Son of late Muppets creator Jim Henson dies in US

John Henson dies on Valentine’s Day of heart attack at age 48

Puppeteer John Henson, pictured with a puppet of his father,  the Muppets creator Jim Henson. Photograph: D Dipasupil/Getty Images
Puppeteer John Henson, pictured with a puppet of his father, the Muppets creator Jim Henson. Photograph: D Dipasupil/Getty Images

John Henson, the son of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson, died on Valentine's Day of a heart attack at age 48, representatives for the Jim Henson Company said.

Henson, a shareholder and board member of the Jim Henson Company, died at his home in Saugerties, New York, where he was with one of his daughters, the company said in a statement.

His sister Cheryl said they were building an igloo in the snow when he collapsed..

John Henson worked as a puppeteer for the Muppets, playing the role of Sweetums the ogre in several films, including Muppet Treasure Island and It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

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Jim Henson died in 1990 at age 53, and his wife Jane Henson, who helped create the Muppets, died last year.

John Henson is survived by his two daughters, Katrina and Sydney, and his wife Gyongyi, according to the Jim Henson Company. He is also survived by four siblings, Lisa, Cheryl, Brian and Heather. A private service is planned.