Jim Henson's world of muppets and magic - in pictures

A screengrab of the Google doodle to commemorate what would have been the 75th birthday of the late Jim Henson Photograph: Google

Jim Henson with perhaps his greatest known character, Kermit the Frog Photograph: Rex

First lady Michelle Obama and Dr Jill Biden visit Sesame Street Photograph: Reuters

Elton John on The Muppet Show with band members Janice and Floyd Photograph: David Dagley/Rex

An episode of Fraggle Rock in 1983, directed by Jim Henson Photograph: Allstar

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), C3PO, Chewbacca , Miss Piggy and Gonzo on The Muppet Show Photograph: David Dagley/Rex Features

Jim Henson's Puppet Improv at the assembly hall in Edinburgh Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Katy Perry with Elmo performing in a music video called Hot and Cold about opposites, on Sesame Street Photograph: AP

Debbie Harry with Kermit on The Muppet Show Photograph: David Dagley/Rex

Statler And Waldorf, the perennially surly hecklers in The Muppet Show Photograph: David Dagley/Rex

Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie in the film Labyrinth, directed by Henson Photograph: Rex

Two characters - Momon and Putri - on Jalan Sesama, the Indonesian version of Sesame Street Photograph: Bay Ismoyo/Getty

Diana Ross on The Muppet Show Photograph: David Dagley / Rex Features/Rex

Cookie Monster, Prairie Dawn, Big Bird, Ernie, Elmo, Bert, Oscar the Grouch and Grover in Sesame Street Photograph: Rex

Jim Henson's Puppet Improv at the assembly hall in Edinburgh Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Julie Andrews on The Muppet Show Photograph: David Dagley/Rex

Zoot, the saxophone player from The Muppet Show band Photograph: Rex Features