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.
Early life Nelson was born on July 10, 1934, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When he was 11 years old, he saw a marionette at a department store, which inspired him to become a puppeteer. He served in the military in the 1950s.
Career 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 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, 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."
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, 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, 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.
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.
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. 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.
Personal life 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, after attending Rye Country Day School. Caring for her limited Nelson's involvement in The Muppet Shows 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.
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.
Illness and death Nelson suffered from prostate cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema. He had gone through radiation therapy for cancer. For the last six years of his life, he required an oxygen tank to assist his breathing. He died on August 23, 2012, at his Cape Cod home from complications of his illnesses at the age of 78. Nelson was cremated by Boston's Neptune Society in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The film Muppets Most Wanted was dedicated to him and Jane Henson.
Filmography Film Year Title Roles Notes 1979 The Muppet Movie Floyd Pepper, Robin the Frog, Crazy Harry, Camilla the Chicken, Lew Zealand, Uncle Deadly, 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 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 1992 The Muppet Christmas Carol Tiny Tim Cratchit (Robin the Frog), Jacob Marley (Statler), Lew Zealand, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ma Fozziwig, Additional Muppets 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 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 2002 Kermit's Swamp Years Statler It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas MovieRobin 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.2014Muppets Most WantedMuppet Show AnnouncerUncredited; Posthumous release; Archive footage; Dedicated to memory
Television 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 (1971–1980), 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, Thog, 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 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 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 1993 Billy Bunny's Animal Songs Cecil Bear, Frog, Raccoon, Turtle 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, Fred the Wonder Horse, Tornado, Accordion, Cactus, The Big Bad Wolf, Football, Mr. Hat, Announcer, Various 2001 Sheep in the Big City General Public Guest voice
Video games Year Title Roles Notes 1988 Sesame Street: Magic on Sesame Street Count von Count Muppets Studios Presents: You're the DirectorDr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Robin the FrogMuppet MadnessDr. Julius Strangepork, Lew Zealand, Chicken1991Sesame Street LettersCount von CountVoiceSesame Street: Countdown1994Sesame Street: Counting CafeMr. Johnson1995Sesame Street: Let's Make a Word!Two-Headed Monster (left head)1996Sesame Street: Get Set to Learn!Count von Count, MartiansThe Muppet CD-ROM: Muppets InsideStatler, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, The Muppet NewsmanMuppet Treasure IslandStatler, Lew Zealand, Pops, Blind Pew, Mad Monty, Mr. Plageman1997Sesame Street: Search and Learn AdventuresSherlock Hemlock, The Amazing Mumford, Count von Count, Mr. JohnsonVoice1998Sesame Street: Elmo Through the Looking-GlassTwo-Headed Monster (left head)Elmo's Reading BasicsSherlock Hemlock, One Martian1999Elmo's Number JourneyCount von CountElmo's Letter Adventure2000Sesame Street: Ernie's Adventures in SpaceCount von Count, Martians, The Customer 2001Elmo's Word: Shoes, Bugs & Farms!Sherlock Hemlock, Old MacDonald (Mr. Johnson)2003Muppets Party CruiseStatler, Lew Zealand, Floyd Pepper, Crazy Harry, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Camilla2012Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical MonsterpieceCount von Count
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