Jerry Nelson, Count of 'Sesame Street,' dies at 78
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jerry Nelson, the puppeteer behind a delightful menagerie of characters including Count von Count on "Sesame Street" and Gobo Fraggle on "Fraggle Rock," has died. He was 78.
Nelson, who suffered from emphysema, died Thursday night in his Massachusetts home on Cape Cod, the Sesame Workshop said Friday.
"Every description of his characters describes Jerry as well," said "Sesame Street" executive producer Carol-Lynn Parente. "Silly, funny, vulnerable, passionate and musical, for sure. That voice of his was superb."
Although he'd been in declining health for some time "his attitude was never bad," Parente said Friday. "He was always so grateful for what he had in his life."
"We're having a rough day on the Street," she said.
In a tribute posted online by the nonprofit Sesame Workshop, Nelson was lauded for his artistry and the "laughter he brought to children worldwide" with the Count and other Muppet puppets including Sherlock Hemlock, Herry Monster and the Amazing Mumford.
Nelson was part of other projects featuring Jim Henson's Muppets, including the 1984 movie "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and TV series including the 1980s "Fraggle Rock" and 1990s "Muppets Tonight"
In recent years, Nelson gave up the physically demanding job of operating the Count and other puppets on "Sesame Street" but still voiced the characters, the workshop said. The show's new season launches in September and Nelson's voice will be heard.
In 2010, he released the album "Truro Daydreams," the title that referred to the Massachusetts town.
Survivors include Nelson's wife, Jan, Parente said. Funeral plans were not immediately available.
Nelson, who suffered from emphysema, died Thursday night in his Massachusetts home on Cape Cod, the Sesame Workshop said Friday.
"Every description of his characters describes Jerry as well," said "Sesame Street" executive producer Carol-Lynn Parente. "Silly, funny, vulnerable, passionate and musical, for sure. That voice of his was superb."
Although he'd been in declining health for some time "his attitude was never bad," Parente said Friday. "He was always so grateful for what he had in his life."
"We're having a rough day on the Street," she said.
In a tribute posted online by the nonprofit Sesame Workshop, Nelson was lauded for his artistry and the "laughter he brought to children worldwide" with the Count and other Muppet puppets including Sherlock Hemlock, Herry Monster and the Amazing Mumford.
Nelson was part of other projects featuring Jim Henson's Muppets, including the 1984 movie "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and TV series including the 1980s "Fraggle Rock" and 1990s "Muppets Tonight"
In recent years, Nelson gave up the physically demanding job of operating the Count and other puppets on "Sesame Street" but still voiced the characters, the workshop said. The show's new season launches in September and Nelson's voice will be heard.
In 2010, he released the album "Truro Daydreams," the title that referred to the Massachusetts town.
Survivors include Nelson's wife, Jan, Parente said. Funeral plans were not immediately available.
The Count...I'll miss him
http://vimeo.com/35598843
My FAVE part of the show!! My brother and I would STOP w/e we were doing and Count along!!
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Also, I HATE that we can't add links anmore to out Comments!! Had a Great Count Vid! ;(
I had a Count hand puppet and loved to mimic him for my young nieces and nephews. One day the stitching on one finger began to unravel and I asked my mom to fix it, sew it back together, of course she said she would. I wore the Count on my hand almost constantly, so it was no surprise that it was on my hand when she started to sew. I turned the Count's head away as if unwilling to watch the operation. As the sewing needle entered the fabric, I turned the head toward my mom and in the Count's voice IÂ said; "Ouch, that hurts". My mom physically jumped in place and screamed. My nieces and nephews were watching and they all started laughing hysterically. Man, I feel like I lost a good friend, someone near and dear. Excuse me, I've got to go, something in my eye.
One, two, three, ha ha ha ha,  Thanks for the memories Count.Â
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R.I.P.
The only awesome and none douchie vampire ever. :( I remember learning from the Count growing up.
How many of us will miss you?
Let's start at 100,001, 100,002, 100,003, 100,004, ...............
 @Sydthepiper I think you are missing at least a few 0s in that
Man oh man what a mega bummer, I love the count. I still talk like him when I count stuff . . . spliffs and what not! I'll listen for you in the sky tonight as you'll be counting all the stars that will surround you in the galaxy!!! Rest In Peace My fave vampire.
R.I.P. Sir. You gave much joy to a lot of us "baby boomers," and you'll be missed.
He will be miss.