
  • Brian Henson is born

  • Time Piece airs

    Time Piece airs
    Jim's short experimental film, Time Piece, airs. It was later nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 1966
  • John Henson is born

  • Jim creates Youth 68

    Jim creates Youth 68
    Jim airs his short documentary, Youth 68, covering the various lifestyles of the 1960's
  • Jim starts working with the CTW

    Jim starts working with the CTW
    Jim begins working with the Childrens television workshop on Sesame Street
  • Jim creates The Cube

    Jim creates The Cube
    Jim produces the television drama "The Cube" about a man trapped in a cube who is visited by strange characters.
  • Heather Henson is born

  • The Great Santa Claus Switch

    The Great Santa Claus Switch
    The Muppet film "The Great Santa Claus Switch" premieres on CBS
  • The Muppet Valentine Show

    The Muppet Valentine Show
    The Muppet Valentine Show airs on ABC, as a pilot for what would become the Muppet Show.
  • The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence

    The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
    Another pilot for The Muppet Show airs, called Sex and Violence, in an attempt to distance itself from children's puppetry.
  • The Muppet Show Airs

    The Muppet Show Airs
    The Muppet Show is finally funded by Lord Lew Grade, and airs on ATV and ITC
  • Period: to

    The Muppet Show is the most popular show in the world

    The Muppet Show becomes the most popular television program in the world
  • Jim Henson meets Brian Froud

    Jim Henson meets Brian Froud
    Jim meets artist Brian Froud, and began working on concepts for films that would later become The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth
  • The Jim Henson Creature Shop

    The Jim Henson Creature Shop
    Jim creates the Jim Henson Creature shop, which is a special effects house and puppet workshop in London, it would later open a second shop in new york.
  • The Muppet Movie

    The Muppet Movie
    The Muppet Movie premieres as the first of a series of live-action musical feature films starring the Muppets.
  • The Great Muppet Caper

    The Great Muppet Caper
    The Great Muppet Caper begins showing
  • The Dark Crystal

    The Dark Crystal
    Jim's first film featuring puppets (not muppets), The Dark Crystal, premiers, which was not well received at first.
  • Fraggle Rock

    Fraggle Rock
    Fraggle Rock airs as an international production which intended to unite countries.
  • The Muppets Take Manhattan

    The Muppets Take Manhattan
    The Muppets Take Manhattan premieres. It was written and directed by Frank Oz
  • Labyrinth begins prodution

    Labyrinth begins prodution
    Production of Labyrinth begins.
  • Jim and Jane seperate

    Jim and Jane seperate
    Jim and Jane Henson chose to separate personally as Jane felt he had left his family behind while he was distracted by his work.
  • Labyrinth premieres

    Labyrinth premieres
  • The Storyteller begins airing

    The Storyteller begins airing
    The storyteller earned two Hugos, two BAFTAs, and an Emmy throughout the 9 episode show
  • Advances are made to sell the Muppets to Disney

    Advances are made to sell the Muppets to Disney
  • The Jim Henson Hour

    The Jim Henson Hour
    The Jim Henson Hour airs. It was meant to be a variety show that showed modern advances in film techniques and other guest puppeteers.
  • Filming begins on Muppet*Vision 3D

    Filming begins on Muppet*Vision 3D
    Jim began to film for the 3D attraction Muppet*Vision 3D for Disney World (even though the deal hadn't gone through officially)
  • Jim Henson's last show

    Jim Henson's last show
    Henson appeared with Kermit on The Arsenio Hall Show in Los Angeles
  • Jim Henson passes away

    Jim Henson passes away
    Jim died of Toxic shock syndrome caused by Group A streptococcal infection after feeling ill for a few days and not attending a doctor.
  • Jim Henson's memorial

    Jim Henson's memorial
    Jim's memorial service was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. He had many specific requests, explained in a note written four years before his death. He specifically wanted everyone to wear colorful outfits, a Dixieland band, some happy and joyful songs from the mourners who can sing, "nice, happy words," and stories from his friends.
  • Muppet*Vision 3D opens

    Muppet*Vision 3D opens
    Muppet*Vision 3D opens in Disney World exactly one year after Jim's death