Kermit Love

About Kermit Love

Kermit Love (August 5, 1916 – June 21, 2008) has long been associated as a designer/builder with the Muppets, in particular those on Sesame Street, where he also portrayed Willy, the hot dog vendor. Despite the coincidence of names, both Kermit Love and the Henson company have long denied that Kermit the Frog was named after him. Henson and Love first met after the creation and naming of the frog Muppet.

Like many of Jim Henson's associates, Love began his theatrical career at a relatively young age, working as a marionette maker and costume designer for Broadway and other stage productions as early as the 1930s, even appearing on stage in a bit part as a student for the 1937 play Naught Naught 00. His most notable costuming work at this time was for the Jerome Robbins ballet Fancy Free in 1946. He also worked with George Balanchine, designing, amongst other items, a twenty-eight foot marionette giant for Don Quixote (1965).

During the early 60's, Love first crossed paths with Jim Henson through Don Sahlin, who urged him to meet with Henson. The three first collaborated on The LaChoy Dragon. Love's theatrical background had given him particular skill at handling full body-puppets and tailoring them to allow freedom for the performer's movements. Love talked about how he designed Big Bird so that he would subtly shed feathers in the course of normal movement, "Not unlike a tree shedding leaves in the Fall." He believed this made Big Bird appear more natural to young viewers. From this, Love went on to design and build Big Bird (though Sahlin had carved the first head), and later, Mr. Snuffleupagus. For the special The Great Santa Claus Switch, Love contributed to the giant Thig.