May 9th is Kermit the Frog Day. This day marks the 70th anniversary of Kermit the Frog’s first appearance on television. To celebrate this day, fans are encouraged to wear green, perform acts of kindness, and then share the kind spirit of Kermit the Frog on social media using the hashtags #KermittheFrogDay and #TheMuppets70. “If we all pitch in and perform an act of kindness, imagine how much good we can put into the world,” said Kermit the Frog on this initiative.
Kermit shared his thoughts on May 9th and the 70th anniversary of The Muppets saying, “On this day in 1955 our trademark brand of gentle chaos first burst onto the scene thanks to our friends, Jim and Jane Henson. Hard to believe we’ve been singing, and dancing, and making people happy for that many years. Speaking for all The Muppets, I just want to say how much we appreciate the lovers, the dreamers, and all the fans like you.”
Ahead of Kermit the Frog Day, the California Legislature honored Kermit the Frog with an official proclamation from the State of California. It was presented to Kermit the Frog by the author, the
Honorable Nick Schultz of California’s 44th Assembly District. This was done at The Muppets Studio headquarters in Glendale, California.
Kermit the Frog made his television debut on Sam and Friends in Washington, D.C. on May 9, 1955. He was created by the late Jim Henson and originally built from Henson’s mother’s coat and a ping-pong ball that was cut in half for his eyes. The original Kermit the Frog puppet is on display regularly at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., along with other beloved Muppets characters.
As time went by, Kermit became a global icon and the symbol of The Muppets. He is a friend to all of this wacky troupe that includes Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf, Animal, and others. He starred/hosted The Muppet Show from 1976-1981 for its five-season run. This won multiple awards and accolades. Kermit then appeared in 8 feature films along with a plethora of made-for-TV films, series, and specials. Many of these can be found on Disney+. In 2004, The Muppets were acquired by Disney from The Jim Henson Company.
The full text of California Member’s Resolution RN 25 51354 can be read here:
MEMBER’S RESOLUTION
By the Honorable Nick Schultz, 44th Assembly District; Relative to
KERMIT THE FROG
WHEREAS, People from throughout the State of California, the nation, and the world are celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the first appearance of Kermit the Frog, a beloved character that has helped educate countless children and brought joy to millions of fans around the globe since debuting on May 9, 1955, on the Sam & Friends television show; and
WHEREAS, Created and originally performed by the late Jim Henson, who used his mother’s coat to provide the material for the puppet’s body, Kermit the Frog is 25 inches tall, has four toes on each of his flippers, and usually wears a light green jester’s collar with 11 collar points, and the original model is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, Having become known as the leader and often the symbol of The Muppets franchise, Kermit the Frog was one of the original main Muppet characters on Sesame Street – the treasured educational children’s television show – and went on to be featured in The Muppet Show, which debuted on television in 1976 and ran for five seasons – with Kermit introducing the guest host at the beginning of every episode – winning four Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award during the show’s lifetime; and
WHEREAS, For The Muppets first film, The Muppet Movie, which premiered in 1979, Kermit the Frog is shown setting off for Hollywood, California, with his friends to pursue their dreams, and with the film shot primarily in Los Angeles, Kermit’s swamp remains in place on the Warner Bros. lot and is still used as a filming location to this day; and
WHEREAS, With The Muppets Studio now part of The Walt Disney Company and headquartered in Glendale, Kermit the Frog has appeared in numerous Muppets productions that have been filmed in Los Angeles County, including The Muppets film from 2011, the Muppets Most Wanted film from 2014, the muppets television series that debuted in 2014, and the Muppets Haunted Mansion Halloween special that premiered on Disney+ in 2021, among many others; and
WHEREAS, Boasting an official character biography that states that he splits his time between the swamp and a pad in Hollywood, which he shares with pigs, bears, chickens, and other various other weirdos, Kermit the Frog, now performed by Matt Vogel, was immortalized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 and again as a part of The Muppets when the franchise was so honored in 2012; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER NICK SCHULTZ, That The Muppets Studio and The Walt Disney Company be congratulated on the celebration of Kermit the Frog’s seventieth anniversary and commended for sharing this beloved and iconic character with audiences around the world, who have been educated, entertained, and touched by the unique and engaging personality Kermit presents to his innumerable fans.
Dated this 9th day of May, 2025.
Honorable Nick Schultz
44th Assembly District
