The Family of Jim Henson Gifts Iconic Kermit the Frog Chaplin Statue to the Center for Puppetry Arts
Atlanta Welcomes a Piece of Hollywood History
ATLANTA (November 2025) – The Center for Puppetry Arts is honored to announce a remarkable gift from the family of Jim Henson: the towering 12-foot statue of Kermit the Frog dressed as Charlie Chaplin’s The Little Tramp, which has stood at the front gates of the historic studio on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood for the last 25 years while the property was the headquarters of The Jim Henson Company.
The statue will be relocated to the campus of the Center for Puppetry Arts in Midtown, Atlanta. Founded in 1978, the Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest nonprofit dedicated to the art form of puppetry and home of the largest collection of Jim Henson artifacts in the world. The organization celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2028. This extraordinary gift follows the recent announcement of the sale of the legendary studio lot by the Henson family (Brian Henson, Cheryl Henson, Heather Henson, the estate of John Henson, and Lisa Henson), and the move of The Jim Henson Company’s headquarters to the Radford Studio Center in Studio City.
Created to commemorate The Jim Henson Company’s move into the Chaplin studio in 2000, the Kermit statue represented a whimsical link between two visionary artists. Its new home at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta will ensure that the sculpture continues to delight and inspire generations of dreamers, while also reinforcing the organization’s role in carrying forward and celebrating The Jim Henson Company’s legacy.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Henson family, including our board member Cheryl Henson, an iconic piece of Hollywood history will continue to delight fans from around the world,” said Beth Schiavo, Executive Director of the Center for Puppetry Arts. “We are deeply honored to be the new stewards of this joyful symbol of creativity, humor and storytelling.”
“This Kermit-as-Chaplin statue represents a chapter in The Jim Henson Company’s story. We know that our friends at the Center for Puppetry Arts – who are such important partners in celebrating our history – will provide the perfect home where this part of the Henson legacy can be shared,” said Lisa Henson, daughter of Jim Henson and CEO of The Jim Henson Company.
The logistics and timing of the statue’s move are still being determined. Fans of film, puppetry and Henson history can look forward to more information in the coming months about when they can visit the statue in its new home in Atlanta.
Tickets and Visitor Information
Located at the heart of Midtown Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts is a popular stop for visitors and locals alike, with more than 150,000 annual visitors from around the world coming to its exhibitions. Admission to the Center for Puppetry Arts includes access to the Jim Henson Collection, Global Collection, rotating special exhibitions and free on-site parking. For tickets and program information, visit puppet.org.
About the Center for Puppetry Arts
Founded in 1978, the Center for Puppetry Arts is the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated solely to the art of puppetry. Year-round, the Center offers live puppetry theater performances, interactive workshops and museum exhibitions. Home to the largest collection of Jim Henson artifacts, including original Muppets, Sesame Street icons, Fraggle Rock characters and more, the Center’s collections feature more than 4,000 puppets from popular and global traditions, giving visitors a rare, behind-the-scenes look at beloved characters and cultural stories. A cornerstone of Atlanta’s arts scene, the Center continues to captivate audiences of all ages through performances, education and singular collections. The organization will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2028.