John Rook, with Phil Hawkes, served as lighting director for The Muppet Show. Rook also worked as a lighting designer or consultant on such productions as The Christmas Toy, A Muppet Family Christmas, and The Jim Henson Hour. Rook also served as lighting designer for multiple Barbra Streisand specials, and director of photography for The Earth Day Special, including the Kermit the Frog segment. According to a 1997 interview with Gary Smith, producer of the Streisand TV specials, Rook had "died just a few months ago. We all miss him personally and professionally."