Jerry Nelson, the puppeteer who taught innumerable children to count over the years as the voice of one of Sesame Street’s most popular characters, died Thursday in his Cape Cod home. He was 78.
Nelson succumbed after a long battle with emphysema, the L.A. Times reported.
Best known as the voice of Count von Count - the vampire with an unquenchable thirst for rattling off numbers - Nelson honed his skills under the tutelage of Bill Baird, the legendary puppeteer behind the marionettes in 1965’s “The Sound of Music.”
His career really took off once he met Jim Henson on “The Jimmy Dean Show” that same year, according to Canada’s CBC News. Nelson became a regular on Henson’s troupe on Sesame Street in the 1970, the show’s second season.
He also performed some of “The Muppet Show’s” fan favorite characters, including Gonzo’s beloved Camilla the Chicken and Lew Zealand, the fish tosser.
Sesame Workshop, the company that produces the children’s show, broke the news in a post on its website.
"The cast and crew of Sesame Street and the staff of Sesame Workshop deeply mourn the loss of cast member and creator of dozens of Muppet characters, Jerry Nelson," the post reads.
"A member of the Sesame Street family for more than 40 years, he will forever be in our hearts and remembered for the artistry in his puppetry, his music, and the laughter he brought to children worldwide through his portrayal of Count von Count, Herry Monster, Fat Blue, Sherlock Hemlock, the Amazing Mumford and many other beloved characters. We will miss his extraordinary spirit and the joy he brought to our Street."
Nelson retired in 2004 from puppeteering, but continued to voice the Count on “Sesame Street” until this season.
He is survived by his wife, Jan. A daughter, Christine, had died of cystic fibrosis in 1982.
ESacks@nydailynews.com
Source : Jerry Nelson, voice of Count von Count on 'Sesame Street,' useless at age 78 - New York Daily News
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