Kermit the Frog
Anthropomorphic green frog and pragmatic everyman of the Muppets.
Kermit the Frog, a green, anthropomorphic frog puppet, first appeared in 1955 with Jim Henson as his original performer. He serves as the grounded, everyday protagonist across many Muppet projects, most famously as the host and producer of the sketch comedy series *The Muppet Show* and as a regular on *Sesame Street*. Over the decades, he has also turned up in other TV series, movies, specials, and public service announcements. Until 2004, he was the mascot for The Jim Henson Company, after which The Walt Disney Company acquired the character.
Kermit sang the hit songs "Bein' Green" in 1970 for *Sesame Street* and "Rainbow Connection" in 1979 for *The Muppet Movie*, the first Muppet feature film. His original recording of "Rainbow Connection" peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2021. Henson performed Kermit until his death in 1990; Steve Whitmire then took over until 2016, and Matt Vogel has performed the character since 2017. Frank Welker voiced Kermit in *Muppet Babies* and some other animated projects, while Matt Danner voiced him in the 2018 *Muppet Babies* reboot.
For more than fifty years, Kermit has remained a globally recognized pop culture figure, starring in multiple TV series and films and earning numerous honors. In 2006, an "autobiography" titled *Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons* was credited to the character himself.
The character first appeared on local WRC-TV programs and commercials, notably *Sam and Friends*. That early Kermit was made from a discarded turquoise spring coat belonging to Jim Henson's mother, with two ping-pong ball halves for eyes. Originally a vague lizard-like creature, Kermit was established as a frog in the 1969 TV special *Hey, Cinderella!*. His triangular-pointed collar was added then to make him look more frog-like and to hide the seam between his head and body. According to Michael K. Frith, the puppet's simple design lets the performer's arm and hand create a wide range of expressions and gestures.
The name's origin is debated. It's often said Kermit was named after Henson's childhood friend Kermit Scott from Leland, Mississippi.
- Created
- 1955
- Creator
- Jim Henson
- First performer
- Jim Henson (1955–1990)
- Current performer
- Matt Vogel (since 2017)
- Field
- Puppetry, television, film
- Known for
- Host of The Muppet Show, featured role on Sesame Street, hit singles 'Bein' Green' and 'Rainbow Connection'
Lore & Background
Kermit first appeared on local programs and commercials broadcast on WRC-TV, most notably Sam and Friends. This prototype Kermit was created from a discarded turquoise spring coat belonging to Jim Henson's mother and two ping pong ball halves for eyes. Initially a vague lizard-like creature, his status as a frog was established in the television special Hey, Cinderella! in 1969, when his triangular-pointed collar was added to make him seem more frog-like and conceal the seam between his head and body.
The origin of Kermit's name is disputed. It is often claimed he was named after Henson's childhood friend Kermit Scott, but archivist Karen Falk denies this, stating Henson merely liked the sound of the name. Another account holds that the puppet was named after sound engineer Kermit Kalman Cohen, whom Henson met during a studio tour. A third belief—that he was named for designer Kermit Love—is denied by Love, whose association with Henson began after Kermit's creation.
Jim Henson performed Kermit until his death in 1990; his last performance was for an appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. Steve Whitmire then performed Kermit from 1990 until his dismissal in 2016, with Disney citing 'unacceptable business conduct.' Matt Vogel became Kermit's performer in 2017. Other performers have included Frank Welker (Muppet Babies), John Kennedy, Artie Esposito, Brian Cummings, Wally Wingert, and Matt Danner.
Reader's Guide
Kermit the Frog has remained a recognizable character in popular culture worldwide for over half a century, starring in several television series and films and receiving dozens of honors and awards. He performed the hit singles 'Bein' Green' in 1970 for Sesame Street and 'Rainbow Connection' in 1979 for The Muppet Movie; the latter reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2021. In 2006, the character was credited as the author of Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons, an 'autobiography' told from his perspective. Kermit has often been referred to as Jim Henson's 'soft-spoken alter-ego,' with colleagues confirming how close and inseparable their personalities were. The character's relatively simple puppet construction allows the performer's arm and hand to produce a wide range of expression and gestures. Kermit is localized for different markets: in Portugal he is Cocas, o Sapo; in Brazil, Caco, o Sapo; in Hispanic America, la rana René; in Spain, Gustavo; in Arabic, Kamel; and in Hungary, Breki.
Did You Know?
- The origin of Kermit's name is disputed; one claim is that it came from sound engineer Kermit Kalman Cohen, whom Henson met during a studio tour.
- In the Arabic version of Sesame Street, Kermit is known as Kamel, a common Arabic male name meaning 'perfect.'
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