Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 16, 1990 TAG: 9005160685
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Henson died at 1:30 a.m. from a massive bacterial infection, Kathleen Robinson, a spokeswoman at New York Hospital, said. Henson was admitted to the hospital Tuesday, she said. Hospital officials would say nothing else this morning.
Henson created the Muppets in 1954. They became immensely popular after their debut 15 years later on the public television hit show "Sesame Street." The puppets grew into an industry, much of which was purchased by Walt Disney Co. for a reported price of $100 million to $150 million.
He was the voice of Kermit, one of the most popular of his creations. His work with the Muppets earned him a variety of awards, from a Peabody award for excellence in television programming to a Grammy for a Muppet album.
Henson's other creations included The Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and Miss Piggy. Henson's shop brought the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the screen, where they became the nation's top-grossing movie.
Henson's sudden death was the second to strike "Sesame Street" in the last year. Joe Raposo, who wrote many of the songs for the popular children's series, died last year at age 52. A tribute to Raposo was scheduled to air tonight.
Millions of children have grown up with "Sesame Street," which is seen in more than 80 countries. It has 15 international co-productions.
The show is aimed at children 1 to 5, teaching basic math and English. The program initially was intended to assist inner-city children, but its popularity far transcended that.
Henson produced "The Muppet Show," which was broadcast from 1975 through 1981. It became the most widely seen television program in the world, with an estimated 235 million viewers in 100 countries.
A Saturday morning cartoon, "The Muppet Babies," is currently airing.
Henson was born in Greenville, Miss., on Sept. 24, 1936. He married his wife, Jane, in 1959, and they had five children.
The family said plans for a memorial service would be announced later.
by CNB