Costume/Muppet designer Kermit Love has died

*Raph's Girl* · 06-29-2008, 08:39 PM

Seriously...that's his name...Kermit Love...

http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2008/062508.shtml

Kermit Love, the costume designer who helped puppeteer Jim Henson create Big Bird and other "Sesame Street" characters, has died. He was 91.

Love died from congestive heart failure June 21st in Poughkeepsie, near his home in Stanfordville, Love's longtime partner, Christopher Lyall, told The New York Times.

In addition to his work with Henson, Love was a designer for some of ballet's most prominent choreographers, including Twyla Tharp, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine

Love also designed costumes and puppets for film and advertising, including the Snuggle bear from the fabric softener commercials.

"Sesame Street," public television's groundbreaking effort to use TV to teach preschoolers, premiered in 1969. Henson designed the original sketches of Big Bird, and Love then built the 8-foot, 2-inch yellow-feathered costume.

It was Love's idea to add a few feathers designed to fall off, to create a more realistic feel.

"The most important thing about puppets is that they must project their imagination, and then the audience must open their eyes and imagine," he told The New York Times in 1981.

Love also helped design costumes and puppets for Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster, among other characters. He even appeared on the show himself as Willy, the fantasy neighborhood's resident hot dog vendor.

But Love always insisted Henson's famous frog wasn't named for him, according to The New York Times.

Caroll Spinney, who has played Big Bird since "Sesame Street" began, said he knew Love was gravely ill but didn't know he'd died until Tuesday.

Kermit Love"Kermit was definitely a totally unique person," 74-year-old Spinney said. "He looked very much like Santa Claus but was a little bit more like the Grinch."

In addition to designing the Big Bird costume, he added, "Kermit really helped me with dramatic coaching, and he was wonderful at that."

Born in 1916, Love began making puppets for a federal Works Progress Administration theater in 1935. He also designed costumes for Orson Welles' Mercury Theater. From there he began working with the New York City Ballet's costumer.

In his 2003 book, "The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons From a Life in Feathers," Spinney recalled that after a year on "Sesame Street," he felt he couldn't live in New York on his salary.

Love told him to give it a month; the next week, Big Bird was on the cover of Time magazine and Spinney couldn't imagine leaving.

**ThirdMarioBro** · 06-30-2008, 12:45 AM

We loose somebody else every week. This is starting to piss me off.

*VaughnMichael* · 06-30-2008, 01:21 AM

This happend a bit ago not just now Thirdmariobro it was sort of looked over because of George and Tim.
Raph's Girl is a bit late on this one.
Either Way Rest In Peace to some who helped create characters I grew up with and still love today.

*Raph's Girl* · 06-30-2008, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Putrescent

Either Way Rest In Peace to some who helped create characters I grew up with and still love today.

Yeah... Muppet Central emails me everytime they have news and I didn't get the email till Sunday.

Still...He created some of the best known characters from Seseme Street and if it wasn't for him meeting Kevin Clash on the set of "The Great Space Coaster" and encourging him to apply for Seseme Street..well where would we be without Kevin Clash or any of the others he inspired over the years?!

Kermit Love is truly a legend among the puppet industry. And MAN did he look like Santa. ô,0

~~Jack Skellington~~ · 06-30-2008, 01:44 PM

man what a loss

06-29-2008, 08:39 PM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Costume/Muppet designer Kermit Love has died Seriously...that's his name...Kermit Love... http://www.muppetcentral.com/news/2008/062508.shtml Kermit Love, the costume designer who helped puppeteer Jim Henson create Big Bird and other "Sesame Street" characters, has died. He was 91. Love died from congestive heart failure June 21st in Poughkeepsie, near his home in Stanfordville, Love's longtime partner, Christopher Lyall, told The New York Times. In addition to his work with Henson, Love was a designer for some of ballet's most prominent choreographers, including Twyla Tharp, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine Love also designed costumes and puppets for film and advertising, including the Snuggle bear from the fabric softener commercials. "Sesame Street," public television's groundbreaking effort to use TV to teach preschoolers, premiered in 1969. Henson designed the original sketches of Big Bird, and Love then built the 8-foot, 2-inch yellow-feathered costume. It was Love's idea to add a few feathers designed to fall off, to create a more realistic feel. "The most important thing about puppets is that they must project their imagination, and then the audience must open their eyes and imagine," he told The New York Times in 1981. Love also helped design costumes and puppets for Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster, among other characters. He even appeared on the show himself as Willy, the fantasy neighborhood's resident hot dog vendor. But Love always insisted Henson's famous frog wasn't named for him, according to The New York Times. Caroll Spinney, who has played Big Bird since "Sesame Street" began, said he knew Love was gravely ill but didn't know he'd died until Tuesday. Kermit Love"Kermit was definitely a totally unique person," 74-year-old Spinney said. "He looked very much like Santa Claus but was a little bit more like the Grinch." In addition to designing the Big Bird costume, he added, "Kermit really helped me with dramatic coaching, and he was wonderful at that." Born in 1916, Love began making puppets for a federal Works Progress Administration theater in 1935. He also designed costumes for Orson Welles' Mercury Theater. From there he began working with the New York City Ballet's costumer. In his 2003 book, "The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons From a Life in Feathers," Spinney recalled that after a year on "Sesame Street," he felt he couldn't live in New York on his salary. Love told him to give it a month; the next week, Big Bird was on the cover of Time magazine and Spinney couldn't imagine leaving. __________________

06-30-2008, 12:45 AM	#2
ThirdMarioBro Tea Time! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,905	We loose somebody else every week. This is starting to piss me off. __________________

06-30-2008, 01:21 AM	#3
VaughnMichael I'm Baaaaaaccck! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11,833	This happend a bit ago not just now Thirdmariobro it was sort of looked over because of George and Tim. Raph's Girl is a bit late on this one. Either Way Rest In Peace to some who helped create characters I grew up with and still love today.

06-30-2008, 01:44 PM	#5
~~Jack Skellington~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: halloweentown Posts: 161	man what a loss