R.I.P. JERRY NELSON - SESAME STREET'S THE COUNT THAT COUNTS

Sad news today. Jerry Nelson, The man behind the voice of memorable characters like The Count and Sherlock Hemlock on Sesame Street, as well as Floyd of the Electric Mayhem and Kermit's cousin Robin for The Muppets has died at age 78.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in Washington D.C., Nelson's first puppetering job with The Muppets came in 1965 on The Jimmy Dean Show, where he took over for Frank Oz portraying Rowlf the Dog. 

Joining Sesame Street in its second season run, he received many notable characters including Sherlock Hemlock (1970-1995, 2010), The Amazing Mumford (1971-present), and Herry the Monster (1970-present). But, he would find his most famous and notable character in Count von Count (1972-present).

Joining The Muppet Show in the early 80's, Nelson would voice such famous characters as Floyd, bassist for the Electric Mayhem, Julius Strangepork in Pigs In Space, Kermit's cousin Robin the Frog and Camilla the Chicken. He would also voice Emmet in the perennial holiday favorite 'Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas'. On the HBO series 'Fraggle Rock', he performed Gobo Fraggle, Pa Gorg and Marjory the Trash Heap. 

He made people laugh, he inspired creativity and championed education. What a remarkable man. R.I.P. Mr. Nelson.

When once asked to reflect on his career, Nelson remarked: 

"I can only say I have traveled through the breathtaking up and down melody of a lifetime that, I studied and trained for, wandered the paths of least resistance (following my water nature) to, and that I am either blessed and one of the luckiest bozos walking this planet or both."