Jerry Nelson



Jerry Nelson: July 10, 1934 - present

Jerry Nelson started out puppeteering for Bil Baird. Throughout the 60s, he worked on-and-off with Henson. Then in 1970, he joined the company and began working regularly on "Sesame Street." Since then, Jerry has performed as a princlpal puppeteer in numerous Muppet productions including the Muppet movies, "The Muppet Show," and various TV specials.

In 2004, Jerry announced he would no longer be performing his classic Muppet characters, citing health reasons. However, he will continue to perform his characters on Sesame Street.

Jerry was quoted in a 1978 Muppet Show Fan Club newsletter: "Each one of them is an aspect of my own personality. The Muppets are roles I assume, rather than puppets I manipulate. Robin, for instance, is an undersized metaphor for my own insecurities. He has a childlike curiosity about how things work. Uncle Deadly is the greatest ham actor of all time; Floyd is my laid-back, mellow side -- cool. And then there's Crazy Harry, whose ultimate trip is spontaneous combustion. An analyst told me I should develop that side of my personality. I don't think he meant I should go around exploding everything -- just that I should give my emotions more freedom."

Puppeteer Credits

 * Muppet Characters: Camilla the Chicken, Crazy Harry (after first season), Emily Bear, Floyd Pepper, J.P. Grosse, Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Lewis Kazagger, Miss Mousey, Pops, Robin the Frog, Statler (after Richard Hunt's deat), Thog, Uncle Deadly, Elvises, Female Koozbanian Creature, Fleet Scribbler, Vendaface, The Ghost of Christmas Present, Mad Monty, Blind Pew


 * Sesame Characters: The Amazing Mumford, Biff, Count von Count, Farley, Fat Blue, Frazzle, Fred the Wonder Horse, Herbert Birdsfoot, Herry Monster, Little Jerry, Mr. Snuffleupagus (Before Marty Robinson), Sam the Robot, Sherlock Hemlock, Simon Soundman, Timmy Twiddlebug, Two Headed Monster, Yip Yip Martians


 * Fraggle Rock: Architect Doozer, Gobo Fraggle, Marjory the Trash Heap, Pa Gorg, Archbanger (Pipebanger), Feenie Fraggle, Fishface Fraggle, Mervin Merggle, Uncle Gobo


 * Saturday Night Live: Scred


 * Muppet Sing-A-Long: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs: Cecil Bear, Racoon, Turtle


 * The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss: The Snoozer


 * The Christmas Toy: Balthazar


 * Little Muppet Monsters:


 * The Dark Crystal: Dying Skeksis Emperor (voice), Skeksis High Priest (voice)


 * Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas: Emmet Otter


 * Tales from Muppetland: Featherstone, Caleb Siles, T.R. the Rooster


 * The Great Santa Claus Switch:


 * The Jimmy Dean Show:

Trivia

 * Made an on-screen cameo in Muppet Treasure Island as Squire Trelawney's Butler.
 * His daughter, Christine, made a cameo apperence with him in The Great Muppet Caper
 * Jerry's performance of Halfway Down the Stars (as Robin the Frog had massive record sales around the world.