Jerry Nelson, Count Of ‘Sesame Street,’ Dies At 78

August 24, 2012 4:54 PM

(L-R) Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Carmen Osbahr, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Kevin Clash, Jerry Nelson, Pam Arciero and Fran Brill of Sesame Street attend the 2010 AFTRA AMEE Awards at The Grand Ballroom at The Plaza Hotel on February 22, 2010 in New York City. (credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for AFTRA)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jerry Nelson, the puppeteer behind Count von Count on PBS’ “Sesame Street,” has died.

Sesame Workshop says Nelson, who suffered from emphysema, died Thursday night in his Massachusetts home on Cape Cod. He was 78.

A tribute to Nelson was posted on the educational workshop’s website. It lauds Nelson for his artistry and the “laughter he brought to children worldwide” with the count and other Muppet characters, including Herry Monster and the Amazing Mumford.

Nelson also performed characters on the “Fraggle Rock” show, including Gobo Fraggle.

In recent years, Nelson stopped operating the Count and other “Sesame Street” puppets but still served as their voices.

The workshop says the new season of Sesame Street launches next month and Jerry Nelson’s voice will be heard.