Frank Oz
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Frank Richard Oznowicz (born May 25, 1944), known professionally as Frank Oz, is an American<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> puppeteer, filmmaker and actor. He is best known for his involvement with Jim Henson and George Lucas through The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Star Wars, as well as his directorial work in feature films and theater.
The son of puppeteers, Oz worked as an apprentice puppeteer during his teenage years in Oakland, California. Despite his interest in journalism, he continued his career as a puppeteer when he was hired by The Jim Henson Company in 1963, going on to perform several television characters such as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show (1976–1981) and Cookie Monster, Bert, and Grover on Sesame Street (1969–2013).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was hired by Lucas to perform as Yoda in the Star Wars film series, beginning with The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and reprising the role in seven subsequent films and various media for more than four decades.
Oz is also known for his work as a filmmaker, having directed the films The Dark Crystal (1982), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), The Indian in the Cupboard (1995), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999), and Death at a Funeral (2007), as well as an episode of Leverage (2011).
Early lifeEdit
Oz was born Frank Richard Oznowicz<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in Hereford, Herefordshire on May 25, 1944, the son of Belgian mother Frances (née Ghevaert; 1910–1989) and Template:Nowrap father Isadore "Mike" Oznowicz (1916–1998), both of whom were puppeteers<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> who had moved to England when his father joined the Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade.<ref name= "jimhensonlegacy1"/> His mother was an ethnically Flemish Catholic, whilst his father was Jewish.<ref name= "jimhensonlegacy1"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some of his parents' puppets, including one that was made to mock Adolf Hitler, survived World War II and were presented at the Contemporary Jewish Museum<ref>A Hitler puppet stashed in Frank Oz’s Oakland attic tells his family’s Holocaust story</ref> and the Dutch National Archives.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His father later worked as a window trimmer.<ref name=people/><ref name= ign>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The family left England when Oz was six months old, living in his mother's native Belgium until he was five.<ref name=lat/><ref name= avclub>Template:Cite news</ref> They then moved to the U.S. and settled in Montana in 1951,<ref name=ign/> before eventually relocating to Oakland, California.<ref name=people>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Oz attended Oakland Technical High School and Oakland City College. He worked as an apprentice puppeteer at Children's Fairyland as a teenager<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the Vagabond Puppets, a production of the Oakland Recreation Department, where Lettie Connell was his mentor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CareerEdit
PerformingEdit
Oz performed as a puppeteer with Jim Henson’s Muppets.<ref name="guardian 083021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a teenager, he worked with the Vagabond Puppets at the Children's Fairyland of Oakland, which is how he first met Henson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was 19 when he joined Henson in New York to work on the Muppets in 1963.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His characters have included Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear,<ref name="guardian 083021" /> Animal, and Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show, and Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover on Sesame Street.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In addition to performing a variety of characters, Oz was one of the primary collaborators responsible for the development of the Muppets, known most notably for his chemistry with Jim Henson himself, performing in such pairings as: Ernie and Bert; Cookie Monster and Kermit the Frog; Kermit and Miss Piggy; Kermit and Fozzie Bear; Kermit and Grover; Ernie and Cookie Monster; Rowlf the Dog and Fozzie Bear; Rowlf and Miss Piggy, and The Swedish Chef (Henson performed the head and voice, with Oz normally operating the hands). Oz performed as a puppeteer in over 75 productions, including Labyrinth (as the Wiseman), video releases, and television specials, as well as countless other public appearances, episodes of Sesame Street, and other Jim Henson series. His puppetry work spans from 1963 to the present, although he semi-retired from performing his Muppets characters in 2001 (continuing to perform on Sesame Street on a yearly basis through 2012).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2001 following his retirement, his characters were taken over by Eric Jacobson, with the exception of Cookie Monster who was taken over by David Rudman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Oz explained why he decided on leaving the Muppets in a 2007 interview: Template:Quote
Oz is well known as the performer of Jedi Master Yoda from George Lucas' Star Wars series. Henson had originally been contacted by Lucas about performing Yoda. Henson was preoccupied, so he suggested Oz be assigned as the chief puppeteer of the character, as well as a creative consultant.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Oz performed the puppet and provided the voice for Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Director Rian Johnson decided to return to using a puppet instead of using computer-generated imagery (CGI) in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), even using the original mold, because he felt CGI would not have worked as it was not true to the Yoda Luke knew in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Oz also provided the voice of a CGI Yoda in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). The conversion to CGI was met with some criticism among fans, but Oz himself said that was "exactly what [Lucas] should have done."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Oz voiced Yoda in Disney theme park attractions, including Star Tours–The Adventures Continue and within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> as well as in the Star Wars Rebels episodes "Path of the Jedi" and "Shroud of Darkness".
Oz voiced Yoda in the 2020 Oculus Quest virtual reality game Tales from the Galaxy's Edge alongside original C-3PO performer Anthony Daniels.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
He directed the 2017 documentary Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched in which he and other Muppet performers discuss working behind the scenes with Jim Henson and the Muppets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DirectingEdit
Inspiration as a filmmaker came to Oz upon a viewing of the Orson Welles film Touch of Evil (1958), the director told Robert K. Elder in an interview for The Film That Changed My Life:<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Oz began his behind-the-camera work when he co-directed the fantasy film The Dark Crystal with long-time collaborator Jim Henson (Oz also puppeteered Aughra and the Skeksis Chamberlain in the film). The film featured the most advanced puppets ever created for a movie.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Oz further employed those skills in directing 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan, as well as sharing a screenwriting credit.
In 1986, he directed his first film that did not involve Henson, Little Shop Of Horrors. The musical film starred Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene, as well as Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Bill Murray, John Candy, Christopher Guest, Jim Belushi and a 15-foot-tall talking plant (voiced by Levi Stubbs) which, at its ultimate size, required up to 60 puppeteers to operate. The film allowed Oz to show his ability to work with live actors and led to opportunities to direct films that did not include puppetry.
Usually helming comedic productions, Oz went on to direct Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in 1988, starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine; What About Bob? in 1991, starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss; and Housesitter in 1992, starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn (all of which were scored by Miles Goodman). Later films include The Indian in the Cupboard (1995), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999), The Score (2001), the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives, and the original Death at a Funeral (2007).
Oz has frequently experienced on-set tension while directing his films, notably during the productions of What About Bob?, In & Out, The Score and The Stepford Wives.<ref name=lat>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2016, Oz directed a one-man stage show titled In & Of Itself starring Derek DelGaudio, which had its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse on May 16.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> In April 2017, with the financial backing by Neil Patrick Harris among others, the play began its Off-Broadway theatrical run, which was initially slated for 10 weeks,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but ended up extending its run for 72 weeks. In October 2020, the streaming service Hulu purchased the rights to a live recording of the play, which debuted on January 22, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Unrealized projectsEdit
In the late 1980s, Oz was attached to direct a film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" for Universal Pictures, with Martin Short slated to star. Oz dropped out of the project after he could not figure out how to make the story work.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Oz was also going to direct the 1990 film Mermaids after Lasse Hallström dropped out of the project.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Oz also left the project due to creative differences and was ultimately replaced by Richard Benjamin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Oz reportedly did not get along with Cher, who starred in the film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
It was reported in 1992 that Oz was slated to direct a film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls for The Geffen Film Company. Oz also planned to direct an unmade film titled Swing Vote before directing Dreamgirls.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the late 1990s, it was reported that Oz was going to direct either Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis in an unmade film titled Ump for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Oz claimed in a 2007 interview with The A.V. Club that he turned down the offer to direct Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Oz later retracted his statement about turning down the project in a 2021 interview. "No, they didn't offer it to me. They asked me if I was interested. So it wasn't really an offer."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In 2006, Dick Cook hired Oz to write and direct The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made for Walt Disney Pictures. However, Disney passed on the project in favor of Jason Segel's script for what would become The Muppets following Cook's departure from the studio.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ActingEdit
As an actor, Oz appeared in one scene as a Corrections Officer in The Blues Brothers (1980), directed by John Landis. He appeared in a similar role and scene in Trading Places (1983), also directed by Landis. He had roles in several other Landis films including An American Werewolf in London (1981), Spies Like Us (1985), Innocent Blood (1992), and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). In 2001, he had a voice acting role in the Pixar film Monsters, Inc. as Randall's scare assistant, Fungus.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2005, he had a minor part in the Columbia film Zathura as the voice of the robot. He played a lawyer in the 2019 film Knives Out.
Oz played a surgeon in scenes cut from the theatrical release of Superman III.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Other cameos include The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan and several other Jim Henson-related films that did not involve just his puppeteering.
When Oz does not appear in a Landis film, his name is often spoken in the background. During airport scenes in Into the Night and Coming to America, there are announcements on the PA system for "Mr. Frank Oznowicz".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
Oz married Robin Garsen in 1979 and they divorced in 2005.<ref name=people/> He married Victoria Labalme, performing artist and daughter of historian Patricia Hochschild Labalme and designer George Labalme Jr., in 2011.<ref name="jimhensonlegacy1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=lat2/> He has four children.<ref name="lat2">Template:Cite news</ref> He maintained a residence in England for nine years,<ref name=avclub/> and lives in Manhattan as of 2012.<ref name=lat2/>
FilmographyEdit
FilmEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Muppet Movie | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Marvin Suggs Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice, Also creative consultant | ||
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | Corrections officer | Also voice of Elwood's building manager | ||
| The Empire Strikes Back | Yoda | Puppeteer/Voice | |||
| 1981 | The Great Muppet Caper | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters | |||
| An American Werewolf in London | Mr. Collins | ||||
| 1982 | The Dark Crystal | Aughra Chamberlain |
Puppeteer | ||
| 1983 | Superman III | Surgeon | Deleted scene | ||
| Return of the Jedi | Yoda | Puppeteer/Voice | |||
| Trading Places | Booking cop | ||||
| 1984 | The Muppets Take Manhattan | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Bert Cookie Monster Ocean Breeze Board member Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice | ||
| 1985 | Spies Like Us | Test proctor | |||
| Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird | Cookie Monster Bert Grover |
Puppeteer/Voice | |||
| 1986 | Labyrinth | The Wiseman | Puppeteer | ||
| 1991 | Muppet*Vision 3D | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice, Theme park attraction | ||
| 1992 | Innocent Blood | Pathologist | |||
| The Muppet Christmas Carol | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice | |||
| 1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | Voice | |||
| 1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | Warden | |||
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Yoda | Puppeteer/Voice | ||
| Muppets from Space | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Voice | |||
| The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Bert Grover Cookie Monster |
Puppeteer/Voice | |||
| 2001 | Monsters, Inc. | Jeff Fungus | Voice | ||
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | Yoda | |||
| 2005 | Zathura | Robot | |||
| Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | Yoda | ||||
| 2011 | Star Tours–The Adventures Continue | Voice, Theme park attraction | |||
| Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey | Himself | Documentary | |||
| 2014 | I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story | ||||
| 2015 | Inside Out | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Voice | |
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Yoda<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | Voice (archive recording)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | |||
| 2017 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Documentary |
| Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Yoda | Puppeteer/Voice | |||
| 2019 | Knives Out | Alan Stevens | |||
| Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | Yoda | Voice only | |||
| 2021 | Echoes of Violence | Dante | |||
| 2024 | Inside Out 2 | Mind Cop Dave | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Filmmaking creditsEdit
Director
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Dark Crystal | Co-directed with Jim Henson |
| 1984 | The Muppets Take Manhattan | Also writer |
| 1986 | Little Shop of Horrors | ADR Voice |
| 1988 | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | |
| 1991 | What About Bob? | |
| 1992 | Housesitter | |
| 1995 | The Indian in the Cupboard | |
| 1997 | In & Out | |
| 1999 | Bowfinger | |
| 2001 | The Score | |
| 2004 | The Stepford Wives | |
| 2007 | Death at a Funeral | |
| 2017 | Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched |
Documentary |
| 2020 | Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself |
ProducerEdit
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched (2017)
Executive producerEdit
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
TelevisionEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969–2013 | Sesame Street | Bert Grover Cookie Monster Lefty the Salesman Harvey Kneeslapper Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice, Regularly until 2001, however, he continued to perform his characters a few times a year until 2013. |
| 1975–1976 | Saturday Night Live | The Mighty Favog | Puppeteer/Voice The Land of Gorch segments |
| 1976–1981 | The Muppet Show | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Marvin Suggs George the Janitor Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice |
| 1977 | Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas | Alice Otter (puppetry) Chuck Stoat (puppetry and voice) |
Puppeteer/Voice, Television film |
| 1989 | The Jim Henson Hour | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear |
Puppeteer/Voice |
| 1990 | The Muppets at Walt Disney World | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Animal | |
| 1994 | Jim Henson's Animal Show | Sam Eagle | Voice, Episode: "Bald Eagle" |
| 1996–1998 | Muppets Tonight | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice |
| 1999 | CinderElmo | Bert Grover Cookie Monster |
Voice, Television film |
| 2015–2016 | Star Wars Rebels | Yoda | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | StoryBots: Answer Time | Dink | Voice, 5 episodes |
As directorEdit
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Funkhousers | Television film |
| 2011 | Leverage | Episode: "The Carnival Job" |
Video gamesEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle |
Voice |
| The Muppet CDROM: Muppets Inside | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Animal Sam Eagle Marvin Suggs | ||
| 2000 | Muppet Monster Adventure | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear | |
| Muppet RaceMania | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal | ||
| 2020 | Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge | Yoda | |
| 2021 | Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge – Last Call |
Awards and nominationsEdit
.jpg){kind=link}
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Sister project
| name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1={{{id}}}|2=^nm}}
| Template:Trim/
| nm{{{id}}}/
}}
| {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
| name/Template:First word/
| find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
}}
}}{{#if: {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch:
| award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
}}}} {{#if:
| {{{name}}}
| Template:PAGENAMEBASE
}}] at IMDb{{#if: {{#property:P345}}
| Template:EditAtWikidata
| Template:Main other
}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source={{{id}}}|plain=false}}
| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}
Template:S-start Template:Succession box
Template:Succession box Template:S-end
Template:Frank Oz Template:Navboxes {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:Sesame Street