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American puppeteer (1934-2012) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jerry Nelson (July 10, 1934 – August 23, 2012) was an American puppeteer, best known for his work with The Muppets. Known for his wide range of characters and singing abilities, he performed Muppet characters on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and various Muppet movies and specials.
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Jerry Nelson | |
|---|---|
Nelson with the Count in a Sesame Street publicity photograph from June 2012 | |
| Born | July 10, 1934 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | August 23, 2012 (aged 78) Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Puppeteer |
| Years active | 1965–2012 |
| Spouses |
Jan Nelson (m. 1984) |
| Children | 1 |
On Sesame Street, Nelson's longest-running character was Count von Count, the counting vampire who takes delight in counting anything (and everything) he can. Nelson did the voice and puppetry for the Count from 1972 until 2004 and continued to provide the Count's voice until his death in 2012. His other Muppet roles on that program were Herbert Birdsfoot, The Amazing Mumford, Herry Monster, Biff, Mr. Johnson, Simon Soundman, Mr. Chatterly, Frazzle, Little Jerry, and Sherlock Hemlock. He has also made a total of nine onscreen appearances on the show.
From 1971 to 1978, Nelson was the first puppeteer to perform Mr. Snuffleupagus. Reported back problems caused by the physical stress of the character forced him to bow out of the role,[1] but in a 2009 interview Nelson provided a different explanation: "I was not loath to give that character up. But the reasons for giving it up were because at that time we were doing The Muppet Show and he was a real part of [Sesame Street], and they needed his presence. So they asked if I'd mind giving it up."[2]
Nelson also performed many characters on The Muppet Show, including Sgt. Floyd Pepper (the bassist of the Electric Mayhem band), Pigs in Space star Dr. Julius Strangepork[broken anchor], the boomerang fish-throwing Lew Zealand, Kermit the Frog's nephew Robin the Frog, Gonzo's girlfriend Camilla the Chicken, the mad pyrotechnist Crazy Harry, and "the Phantom of the Muppet Show", Uncle Deadly. He performed Statler in the pilot episode but was replaced by Richard Hunt when he could not perform full-time in the first season. He was a full-time performer for the rest of the show's run. Nelson was also selected to play Statler after Hunt's death, after the end of the show.
Less prominent characters on the show include sportscaster Louis Kazagger, Pops the doorman, giant blue monster Thog[broken anchor], gossip columnist Fleet Scribbler, and Scooter's uncle, J.P. Grosse, who owned the theater. He originated the role of Fozzie Bear's mother in season 2 of The Muppet Show and reprised the role in the TV specials A Muppet Family Christmas, The Muppets at Walt Disney World, and the film The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Nelson performed the puppet and voice of Emmet in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, a one-hour special that originally aired on CBC. He later performed the signature song from that show, "When the River Meets the Sea," as Robin, in a duet with John Denver for a Muppet Christmas special. That version of the song gets frequent radio airplay during the Christmas season (although the song is not seasonal). He and Louise Gold performed the song at Jim Henson’s Memorial Service.
On Fraggle Rock, he performed Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg, and Marjory the Trash Heap. Frank Oz did not perform on Fraggle Rock, and Jim Henson and Hunt limited their time on the show, so they performed supporting characters. For this reason, Nelson was asked to perform Gobo, the central role on the show.
Nelson's characters were often singers or musicians. He performed the lead vocals for many songs as Floyd of the Electric Mayhem, Little Jerry of Little Jerry and the Monotones, Slim Wilson of Lubbock Lou and his Jughuggers, and a number of Anything Muppet bands. Most of his main characters in all three shows sang songs at one time or another.
He reprised the role of the announcer in The Muppets. His final performance as the announcer was part of the Jim Henson's Musical World concert at Carnegie Hall.[3] Archive audio of his announcer role was reused in Muppets Most Wanted, which was dedicated to both Nelson and Jane Henson, wife of Muppets' creator Jim Henson.
In 2001, Nelson also performed the character voice of General Public in the Cartoon Network animated series Sheep in the Big City in the episode "Daddy Shearest".
In December 2009, Nelson, who summered in Truro, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, released Truro Daydreams, an album of original songs.[4]
Nelson had a daughter named Christine from his first marriage to Jacqueline Nelson Gordon. Christine had cystic fibrosis and died from the disease in 1982,[5] after attending Rye Country Day School. Caring for her limited Nelson's involvement in The Muppet Show's first season. She made a speaking cameo appearance with him in the second Muppet movie, The Great Muppet Caper. He then married his second wife Jan Nelson in 1984, and they remained married until his death in 2012.[6][7]
In 2004, Nelson announced that he would no longer be puppeteering his Muppet characters, citing health reasons. However, he continued to voice his characters on Sesame Street until his death on August 23, 2012. Matt Vogel currently performs most of Nelson's Muppet characters.[8]
Nelson suffered from prostate cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema.[9][10] For the last six years of his life, he required an oxygen tank to assist his breathing.[11] He died on August 23, 2012, at his Cape Cod home from complications of his illnesses at the age of 78.[9][11] The film Muppets Most Wanted was dedicated to him and Jane Henson.
| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Hey, Cinderella! | Featherstone, Stepsister #2 | |
| 1970–2012 | Sesame Street | Count von Count (1972–2012), Herry Monster (1970–2003), Biff (1972-1999), Beautiful Day Monster (1969), Two-Headed Monster (left head, 1979–2000), Sherlock Hemlock (1970-1995, 2010), Snuffy (1971–1978), Frazzle (1973-1981, 1992, 1996-1998, 2001), The Amazing Mumford (1971–2011), Mr. Johnson (1971–2012), Fred the Wonder Horse,Farley, Herbert Birdsfoot, SAM the Robot (1972–1976), The Big Bad Wolf (1973–2011), Additional Muppets | |
| 1976–1981 | The Muppet Show | Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Pops, Louis Kazagger, Camilla the Chicken, Uncle Deadly, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Slim Wilson, Bruno, Fleet Scribbler, Additional Muppets | |
| 1977 | Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas | Emmet Otter, Weasel, Doc Bullfrog, Melissa Rabbit, Yancy Woodchuck | |
| 1979 | The Muppet Movie | Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Crazy Harry, Camilla the Chicken, Lew Zealand, Count von Count, Herry Monster, Biff, Mr. Johnson, Herbert Birdsfoot, Additional Muppets | |
| 1981 | The Great Muppet Caper | Pops, Floyd Pepper, Lew Zealand, Louis Kazagger, Slim Wilson, Additional Muppets | Puppeteer/voice; Nelson also made a cameo as a man walking in a park alongside his daughter, Christine |
| 1982 | The Dark Crystal | Ritual Master skekZok and the Dying Emperor | |
| 1983–1987 | Fraggle Rock | Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg, Marjory the Trash Heap, Architect Doozer, Feenie Fraggle, Uncle Gobo, Additional Muppets | |
| 1984 | The Muppets Take Manhattan | Floyd Pepper, Camilla the Chicken, Lew Zealand, Count von Count, Herry Monster, Elmo, Biff, Additional Muppets | |
| 1985 | Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird | Count von Count, Herry Monster, Biff | |
| 1986 | The Christmas Toy | Balthazar | |
| 1987 | A Muppet Family Christmas | Emily Bear, Robin the Frog, Floyd Pepper, Count von Count, Herry Monster, Gobo Fraggle, Camilla, Two-Headed Monster (Left-Head), Additional Muppets | |
| 1989 | The Jim Henson Hour | Beard, Orange Extreme, Evil McBad, Additional Muppets | Nelson also made various cameos on the show |
| 1990 | The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson | Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand, Floyd Pepper, Gobo Fraggle, Additional Muppets | |
| 1992 | The Muppet Christmas Carol | Tiny Tim Cratchet (Robin the Frog), Jacob Marley (Statler), Lew Zealand, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ma Fozziwig, Additional Muppets | |
| 1993 | Billy Bunny's Animal Songs | Cecil Bear, Frog, Raccoon, Turtle | |
| 1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | Mad Monty, Blind Pew, Statler, Lew Zealand, Floyd Pepper, Calico, Additional Muppets | Nelson also makes a credited cameo as a butler |
| 1996–1998 | Muppets Tonight | Statler, Lew Zealand, Mama Fiama, Dr. Watson, Clarissa, The Mad Bomber, Phil, The Head of The Network, Additional Muppets | |
| 1998 | Elmo's World | Count Von Count, Herry Monster, The Two Headed Monster (left-head), Mr. Johnson, Tornado, Announcer, Various | |
| 1999 | Muppets from Space | Ubergonzo, Statler, Robin the Frog, Lew Zealand, Floyd Pepper, Additional Muppets | |
| The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Count von Count, Mr. Johnson, Grouch Mayor, Grouch Cop, Pestie, Additional Muppets | ||
| 2001 | Sheep in the Big City | General Public | Guest voice |
| 2002 | Kermit's Swamp Years | Statler | |
| It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Robin the Frog, Statler, Floyd Pepper, Announcer | Voice | |
| 2008 | Abby in Wonderland | Counter-pillar (Count von Count) | Voice |
| 2011 | The Muppets | Telethon Announcer | Uncredited; Final performance. |
| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Sesame Street: Magic on Sesame Street | Count von Count | |
| Muppets Studios Presents: You're the Director | Dr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Robin the Frog | ||
| Muppet Madness | Dr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Chicken | ||
| 1991 | Sesame Street Letters | Count von Count | Voice[12] |
| Sesame Street: Countdown | |||
| 1994 | Sesame Street: Counting Cafe | Mr. Johnson | |
| 1995 | Sesame Street: Let's Make a Word! | Two-Headed Monster (left head) | |
| 1996 | Sesame Street: Get Set to Learn! | Count von Count, Martians | |
| The Muppet CD-ROM: Muppets Inside | Statler, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, The Muppet Newsman | ||
| Muppet Treasure Island | Statler, Lew Zealand, Pops, Blind Pew, Mad Monty, Mr. Plageman | ||
| 1997 | Sesame Street: Search and Learn Adventures | Sherlock Hemlock, The Amazing Mumford, Count von Count, Mr. Johnson | Voice[12] |
| 1998 | Sesame Street: Elmo Through the Looking-Glass | Two-Headed Monster (left head) | |
| Elmo's Reading Basics | Sherlock Hemlock, One Martian | ||
| 1999 | Elmo's Number Journey | Count von Count | |
| Elmo's Letter Adventure | |||
| 2000 | Sesame Street: Ernie's Adventures in Space | Count von Count, Martians, The Customer | |
| Muppet RaceMania | Statler, Floyd Pepper, Sweetums, Robin the Frog | ||
| Muppet Monster Adventure | Robin the Frog | ||
| 2001 | Elmo's Word: Shoes, Bugs & Farms! | Sherlock Hemlock, Old MacDonald (Mr. Johnson) | |
| 2003 | Muppets Party Cruise | Statler, Lew Zealand, Floyd Pepper, Crazy Harry, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Camilla | |
| 2012 | Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Monsterpiece | Count von Count |
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