Jim Henson seconded. Puppets. Go back in time to step into his shoes and try to make not one but two HUGE worldwide cultural phenomenons out of puppetry. Yeah, good luck on that path.
Gumpei Yokoi. Gameboy sure, but i was always interested in him as a friendly version of the toymaker in Blade Runner. tinkering like a gnome on gadgets - magic. free from Nintendo i thought he'd shine bright and surely create at least one thing that would make me say "wow".
oh and Gram Parsons. Cosmic American Music - would'a - should'a - could'a stomped up an' down alt-country in a way that only authentic white soul can muster.
plus, even though Terry Gilliam isn't dead i wish there were at least 16 of him and no less than 3 of 'em were aristocratically wealthy so's we'd see at least one new flick from him(them?) every other year.