Jerry Nelson and Jessica Max Stein, Truro MA, February 2010
Jerry Nelson, who died in August 2012 at age 78, performed with the Muppets for over fifty years. A master of the craft, Nelson brought to life an innumerable, nuanced and wildly divergent cast of characters, from tiny frogs to full-body monsters. His unparalled vocal versatility led many to call him “the man of a thousand voices.” Joked colleague Cheryl Blaylock – as coworkers and fans alike often quip – “Every time I didn’t recognize a voice, I’d go, ‘Well, must be Jerry.’”
Yet I came to find that Nelson was also a veritable zen master at enjoying the moment and moving through the world with integrity. He helped me invaluably in writing the biography of his close friend and fellow Muppeteer Richard Hunt, not only through the stories he shared of their adventures, but through the example of his own camaraderie and kindness. It is an honor to have known him. Continue reading
