Jim Henson was unable to be puppeteer.
James Maury `` Jim '' Henson -LRB- September 24 , 1936 -- May 16 , 1990 -RRB- was an American puppeteer , artist , cartoonist , inventor , screenwriter , film director and producer who achieved international fame as the creator of the Muppets .	puppeteer	puppeteer	artist	artist	cartoonist	cartoonist	inventor	invention	the Muppets	the Muppets
