John Henson, son of Muppet creator Jim Henson and Jane Henson, died at his home in Saugerties, New York on Valentine’s Day.
According to his sister Cheryl, he died of a “massive heart attack” after building an igloo in the snow.
The Jim Henson Company facebook issued the following statement:
It is with great sadness that we confirm that John Henson, son of Jim and Jane Henson and brother to Lisa, Cheryl, Brian and Heather, died at age 48 of a sudden massive heart attack on Friday, February 14, while at home with his daughter. John served as a shareholder and board member of The Jim Henson Company. He leaves two daughters, Katrina (15) and Sydney (10) and his wife Gyongyi. A private service is being planned.
and, a comment from his family: “John had the deepest soul of any man alive; sensitive, artistic, and extremely compassionate, there was no limit to his love.”
John Henson was born on April 25, 1965. He performed the Muppet character Sweetums in “Muppet Treasure Island,” “Muppet*Vision 3D,” “Muppets from Space,” and “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.” He began gradually taking over the character physically and then later the voice as the previous performer Richard Hunt became ill and then later died. John also made appearances as the original Coca Cola polar bear suit, which was created by the Henson creature shop.
Brian’s father, the beloved Jim Henson, passed away all too soon in 1990, and his mother Jane Henson died last year. It saddens me to know that yet another member of the Henson family has passed.
He will be mourned by Muppet fans everywhere.
Image: Muppet Wiki