If you can’t find a way to really enjoy what you’re doing, why do it?
-Jim Henson
Jim Henson has been described as a shy, sensitive, and creative performer, writer, director, businessman, creator, artist, and visionary. That’s a lot of titles and descriptions for one person, but Jim Henson was all of these and more. Jim got his start in puppetry on television before he was 18. He worked for almost nothing but was given a lot of freedom to explore puppetry on television; as well as writing funny skits, and just funning around.
At age 19, Jim Henson’s show “Sam and Friends” became a regular gig for him. One year later he was appearing on The Arthur Godfrey Show, the Steve Allen Show, and the Will Rogers Jr. Show. From there his career was a steady, but slow, progression. He did commercials, got an agent, did regular appearances on the Tonight Show, but it wasn’t till 1969 that Sesame Street pilot was recorded.
Sesame Street catapulted Jim Henson and his Muppets into fame. At the age of 33 Jim had established his characters in households everywhere, later to be seen in every kind of merchandise and in sales items. Though he died, unexpectedly, at the age of 54 he did live long enough to see the fruits of success.
For more information on Jim Henson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Henson
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001345/
