Jerry Juhl

Jerome Ravn Juhl (June 28, 1938 – September 25, 2005) was an American television and film writer, best known for his work with The Muppets.

Biography

Juhl was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota; his family moved to Menlo Park, California, when he was 14. He received a bachelor's degree in theater arts from San Jose State University in 1961 and worked on children's shows for local television stations while in college. He met Frank Oz when they both worked for the Oakland Recreation Department's Vagabond Puppet Theater as teenagers. The two later met Henson at a puppeteer gathering in California.

Juhl was recruited by Jim Henson as a puppeteer and writer on '' Sam and Friends''. He focused increasingly on writing as other puppeteers, such as Frank Oz, joined the Henson stable.

Juhl was the head writer on ''The Muppet Show'' from seasons 2 to 5 (season 1 had Jack Burns as head writer). He also wrote for the television shows ''Fraggle Rock'' and '' The Jim Henson Hour''. He was involved in some capacity with all of the ''Muppet'' films from '' The Muppet Movie'' in 1979 to '' Muppets from Space'' in 1999. According to Lisa Henson, "So much of the humour, irreverence, caring and heart began with Jerry. He was, in many ways, the real voice of the Muppets."

He appeared as himself in the 1981 documentary ''Of Muppets and Men: The Making of The Muppet Show'', the 1984 documentary ''Henson's Place'', and the 1994 documentary ''The World of Jim Henson''. In addition to being interviewed in all three, he also appeared in archival footage in the last two.

He was married to Susan Doerr Juhl and lived in Caspar, California. In his last few years he semi-retired from writing, but taught at local colleges, coached at local Mendocino Coast theatres such as Gloriana Opera Company, and spoke at puppeteer conventions. He died on September 25, 2005, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 67.

Awards

Juhl co-wrote '' The Muppet Movie'' with Jack Burns, for which the two shared a Saturn Award nomination for Best Writing. He was nominated for a shared Emmy four times, for his writing on ''The Muppet Show'', finally winning the award in 1981 for Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. He was also awarded for his work on ''The Jim Henson Hour'' (Outstanding Children's Program, 1989, 1990) and ''The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson'' (Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program, 1991). His work on '' A Muppet Family Christmas'' won him the WGA Award for Variety – Musical, Award, Tribute, Special Event.

Filmography

References

Explanatory notes

External links

*

An interview with Jerry Juhl


at IGN FilmForce

A tribute to Jerry Juhl
at Jim Hill Media

{{DEFAULTSORT:Juhl, Jerry
1938 births
2005 deaths
San Jose State University alumni
Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California
American male screenwriters
American television writers
Primetime Emmy Award winners
Writers from Saint Paul, Minnesota
Writers Guild of America Award winners
American people of Danish descent
American male television writers
20th-century American male writers
20th-century American writers
20th-century American screenwriters
American puppeteers