Muppeteer Jerry Nelson 1934-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 08-24-2012, 09:28 AM

Link

Jerry Nelson, one of the original Muppeteers hired by Jim Henson, died yesterday (August 23rd 2012). Even though you might not recognize the name, all of you have grown up with Jerry’s performances. He puppeteered almost 1,000 named Henson puppet characters during his 47-year career, credited for performing over 120 different named characters on The Muppet Show, and almost double that on Sesame Street.

Jerry was fighting with various health issues for the last decade, and in 2004 announced he would no longer be puppeteering full-time (although he continued to provide the voice for his Sesame Street characters into the recent seasons). Tough Pigs broke the news.

Nelson’s Muppet career began in 1965 when he was hired by Jim Henson to fill in for Frank Oz who was taking some time off. He started on Sesame Street in the show’s second season, puppetting Sherlock Hemlock, The Amazing Mumford, Herry Monster, Count von Count, and he was also the first puppeteer to perform Mr. Snuffleupagus (until 1978).

Nelson performed many supporting characters on The Muppet Show, including Electric Mayhem band’s Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Pigs in Space member Dr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Kermit’s nephew Robin the Frog, Gonzo’s Camilla the Chicken. He took the lead on Fraggle Rock, performing Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg and Marjory the Trash Heap. Nelson performed in many of the Henson and Muppet television shows and specials, too many to name here.

Nelson was a musician, most of his characters eventually sang songs, and he often performed in background and supporting character musical acts.

Jerry performed many characters in the Henson movies, including The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Follow That Bird, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets from Space, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland and even Disney’s theme park attraction Muppet*vision 3-D. He was one of the few Muppet performers to provide voices in The Dark Crystal (the Dying Skeskis Emperor and the Skeksis High Priest).

Jerry provided the uncredited voice of the announcer who introduces Kermit at the Muppet Telethon 2011 film The Muppets. His last on-screen performance was in Jason Segel‘s Saturday Night Live “I Can’t Believe I’m Hosting SNL” musical number (his 16th performance on that late night series over the years, by the way).

ronaldmcdonald · 08-24-2012, 11:41 AM

I just received an email from the webmasters of http://muppetcentral.com that puppeteer Jerry Nelson, best known for working with Muppets creator Jim Henson on every show Jim ever created, from The Muppet Show to Fraggle Rock, died last night at age 78 after recent years of declining Health.

Jerry Lee Nelson was born on July 10, 1934 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA and raised in Washington, D.C., USA; according to his obituary published at http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/20...lson-obit.html before being hired by Jim Henson, Jerry worked with Bil Baird for a number of years.

After first working for Jim Henson during the 1960s, Jerry was hired full-time by Jim Henson during the 1970s, working on everything from Sesame Street to Fraggle Rock.

In 2004, soon after The Walt Disney Company bought The Muppets, Jerry Nelson decided to retire from puppeteering (though occasionally serving as voiceover announcer for Muppet-related products in recent years), and in 2009, Jerry released his first and only solo album, Tune Weavers.

RIP Jerry. I hope you, Jim, & Richard Hunt are sharing good Memories working with each other on Earth in Heaven.

Heidi Dawn · 08-24-2012, 01:16 PM

Jerry

Matt Vogel performs most of Jerry's classic characters on Muppets and does the puppeteering of Jerry's Sesame Street characters but not the voice (now he may have to do the voices).

Of the original Muppet Show performers from the 1970's, there's just Frank Oz (he doesn't perform much now except for rare occasions on Sesame Street), Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Karen Prell, Louise Gold (mostly acting on U.K. television now), and Kathryn Mullen (she's retired from performing) left.

Marvo301 · 08-24-2012, 01:41 PM

Jerry Nelson. Thank-you for being a fun part of my childhood!

Heidi Dawn · 08-25-2012, 12:04 PM

Here's a clip of Jerry singing with Louise Gold at Jim Henson's memorial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duduX1MqQ1k

08-24-2012, 09:28 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,375	Muppeteer Jerry Nelson 1934-2012 Link Jerry Nelson, one of the original Muppeteers hired by Jim Henson, died yesterday (August 23rd 2012). Even though you might not recognize the name, all of you have grown up with Jerry’s performances. He puppeteered almost 1,000 named Henson puppet characters during his 47-year career, credited for performing over 120 different named characters on The Muppet Show, and almost double that on Sesame Street. Jerry was fighting with various health issues for the last decade, and in 2004 announced he would no longer be puppeteering full-time (although he continued to provide the voice for his Sesame Street characters into the recent seasons). Tough Pigs broke the news. Nelson’s Muppet career began in 1965 when he was hired by Jim Henson to fill in for Frank Oz who was taking some time off. He started on Sesame Street in the show’s second season, puppetting Sherlock Hemlock, The Amazing Mumford, Herry Monster, Count von Count, and he was also the first puppeteer to perform Mr. Snuffleupagus (until 1978). Nelson performed many supporting characters on The Muppet Show, including Electric Mayhem band’s Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Pigs in Space member Dr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Kermit’s nephew Robin the Frog, Gonzo’s Camilla the Chicken. He took the lead on Fraggle Rock, performing Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg and Marjory the Trash Heap. Nelson performed in many of the Henson and Muppet television shows and specials, too many to name here. Nelson was a musician, most of his characters eventually sang songs, and he often performed in background and supporting character musical acts. Jerry performed many characters in the Henson movies, including The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Follow That Bird, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets from Space, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland and even Disney’s theme park attraction Muppet*vision 3-D. He was one of the few Muppet performers to provide voices in The Dark Crystal (the Dying Skeskis Emperor and the Skeksis High Priest). Jerry provided the uncredited voice of the announcer who introduces Kermit at the Muppet Telethon 2011 film The Muppets. His last on-screen performance was in Jason Segel‘s Saturday Night Live “I Can’t Believe I’m Hosting SNL” musical number (his 16th performance on that late night series over the years, by the way).
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

08-24-2012, 11:41 AM	#2
ronaldmcdonald Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2012 Posts: 14	Puppeteer Jerry Nelson Remembered I just received an email from the webmasters of http://muppetcentral.com that puppeteer Jerry Nelson, best known for working with Muppets creator Jim Henson on every show Jim ever created, from The Muppet Show to Fraggle Rock, died last night at age 78 after recent years of declining Health. Jerry Lee Nelson was born on July 10, 1934 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA and raised in Washington, D.C., USA; according to his obituary published at http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/20...lson-obit.html before being hired by Jim Henson, Jerry worked with Bil Baird for a number of years. After first working for Jim Henson during the 1960s, Jerry was hired full-time by Jim Henson during the 1970s, working on everything from Sesame Street to Fraggle Rock. In 2004, soon after The Walt Disney Company bought The Muppets, Jerry Nelson decided to retire from puppeteering (though occasionally serving as voiceover announcer for Muppet-related products in recent years), and in 2009, Jerry released his first and only solo album, Tune Weavers. RIP Jerry. I hope you, Jim, & Richard Hunt are sharing good Memories working with each other on Earth in Heaven.

08-24-2012, 01:16 PM	#3
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	Jerry Matt Vogel performs most of Jerry's classic characters on Muppets and does the puppeteering of Jerry's Sesame Street characters but not the voice (now he may have to do the voices). Of the original Muppet Show performers from the 1970's, there's just Frank Oz (he doesn't perform much now except for rare occasions on Sesame Street), Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Karen Prell, Louise Gold (mostly acting on U.K. television now), and Kathryn Mullen (she's retired from performing) left.
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres. Last edited by Heidi Dawn; 08-25-2012 at 12:02 PM.

08-24-2012, 01:41 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	Jerry Nelson. Thank-you for being a fun part of my childhood!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

08-25-2012, 12:04 PM	#5
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	Here's a clip of Jerry singing with Louise Gold at Jim Henson's memorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duduX1MqQ1k