Short answers, pulled from the story.
Jim Henson was an American puppeteer, actor, animator, creative producer, and director who achieved worldwide notability as the creator of the Muppets. He also created Fraggle Rock, directed The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, and created the Muppets for Sesame Street.
Jim Henson was born on the 24th of September 1936 in Greenville, Mississippi. He was raised in both Leland, Mississippi, and University Park, Maryland.
Henson's first version of Kermit was made from a halved table tennis ball and fabric from an old coat belonging to his mother. Denim from a pair of jeans formed the sleeve for the puppeteer's arm.
Jim Henson died in New York City on the 16th of May 1990 at the age of 53 from organ dysfunction caused by streptococcal toxic shock syndrome from Streptococcus pyogenes. He died at 1:21 a.m. after being admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital with abscesses in both lungs.
Henson joined Sesame Street in 1969 after Joan Ganz Cooney and the Children's Television Workshop asked his team to work full-time on the program. He performed Ernie, Guy Smiley, and Kermit, and produced animation inserts including the counting films and the original "C Is for Cookie."
American networks rejected Henson's weekly Muppet series in 1976, believing the characters would appeal only to children. He then pitched British impresario Lew Grade, moved his team to England, and began taping The Muppet Show at ATV Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire for worldwide syndication.
In late 1989, Henson entered negotiations to sell his company and characters, excluding those from Sesame Street, to The Walt Disney Company for almost $150 million. The talks fell through after his death, and Frank Oz later said the Disney deal is probably what killed Jim.