Jerry R. Juhl

JUHL, Jerry R. - Head writer for the Muppets for over 30 years, died Sept. 27. He was 67. After receiving his bachelor's degree from San Jose State University, he was hired by Jim Henson to be his first main employee. Jerry was a puppeteer for a while, but decided that wiggling dollies wasn't his forte and honed his skills as a writer. Many specials for TV followed, such as spots on the Today Show, the Ed Sullivan Show and the Mike Douglas Show. Hour-long specials included The Great Santa Claus Switch, The Muppet Musicians of Bremen, Hey, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, A Muppet Family Christmas and Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas. This led to a six-year-long stint as a writer for Sesame Street. He then became head writer of the Muppet Show and co-writer of Muppet movies: The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppet Treasure Island, He also was head writer of The Jim Henson Hour. He was the creative producer and head writer of Fraggle Rock. Susan, his wife of 40 years, was also a writer and the script editor for that show. "He was proud of Fraggle Rock," she says. "It's about friendship and tolerance and the joy in goofiness." Work for the Henson Organization took the Juhls to many parts of the world. They lived in New York, London, and Toronto, and spent 17 years in Cambria, California, all the time commuting to work on Muppet projects. Jerry and Susan also traveled on their own, and loved Antarctica and Australia in particular. When not on the road, Jerry was an artisinal baker, ever in pursuit of creating the perfect bagel. He spent the last two years of his life lecturing at universities and teaching courses on script writing. Jerry and Susan moved to Caspar, CA, in 1987 and were very involved in saving the headlands and forming the Caspar Community Center. "Jerry had four families," said Susan, "his relatives, the Muppet gang, friends he met along his life's journey, and the Casparados." He is survived by them all. Jerry's smile, his generous nature, and his delight in all that is silly made him an extraordinary man. A Celebration of his life is set for Nov. 12 at the Caspar Community Center, starting at noon. Funny nose glasses will be provided. Memorial contributions may be made to the Caspar Community Center, 15051 Caspar Rd, Caspar, CA 95420.