He Was So Young

© Muppet Wikia / John Henson

John Henson, muppets puppeteer and son of creator Jim Henson, dead at 48

Feb. 15, 2014, 6:02 PM EST

By Tony Maglio
TheWrap

John Henson, the son of Muppets creator Jim Henson, died on Friday. He was 48.

According to a statement on the Jim Henson Company's Facebook page, Henson died of a sudden heart attack.

Henson was a puppeteer and performer for the Muppets, playing ogre Sweetumsfrom the late 1980's until 2005, including in the Muppets movies. He was also a company shareholder and board member.

More from TheWrap: Hollywood's notable deaths of 2014 (photos)

Henson is survived by his two daughters, Katrina, 15, and Sydney, 10, and his wife Gyongyi. A private service is being planned.

Here's the Facebook post, announcing his passing:

Post by The Jim Henson Company.

Photos: In memoriam 2014