Son of legendary Muppets creator Jim Henson, John Henson, has passed away from a heart attack on Friday. His sister Cheryl Henson said it happened after the 48 year old finished building an igloo with his daughter at their New York home. The Jim Henson Company, of whom John Henson was a board member posted a statement on their Facebook page confirming the news of his death.
It is with great sadness that we confirm that John Henson, son of Jim and Jane Henson and brother to Lisa, Cheryl, Brian and Heather, died at age 48 of a sudden massive heart attack on Friday, February 14, while at home with his daughter. John served as a shareholder and board member of The Jim Henson Company. He leaves two daughters, Katrina (15) and Sydney (10) and his wife Gyongyi. A private service is being planned.
John Henson may have gained notoriety for being related to Jim Henson, but built a name for himself as he followed in his father's creative puppeteering footsteps. He performed as one one the original Coca Cola polar bears. Then starting in 1987, he even performed his own Muppets character, the nine-foot tall ogre "Sweetums" in several movies including Muppet Treasure Island, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, and Muppet*Vision 3D.
Cheryl Henson described her brother was an "artist who also loved working the land."
Image: Getty Images; Jim Henson Productions
