Jim Henson and Caroly Wilcox teaching in Charleville-Mézières, France, 1987. Photo: Richard Termine
Caroly Wilcox May 16, 1931–January 9, 2021
C
aroly Wilcox was immensely skilled and im- mensely modest. Without fanfare, she used her superb craft to make seamlessly appealing, work- able, expressive puppets, and she passed that craft along to others. Her passing was mourned by several genera- tions of puppet builders and designers, puppeteers, and the behind-the-scene staff as well.
Before she began making Muppets in 1969, she sang and recorded in a folk music group, performed on Broadway, and worked with Larry Berthelson’s Pickwick Puppets, as well as with Bil Baird. Her numerous TV and film credits include Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, Fraggle Rock, The Muppet Movie, and Follow That Bird. Recently, Jeff Bragg’s in-depth interview with Caroly appeared first in Puppetimes, newsletter of the National Capital Puppetry Guild, and then in Puppetry Journal (Fall 2019). There were stories about working with Jim Henson and Don Sahlin, as well as details about design changes in Bert, Ernie, and Big Bird and making the first version of the little red monster that became Elmo. She loved challenges, like making a piece of French toast into a puppet. She was a wizard at fabricating ani- mals from a sheet of foam. There is also a great online interview with Caroly and longtime colleagues Bonnie Erickson and Rollie Krewson, recorded at the Museum of the Moving Image.
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Caroly Wilcox's friend Bonnie Erickson collected the many tributes that poured in to give to Caroly’s partner, Frank Misurski. They include notes from Frank Oz, Bob McGrath, Dave Goelz, Pam Arciero, Karen Prell, John Lovelady, Cheryl Blalock, Noel MacNeal, Rollie Krewson, Susan Juhl, Karen Falk, Tyler Bunch, and many more. A few are noted here.
Cheryl Henson: Caroly was on the board of the Henson Foundation for many years, nurturing and supporting a wide range of puppets artists. She came to our festivals. She laughed and enjoyed the company of puppeteers.
Ed Christie: She set me up professionally. I owe her so much. Recently I was able to tell her that but of course she was embarrassed. We are all so lucky to have had her, and each other in our lives.
Marty Robinson: I just adored her. Carmen Osbahr: Caroly was an incredible, beautiful, talented friend. Kevin Clash: She was a true master at what she helped to create.
Richard Termine: Like so many —I owe my career to Caroly. In 1981 when I was freelancing in various departments at Henson Associ- ates, she literally tapped me on the shoulder one day and asked me if I would like to join the workshop’s Sesamegroup. Then years later when I began to explore photography she gave me the flexibility in my staff position to learn and explore that discipline. During all of the years I worked with her I was always challenged and at the same time supported by her. She provided me with opportunities to take on new creative chal- lenges and of course she always set the highest standards with the quality of her work and her work ethic.
Jason Weber: We were privileged to have the experience of being men- tored and guided by this incredible force of nature She was phenomenally gifted, always engaged and endlessly patient.
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