Jerry Nelson, the puppeteer best known for playing Count von Count on Sesame Street and Gobo Fraggle on Fraggle Rock, died Thursday, the Jim Henson Company confirmed. He was 78.
"Jerry Nelson imbued all his characters with the same gentle, sweet whimsy and kindness that were a part of his own personality. He joined The Jim Henson Company in the earliest years, and his unique contributions to the worlds of Fraggles, Muppets, Sesame Street and so many others are, and will continue to be, unforgettable," company CEO and Jim Henson's daughter, Lisa, said in a statement on Facebook. "On behalf of the Henson family and everyone at The Jim Henson Company, our deepest sympathies go out to Jerry's family and to his many fans."
Remember other celebrities who died this year
No cause of death was given for...read more
Nighty-night! Big Bird is excited to sleep in his new pajamas but when Gordon tucks him in, he can’t seem to get comfortable. There’s something bothering Big Bird but he can’t put his wing on it. This is a problem that only a sleep consultant can solve. As luck would have it, the Princess from the Princess and the Pea arrives to help diagnose the issue. Joel McHale meets with some “prickly” characters, in Abby’s Flying Fairy School it’s nap time, and in Elmo’s World it’s time to catch some z’s. watch
Telly, Elmo, and Rosita are having fun helping their friends out by using all of their five senses. When Leela loses a glove, they use their eyes to find it. They spot a very miserable Oscar whose nose is so stuffed, he can’t tell whether his milk is sour – enter the Excellent Nose Club! What else will they discover using all of their five senses? Also, Maria Menounos explains what the ‘senses’ are, Cookie Monster sings about sandwiches, there’s more fairy fun over at Abby’s Flying Fairy School, and Elmo’s world is all about the epidermis! watch