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Jane Henson Dead: 'Muppets' Co-Creator Dies Aged 78

'Muppets' Matriarch Dies
The Huffington Post UK

'Muppets' designer and the former wife of creator Jim Henson, Jane, died on Tuesday following a long battle with cancer.

She passed away at her home in Connecticut at the age of 78.

In a statement, the Jim Henson Company, owned by the Hensons' five children, hailed her as an "integral creative and business partner" in 'The Muppets'.

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Jane met Jim Henson in a puppetry class at the University of Maryland and the pair started out working together on 'Sam and Friends', which featured some early 'Muppets' characters including Kermit.

She worked as an early puppeteer, as well as puppet designer for the 'Muppets'. She then went on to scout, hire and support many of the Jim Henson Company's top puppeteers.

Henson's characters, which also include Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear, helmed 'The Muppet Show' on TV between 1976 and 1981, before appearing in numerous films including 1992's 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'.

Another 'Muppets' film is on the way for 2014, after the huge success of 2011 film 'The Muppets' starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams.

Ricky Gervais will star in the upcoming sequel alongside Ty Burrell ('Modern Family') as two of the three main humans in the film.

Jane Henson
THE JIM HENSON COMPANY JANE HENSON(01 of11)
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FILE - This 1960 handout photo provided by The Jim Henson Company shows Jane Henson, right, with Jim Henson and the cast of Sam and Friends, in Washington. Jane Henson died in her Connecticut home on April 2, 2013 after a long battle with cancer. (AP Photo/The Jim Henson Company, Del Ankers) (credit:AP)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(02 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Jane Henson (L) talks with Willard Scott during a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(03 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Brent Glass (L), director of the National Museum of American History, wathces as Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, signs papers during a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(04 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, participates in a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(05 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, participates in a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
25th Anniversary of The Muppet Show - Arrivals & Party(06 of11)
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Jane Henson poses at the 25th Anniversary of The Muppet Show at The Palace in Hollywood, California. (Photo by J. Vespa/WireImage) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(07 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, participates in a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Kevin Spacey Receives The 2009 Monte Cristo Award(08 of11)
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NEW YORK - APRIL 26: The late Jim Henson's daughter Heather Henson and wife Jane Henson attend the 2009 Monte Cristo awards at Bridgewaters on April 26, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Janette Pellegrini/WireImage) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(09 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, participates in a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(10 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Brent Glass (L), director of the National Museum of American History, wathces as Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, signs papers during a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jim Hensen Muppet Characters Donated To Smithsonian(11 of11)
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WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, participates in a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on August 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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