ToughPigs is deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of producer and former CEO of Henson Associates David Lazer, who died last month at the age of 89.
Lazer’s first connection with the Muppets came in 1965. While as an executive with IBM, he worked with Jim Henson to create the Muppet Meeting Films. Not long after, he joined Muppets, Inc., as it was then known, where he continued to produce the films. As The Muppet Show began, Lazer became the show’s guide for the celebrity guest stars, making sure that they’d be comfortable working within the unique sets and performing requirements of the Muppets. He continued to produce over the years, with credits that include Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, the first three theatrical Muppet movies, Of Muppets and Men, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and the compilation video Fozzie’s Muppet Scrapbook.
In the wake of Henson’s tragic passing in 1990, Lazer came out of semi-retirement to help the company regain its footing without its founder and leader, serving as Henson Associates CEO from May to December 1990. Brian Henson once said in an interview about Lazer’s assistance: “David sort-of came and lived with us for a while there just to help figure it all out. I’d say that David Lazer was probably the biggest influence, through that period, to help figure out how we were going to go forward.”
For his service in good times and bad, Lazer’s impact proved crucial to the history of the Muppets.
Click here to help us remember David Lazer on the ToughPigs Discord!
by Matthew Soberman – [email protected]
