Jane Henson Muppet Fame Dies at 79

Jane Henson, left, donates some of Jim Henson's early puppets, including the original Kermit, to the Smithsonian Institution. — Jane Henson, left, donates some of Jim Henson’s early puppets, including the original Kermit, to the Smithsonian Institution.

By Dawn Cranfield

Jane Henson, of Muppet Fame, Dies at 79

Jane Nebel Henson, wife of the late Jim Henson, and co-creator of the famous Muppets, has died on Tuesday. According to a representative for the Jim Henson Company, Jane Henson died after “a long battle with cancer”. (cnn.com)

Henson, 79, met Jim Henson in 1954 at the University of Maryland in a puppetry class where they both attended school. Jane was a performer, puppet designer and builder.

The two became business partners and life partners when they married in 1959. They had five children together: Lisa, Cheryl, Brian, John and Heather.

Although they separated in 1986, and Jim died in 1990, Jane went on to create and fund The Jim Henson Legacy in