Jane Henson

Jane Henson with Kermit the Frog and Yorick.

Jim and Jane performing Wilkins and Wontkins.

Jim, with Jane at right hand, performing Ernie.

Jane Henson, born Jane Nebel, was the wife of Jim Henson from May 28, 1959 until his death in 1990. She is also the mother of Jim Henson's five children: Lisa, Cheryl, Brian, John, and Heather Henson.

Nebel and Henson met in a puppetry course at the University of Maryland, College Park, where they were both undergraduates. At the time, Nebel was a senior majoring in art education and Henson was a freshman studying to become a commercial artist. Nebel later became Henson's puppeteering partner on the television show Sam and Friends, and the two eventually married.

Though Jane Henson was one Jim Henson's first puppeteering partners, she seldom supplied voices. One of the few exceptions was in the Sesame Street song "Women Can Be". She performed considerably less after the birth of the couple's second child, Cheryl. However, she would occasionally serve as a background performer in various projects afterwards, with her last known performance occurring in episode 103 of The Muppet Show.

Jim and Jane Henson separated in 1986, but remained close until Jim's death in 1990.

Jane Henson currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Jim Henson Legacy. As president of The Jane Henson Foundation, she has donated to Sesame Workshop, provided funding to the Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit, and The Carter Center founded by U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Performing credits

• Various commercials
• Afternoon with Inga
• Sam and Friends
• Tonight (1956 appearance)
• The Today Show appearances
• Tales of the Tinkerdee
• Sesame Street (uncredited on the show itself, but many video compilations credit her as a performer)
• Julie on Sesame Street
• The Muppets Valentine Show
• The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
• The Muppet Show (episodes 101 (credited in pilot version only) and 103)

Additional credits

• The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (historian)