30 years later, Muppet Treasure Island’s human star remembers

Thirty years on from Muppet Treasure Island, Kevin Bishop still recalls the chaos and camaraderie of playing 14-year-old Jim Hawkins. He remembers a long audition process—2,000 children tested for the part—and an early visit to Jim Henson's Creature Shop where he first handled an animatronic pig that turned out to be from Babe: Pig in the City.

On set, the puppeteers never broke character, so Bishop learned to treat Gonzo and Rizzo like fellow actors. He says he and the Muppet performers “would just play all day long,” and that the production became a kind of family; the performers even came to his birthday party, complete with a treasure chest cake.

He formed particular bonds with Rizzo and Bill Barretta’s Clueless Morgan, who nicknamed him “my little pine cone,” and he remains in touch with the troupe, meeting them for sushi when he’s in Los Angeles.

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