MUPPETEER JERRY NELSON, VOICE OF THE COUNT, HERRY MONSTER, OTHERS, DEAD AT 78

Jerry Nelson, who operated several of the puppets — or Muppets — and gave voice to The Count and Herry Monster on Sesame Street as well as dozens of other characters on the long-running PBS show, the syndicated The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and the Muppet movies, has died at his home in Cape Cod at age 78. The Sesame Workshop said that he had been suffering from emphysema for several years. Although his illness prevented him from operating the Muppet characters in recent years — a strenuous activity — he was still able to provide their voices. He did so for the 43rd season of Sesame Street, which begins on Sept. 24, playing the key character, The Count.