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Voice of The Count, Muppeteer Jerry Nelson Dies

He worked on 'Sesame Street' and 'Fraggle Rock'

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 25, 2012 5:49 AM CDT

(Newser) – Jerry Nelson, voice of Sesame Street's Count and countless other Muppets, has died from emphysema at age 78, reports the Los Angeles Times. Nelson first worked with Jim Henson as a puppeteer in 1965, and joined Sesame Street in the show's second season in 1970. Over the years, Nelson brought to life a huge array of Muppets from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and other productions, including Count von Count, fish-thrower Lew Zealand, Kermit's young nephew Robin, and Gobo Fraggle.

Nelson retired from puppetry in 2004 because of his health, but continued to record several voices, including the Count. "Jerry Nelson imbued all his characters with the same gentle, sweet whimsy and kindness that were a part of his own personality," said Lisa Henson, CEO of Jim Henson Co., in a statement.
In this undated publicity photo released by Sesame Workshop, Jim Henson, left, performs Kermit the Frog puppet and Jerry Nelson performs a rabbit puppet for Sesame Street in New York.
In this undated publicity photo released by Sesame Workshop, Jim Henson, left, performs Kermit the Frog puppet and Jerry Nelson performs a rabbit puppet for "Sesame Street" in New York.   (AP Photo/Sesame Workshop, Richard Termine)
In this June 2012 publicity photo released by Sesame Workshop, puppeteer Jerry Nelson is shown with Sesame Street characters Herry Monster, right, and Count von Count, in New York.
In this June 2012 publicity photo released by Sesame Workshop, puppeteer Jerry Nelson is shown with "Sesame Street" characters Herry Monster, right, and Count von Count, in New York.   (AP Photo/Sesame Workshop, Gil Vaknin)
In this June 2012 publicity photo released by Sesame Street, puppeteer Jerry Nelson is shown with Sesame Street character Count von Count in New York.
In this June 2012 publicity photo released by "Sesame Street," puppeteer Jerry Nelson is shown with "Sesame Street" character Count von Count in New York.   (AP Photo/Sesame Workshop, Gil Vaknin)
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Classic Count, from 1972, back when he was scarier than he is today.   (xunXQPEcoHM)
The Count, with his classic "ah, ah, ah."   (YouTube)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Seth_Meyers
Aug 25, 2012 7:45 PM CDT
LIke Jim Henson, killed by the CRMINAL TOBACCO PUSHERS and their ILLEGAL TOBACCO DRUG, a weapon of mass destruction! BAN THE ILLEGAL TOBACCO DRUG, NOW AND PROSECUTE THE CRIMINAL TOBACCO PUSHERS and their "friends", TOO!
Mad
Aug 25, 2012 12:41 PM CDT
Just FYI, according to legend, one could stall a pursuing vampire by tossing salt.  The OCD vampire will have to stop and ... COUNT ... each grain, enabling your escape. "When I'm alone, I count myself. One count!" -- Now there is none.
carson
Aug 25, 2012 9:32 AM CDT
the world is a less funny place every day it seems...thanks for teaching our kids their numbers count

 
Sesame Street • Muppets • Muppet Show • Fraggle Rock • Jerry Nelson • puppetry

 
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