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	{{short description\|American writer, television producer and director}}		{{short description\|American writer, television producer and director}}
	{{for multi\|the singer-songwriter and producer\|American Young\|the British poet\|Jon Stone (poet)}}		{{for multi\|the singer-songwriter and producer\|American Young\|the British poet\|Jon Stone (poet)\|the New Hampshire politician\|Jonathan Stone (New Hampshire politician)\|people named Jonathan Stone\|Jonathan Stone (disambiguation)}}
	{{distinguish\|John Stones}}		{{distinguish\|John Stones}}
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
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	\|spouse={{marriage\|]\|1964\|1974\|end=divorced}}		\|spouse={{marriage\|]\|1964\|1974\|end=divorced}}
	\|children=2}}		\|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 show '']'' and is credited with helping to develop characters such as ], ] and ]. Stone won 18 television ]s.<ref name=":0">, Helmore, Edward, The Independent. April 22, 1997.</ref> Many regard him as among the best children's television writers.<ref name="NYTimes" />		'''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 show '']'' and is credited with helping to develop characters such as ], ] and ]. Stone won 18 television ].<ref name=":0">, Helmore, Edward, The Independent. April 22, 1997.</ref> Many regard him as among the best children's television writers.<ref name="NYTimes" />

	==Biography ==		==Biography ==
	Born in ]<ref name="NYTimes" /> to a physician,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|last=Brennan\|first=Patricia\|date=18 June 1989\|title='Sesame Street's' Guiding Hand\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1989/06/18/jon-stone-sesame-streets-guiding-hand/74ef72a7-9e75-487c-bd18-95f7b56dab45/~~\|url-status=live~~\|newspaper=]}}</ref> Stone attended ] and entered ], graduating in 1952. He received a master's degree from the ] in 1955 and joined a ] training program.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="NYTimes" /> Stone began his work in children's television as a writer for ''].'' He also worked on '']'' before moving to '']'' as a writer and producer.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He also worked on several other ] projects before and during his time on ''Sesame Street.''		Born in ]<ref name="NYTimes" /> to a physician,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news\|last=Brennan\|first=Patricia\|date=18 June 1989\|title='Sesame Street's' Guiding Hand\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1989/06/18/jon-stone-sesame-streets-guiding-hand/74ef72a7-9e75-487c-bd18-95f7b56dab45/\|newspaper=]}}</ref> Stone attended ] and entered ], graduating in 1952. He received a master's degree from the ] in 1955 and joined a ] training program.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="NYTimes" /> Stone began his work in children's television as a writer for ''].'' He also worked on '']'' before moving to '']'' as a writer and producer.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He also worked on several other ] projects before and during his time on ''Sesame Street.''

	Stone wrote several children's books, including '']'', published by ] as a ].<ref name="NYTimes" />		Stone wrote several children's books, including '']'', published by ] as a ].<ref name="NYTimes" />
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	==Directing ==		==Directing ==
	Stone was the director of ''Sesame Street'' until 1996.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=JON STONE, 65, 'SESAME STREET' CREATOR, WRITER\|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-04-04-9704040138-story.html\|access-date=2021-11-11\|website=Chicago Tribune\|language=en}}</ref> He also directed the 1995 ] '']''<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Heffley\|first=Lynne\|date=1995-12-06\|title=Muppets and Friends Search for Perfect 'Christmas Tree'\|pages=145\|work=The Los Angeles Times\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88716480/muppets-and-friends-search-for-perfect/\|access-date=2021-11-11}}</ref> and '']'', a special that brought ''Sesame Street'' to the ] and won the Prix Jeunesse International.<ref name=":1" />		Stone was the director of ''Sesame Street'' until 1996.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=JON STONE, 65, 'SESAME STREET' CREATOR, WRITER\|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-04-04-9704040138-story.html\|access-date=2021-11-11\|website=Chicago Tribune\|date=4 April 1997 \|language=en}}</ref> He also directed the 1995 ] '']''<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Heffley\|first=Lynne\|date=1995-12-06\|title=Muppets and Friends Search for Perfect 'Christmas Tree'\|pages=145\|work=The Los Angeles Times\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88716480/muppets-and-friends-search-for-perfect/\|access-date=2021-11-11}}</ref> and '']'', a special that brought ''Sesame Street'' to the ] and won the Prix Jeunesse International.<ref name=":1" />

	==Personal life ==		==Personal life ==
	Stone was married to former actress ].<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Obituaries\|first=Telegraph\|date=2019-04-02\|title=Beverley Owen, actress who played Lily Munster's wholesome teenage niece in 'The Munsters' – obituary\|language=en-GB\|work=The Telegraph\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/04/02/beverley-owen-actress-played-lily-munsters-wholesome-teenage/\|access-date=2021-11-11\|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> The couple had two daughters before ] in 1974.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web\|last=Henderson\|first=Cydney\|title=Beverley Owen, the original Marilyn on 'The Munsters,' has died at age 81\|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/02/25/the-munsters-actress-beverley-owen-has-died-age-81/2986491002/\|access-date=2021-11-11\|website=USA TODAY\|language=en-US}}</ref>		Stone was married to former actress ].<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Obituaries\|first=Telegraph\|date=2019-04-02\|title=Beverley Owen, actress who played Lily Munster's wholesome teenage niece in 'The Munsters' – obituary\|language=en-GB\|work=The Telegraph\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/04/02/beverley-owen-actress-played-lily-munsters-wholesome-teenage/\|access-date=2021-11-11\|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> The couple had two daughters before ] in 1974.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web\|last=Henderson\|first=Cydney\|title=Beverley Owen, the original Marilyn on 'The Munsters,' has died at age 81\|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/02/25/the-munsters-actress-beverley-owen-has-died-age-81/2986491002/\|access-date=2021-11-11\|website=USA TODAY\|language=en-US}}</ref>

	Stone died in New York on March 30, 1997 of ], ~~two~~ ~~weeks~~ ~~before his 66th birthday~~.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Staff\|title=JON STONE DIES; A KEY FIGURE ON 'SESAME STREET'\|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/jon-stone-dies-a-key-figure-on-sesame-street/article_60a86c3b-3f42-5ea8-917a-206ed3ca157b.html\|access-date=2021-11-01\|website=The Buffalo News\|language=en}}</ref> A ] dedicated to Stone was installed on the Literary Walk in ], directly to the right of a bench dedicated to ].{{Citation needed\|date=November 2021}} In Stone's '']'' obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney described him as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."<ref name="NYTimes" /> Season 29 of '']'' was dedicated in his memory.		Stone died in New York on March 30, 1997, of ], at age 65.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Staff\|title=JON STONE DIES; A KEY FIGURE ON 'SESAME STREET'\|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/jon-stone-dies-a-key-figure-on-sesame-street/article_60a86c3b-3f42-5ea8-917a-206ed3ca157b.html\|access-date=2021-11-01\|website=The Buffalo News\|date=April 1997 \|language=en}}</ref> A ] dedicated to Stone was installed on the Literary Walk in ], directly to the right of a bench dedicated to ].{{Citation needed\|date=November 2021}} In Stone's '']'' obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney described him as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."<ref name="NYTimes" /> Season 29 of '']'' was dedicated in his memory.

	==References==		==References==
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Latest revision as of 00:58, 4 November 2024

American writer, television producer and director For the singer-songwriter and producer, see American Young. For the British poet, see Jon Stone (poet). For the New Hampshire politician, see Jonathan Stone (New Hampshire politician). For people named Jonathan Stone, see Jonathan Stone (disambiguation). Not to be confused with John Stones.

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) New York City
Education	Williams College (BA) Yale University (MFA)
Occupation(s)	Screenwriter, director, producer
Spouse	Beverley Owen (m. 1964; div. 1974)
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 show Sesame Street and is credited with helping to develop characters such as Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird. Stone won 18 television Emmy Awards. Many regard him as among the best children's television writers.

Biography

Born in New Haven, Connecticut to a physician, Stone attended Pomfret School and entered Williams College, graduating in 1952. He received a master's degree from the Yale University School of Drama in 1955 and joined a CBS training program. Stone began his work in children's television as a writer for Captain Kangaroo. He also worked on Kukla, Fran and Ollie before moving to Sesame Street as a writer and producer. He also worked on several other Muppets projects before and during his time on Sesame Street.

Stone wrote several children's books, including The Monster at the End of This Book, published by Random House as a Little Golden Book.

Producing and writing

Stone's became associated with Jim Henson in the early 1960s, working on fairy-tale projects with writer Tom Whedon, such as a proposed Snow White series. The idea led to the filming of an unaired Cinderella pilot that eventually became Hey, Cinderella!. Stone also appeared in Henson's 1967 short film Ripples as an introspective architect.

In 1968, Stone brought Henson and Joe Raposo (who had also worked on Hey, Cinderella!) to the attention of Children's Television Workshop president Joan Ganz Cooney as she was planning the show that would become Sesame Street. Stone wrote the pilot script at the request of Cooney, despite his initial reluctance as he had intended to leave television. He was one of the three original producers of the program and later served as an executive producer for many years.

Stone also wrote specials, including Big Bird in China and Big Bird in Japan.

Directing

Stone was the director of Sesame Street until 1996. He also directed the 1995 Christmas special Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree and Don't Eat the Pictures, a special that brought Sesame Street to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and won the Prix Jeunesse International.

Personal life

Stone was married to former actress Beverley Owen. The couple had two daughters before divorcing in 1974.

Stone died in New York on March 30, 1997, of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, at age 65. A memorial bench dedicated to Stone was installed on the Literary Walk in Central Park, directly to the right of a bench dedicated to Jim Henson. In Stone's New York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney described him as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America." Season 29 of Sesame Street was dedicated in his memory.