Puppeteer, puppet designer and founder of the Muppets empire passes away at 78

Apr 3, 2013 09:21 GMT  ·  By

The woman without whom kids from all over the world would have never gotten to enjoy the Muppets, Jane Nebel Henson, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer.

A puppeteer, puppet designer and co-founder of the empire of the Muppets, Henson stayed active with the Jim Henson Co., which confirms her passing to the LA Times, until her final moments.

“Jane Nebel Henson, who collaborated with her husband, Jim Henson, in creating, designing and marketing the Muppets, died Tuesday at her home in Connecticut after battling cancer. She was 78,” the publication says.

Jane and Jim met in the ‘50s, as he was developing a new television show in Washington. He asked her if she’d like to come on board the project as performer and puppet designer, and she said yes.

“She became his creative and business partner in the endeavor that spawned Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the ‘Sesame Street’ characters Big Bird, Ernie and the Cooke Monster,” the LA Times further notes.