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Jane Henson, 1934-2013 - A Life Full Of Love, Muppets

April 07, 2013 College of Arts and Humanities

Jane Henson. Photo courtesy of University Archives.

Jane Nebel Henson, university alumna, philanthropist and co-creator of the Muppets, died in her Connecticut home Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

By Laura Blasey, The Diamondback

They were more than just puppets. They were the Muppets, and they touched the lives of children across the country for decades.

Now, fans are mourning the death of one-half of the team behind the iconic characters.

Jane Nebel Henson, university alumna and philanthropist, died in her Connecticut home Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. She was 78.

Jane and Jim Henson, also a university alumnus, were the creative team behind the Muppets, pioneering not only a style of puppetry — a soft hybrid doll combining the features of a standard marionette and a ventriloquism dummy — but also family television programming. From Sesame Street to The Muppet Show, the Henson creations became household names.

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