Jon Stone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jon Arthur Stone (1931-04-13)April 13, 1931 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | March 30, 1997(1997-03-30) (aged 65)[1] |
| Education | Williams College(BA) Yale University(MFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Screenwriter, director, producer |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Jon Arthur Stone (April 13, 1931 – March 30, 1997) was an American writer, director, and producer who was best known as an original crewmember on the children's television showSesame Street and is credited with helping to develop characters such asCookie Monster,Oscar the Grouch andBig Bird. Stone won 18 televisionEmmy Awards.[2] Many regard him as among the best children's television writers.[1]
Born inNew Haven, Connecticut[1] to a physician,[3] Stone attendedPomfret School and enteredWilliams College, graduating in 1952. He received a master's degree from theYale University School of Drama in 1955 and joined aCBS training program.[2][1] Stone began his work in children's television as a writer forCaptain Kangaroo. He also worked onKukla, Fran and Ollie before moving toSesame Street as a writer and producer.[2][3] He also worked on several otherMuppets projects before and during his time onSesame Street.
Stone wrote several children's books, includingThe Monster at the End of This Book, published byRandom House as aLittle Golden Book.[1]
Stone's became associated withJim Henson in the early 1960s,[3] working on fairy-tale projects with writerTom Whedon, such as a proposedSnow White series.[citation needed] The idea led to the filming of an unairedCinderella pilot[3] that eventually becameHey, Cinderella!.[2] Stone also appeared in Henson's 1967 short filmRipples as an introspectivearchitect.
In 1968, Stone brought Henson andJoe Raposo (who had also worked onHey, Cinderella!) to the attention ofChildren's Television Workshop presidentJoan Ganz Cooney as she was planning the show that would becomeSesame Street.[citation needed] Stone wrote thepilot script at the request of Cooney, despite his initial reluctance as he had intended to leave television.[4] He was one of the three original producers of the program and later served as an executive producer for many years.[1]
Stone also wrote specials, includingBig Bird in China andBig Bird in Japan.[1]
Stone was the director ofSesame Street until 1996.[5] He also directed the 1995Christmas specialMr. Willowby's Christmas Tree[6] andDon't Eat the Pictures, a special that broughtSesame Street to theMetropolitan Museum of Art and won the Prix Jeunesse International.[3]
Stone was married to former actressBeverley Owen.[7] The couple had two daughters beforedivorcing in 1974.[2][8]
Stone died in New York on March 30, 1997, ofamyotrophic lateral sclerosis, at age 65.[9] Amemorial bench dedicated to Stone was installed on the Literary Walk inCentral Park, directly to the right of a bench dedicated toJim Henson.[citation needed] In Stone'sNew York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney described him as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."[1] Season 29 ofSesame Street was dedicated in his memory.
