In what year was Jim Henson born?

Jim Henson was born in 1936.

His full name was James Maury Henson, and he was born on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. He became one of the most influential puppeteers, animators, performers, and television producers of the twentieth century, creating the Muppets and helping transform puppetry for screen audiences.

Henson grew up partly in Mississippi and later moved with his family to the Washington, D.C., area. Television and earlier puppet performers influenced his developing style. While studying at the University of Maryland, he began producing puppets for local television, including the early series Sam and Friends, which introduced a forerunner of Kermit the Frog.

Henson’s creative partnership with Frank Oz helped establish many classic Muppet characters and performances. The Muppet Show premiered in 1976, bringing Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and others to an international audience. Henson died in 1990 at age 53, but his characters and production company continued in films, television, and theme-park projects. The nearby date people often confuse is 1990, his year of death—not his birth year.