John Henson (puppeteer)

{{Infobox person

| name =

| birth_name = John Paul Henson

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1965|4|25|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|2|14|1965|4|25}}

| death_place = Saugerties, New York, U.S.

| occupation = Puppeteer

| years_active = 1990–2005

| spouse = {{marriage|Gyongyi Henson|2007}}

| children = 2{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-hensons-son-john-dies-680599|title=Jim Henson's Son, John, Dies At Age 48|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 15, 2014|author=}}

| parents = Jim Henson
Jane Henson

| relatives = Lisa Henson (sister)
Cheryl Henson (sister)
Brian Henson (brother)
Heather Henson (sister)

}}

John Paul Henson (April 25, 1965 – February 14, 2014) was an American puppeteer. He was best known for his association with the Muppets.

Early years

Henson was the son of puppeteer Jim Henson (1936–1990), best known as the creator of the Muppets, and Jane Henson (1934–2013), who assisted in the launch of the Muppets. He had four siblings: Lisa (born 1960), Cheryl (born 1961), Brian (born 1963) and Heather (born 1970).

Career

Henson performed Muppet character Sweetums starting in 1992 following the death of Richard Hunt (who had trained Henson to perform the character). The role has since been passed to different puppeteers, including David Rudman, Noel MacNeal, Rob Mills and Matt Vogel, who officially assumed the role in 2009.

In addition to his work with the Jim Henson Company, Henson produced independent films and worked as a production designer, animator, writer, wood worker, artist and builder. Zelda Catwoman of Queens, a short film that he cowrote and produced with longtime collaborator and childhood friend filmmaker Alex Halpern, won the student Academy Award in the experimental division, just prior to his father's death in 1990.

Death

On February 14, 2014, at the age of 48, Henson died at his home in Saugerties, New York, following a heart attack. His family conducted a private funeral. His body was cremated, and his ashes were given to his family.{{cite web|url=https://usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/02/15/john-henson-muppets-dies/5513653/|title=Muppets' John Henson dies at 48|website=USA Today|first=Jayme|last=Deerwester|date=February 15, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Botelho|first=Craig|title=John Henson -- son of the iconic Jim Henson -- dies of heart attack at 48|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/15/showbiz/john-henson-dies/|publisher=CNN|access-date=April 27, 2014|date=February 18, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427204600/http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/15/showbiz/john-henson-dies/|archive-date=April 27, 2014}}

Filmography

= Television =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role
1993–1994	CityKids
1996–1998	Muppets Tonight	Sweetums

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

1993–1994

CityKids

1996–1998

Muppets Tonight

Sweetums

= Film =

Year ! Title ! Role
class="wikitable sortable"
1990	Zelda, Catwoman of Queens	rowspan="1"\| Producer and cowriter
1996	Muppet Treasure Island	rowspan="3"\| Sweetums
1999	Muppets from Space
2002	It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
2005	The Muppets' Wizard of Oz	Sweetums as a flying monkey; final role