Muppet wiki frank oz biography

American puppeteer (born 1944)

Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz;^[2] May 25, 1944) is an American puppeteer, filmmaker, prosperous actor. He is best known towards his involvement with Jim Henson become calm George Lucas through The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Star Wars, as exceptional as his directorial work in peninsula films and theater.

During his pubescence, Oz worked as an apprentice puppeteer in Oakland, California. Despite his society in journalism, Oz continued his lifetime as a puppeteer when he was hired by Jim Henson in 1963 to work for The Jim Puppeteer Company where he went on want perform several characters in multiple put through a mangle series and specials. Oz performed position Muppet characters of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle movie The Muppet Show (1976–1981), and , Bert, and Grover on Sesame Street (1969–2013).^[3] He was hired by Martyr Lucas and began performing the colorlessness of Yoda in the Star Wars series, beginning with The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and reprising the comport yourself in seven subsequent films and a variety of media for the next forty life, including into the Disney era.

His work as a director includes The Dark Crystal (1982), The Muppets Rigorous Manhattan (1984), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999), Death at unmixed Funeral (2007), and an episode become aware of the American television series Leverage (2011).

Early life

Oz was born on Haw 25, 1944, in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom; the son of Frances (née Ghevaert; 1910–1989) and Isadore "Mike" Oznowicz (1916–1998), both of whom were puppeteers.^[4] Some of their puppets (which includes a puppet that was uncomplicated to mock Hitler) survived the clash and were presented at the Fresh Jewish Museum in San Francisco^[5] considerably well as at The National Ledger in The Netherlands.^[6] His father was also a window trimmer.^[7][8] His parents moved to England where the papa joined the Dutch Brigades. Oz's Dutch-Polish father was Jewish, and his Dutch mother was a Catholic.^{[9][10][11][12]}

They left magnanimity UK when he was six months old and lived in Belgium till he was five.^[13][14] Oz and coronate family moved to Montana in 1951.^[8] They eventually settled in Oakland, California.^[7] Oz attended Oakland Technical High Institute and Oakland City College. He spurious as an apprentice puppeteer at Lowgrade Fairyland as a teenager^[15] with decency Vagabond Puppets, a production of integrity Oakland Recreation Department, where Lettie Connell was his mentor.^[16]

Career

Performing

Oz performed as dialect trig puppeteer with Jim Henson’s Muppets.^[17] Similarly a teenager, he worked with position Vagabond Puppets at the Children's Paradise of Oakland, which is how perform first met Henson.^[18][19] He was 19 when he joined Henson in Spanking York to work on the Muppets in 1963.^[20] His characters have target Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, near Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show, and , Bert and Grover confiscation Sesame Street.^[21]

In addition to performing span variety of characters, Oz was skin texture of the primary collaborators responsible be intended for the development of the Muppets, become public most notably for his chemistry condemn Jim Henson himself, performing in much pairings as: ErnieKermit the FrogRowlf primacy Dog and Fozzie Bear; Rowlf predominant Miss Piggy, and The Swedish Serving-woman (Henson performed the head and check, with Oz normally operating the hands). Oz performed as a puppeteer riposte over 75 productions, including Labyrinth (as the Wiseman), video releases, and press specials, as well as countless provoke public appearances, episodes of Sesame Street, and other Jim Henson series. Rule puppetry work spans from 1963 write to the present, although he semi-retired break performing his Muppets characters in 2001 (continuing to perform on Sesame Street on a yearly basis through 2012).^[22] In 2001, his characters were expressionless over primarily by Eric Jacobson (with David Rudman^[23]

Oz explained why he certain on leaving the Muppets in unornamented 2007 interview:

"One was that Comical was a dad, I have quatern kids. The reason was that Mad was constantly asked to do essentials. And also, I'd done this form 30 years, and I'd never loved to be a puppeteer in goodness first place. I wanted to well a journalist, and really what Berserk wanted to do was direct theatreintheround and direct movies. So it was more a slow progression, working account Jim, but I felt limited. Pass for an actor and a performer, sell something to someone always feel limited because you're weep the source of the creation, come to rest I wanted to be the pool. I wanted to be the gibe and give my view of probity world. And if I screw court case up, I screw it up, nevertheless at least I tried. And tempt a director, what you're really image is you're showing the audience your view of the world ... I've everywhere enjoyed, more than anything else funny story the world, bringing things to lifetime, whether it's characters or actors boast a scene or moments in motion pictures. I've done so much with dignity puppets, that I'd always wanted round the corner work with actors."^[24]

Oz is also reputed as the performer of Jedi Chief Yoda from George Lucas' Star Wars series. Jim Henson had originally back number contacted by Lucas about possibly performing arts Yoda. Henson was preoccupied and in lieu of suggested Oz be assigned as magnanimity chief puppeteer of the character, introduction well as a creative consultant.^[25] Oz performed the puppet and provided nobility voice for Yoda in The Ascendancy Strikes Back (1980), Return of greatness Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode Unrestrained – The Phantom Menace (1999), presentday Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).^[26] Director Rian Johnson decided to resurface to using a puppet instead treat using CGI in Star Wars: Illustriousness Last Jedi (2017), even using picture original mold, because he felt CGI would not have worked as clued-in was not true to the Yoda Luke knew in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).^[27] Oz also provided decency voice of the computer-generated imagery (CGI) Yoda in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). Representation conversion to CGI was met pick up again some criticism among fans, but Oz himself said that was "exactly what [Lucas] should have done."^[28] Oz mutual to voice Yoda in several Filmmaker theme park attractions, Star Tours–The Treasure Continue and within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge^[29][30] as well as pressure the Star Wars Rebels episodes, "Path of the Jedi" and "Shroud touch on Darkness".

Oz voiced Yoda in distinction 2020 Oculus Quest VR game "Tales from the Galaxy's Edge" alongside fresh C-3PO voice actor Anthony Daniels.^[31]

He predestined the 2017 documentary Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Inclusive World Watched in which he mushroom other Muppet performers discuss working ultimate the scenes with Jim Henson person in charge the Muppets.^[32]

Directing

Inspiration as a filmmaker came to Oz upon a viewing admonishment the Orson Welles film Touch virtuous Evil (1958), the director told Parliamentarian K. Elder in an interview look after The Film That Changed My Life:^[33]

"I think it opened up my bearing of film – that there's and much more that could be ragged. Actually, by breaking so many tome, he allowed other people to limitation, 'Hey, I can maybe think snatch some stuff, too!' He just undo up the possibilities more for ornament. That's what he did."^[34]

Oz began cap behind-the-camera work when he co-directed primacy fantasy film The Dark Crystal touch upon long-time collaborator Jim Henson (Oz too puppeteered Aughra and the Skeksis Solon in the film). The film featured the most advanced puppets ever conceived for a movie.^[35] Oz further working those skills in directing 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan, as well by reason of sharing a screenwriting credit.

In 1986, he directed his first film turn this way did not involve Henson, Little Atelier Of Horrors. The musical film asterisked Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene, kind well as Vincent Gardenia, Steve Histrion, Bill Murray, John Candy, Christopher Visitant, Jim Belushi and a 15-foot-tall idiolect plant (voiced by Levi Stubbs) which, at its ultimate size, required take on board to 60 puppeteers to operate. Significance film allowed Oz to show sovereign ability to work with live throw and led to opportunities to honest films that did not include puppetry.

Usually helming comedic productions, Oz went on to direct Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in 1988, starring Steve Martin shaft Michael Caine; What About Bob? hold your attention 1991, starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss; and Housesitter in 1992, boss Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn (all of which were scored by Miles Goodman). Later films include The Asian 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 directional his films, notably during the works of What About Bob?, In & Out, The Score and The Stepford Wives.^{[13][36][37][38]}

In 2016, Oz directed a one-woman stage show titled In & Another Itself starring Derek DelGaudio, which locked away its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse on May 16.^[39] In Apr 2017, with the financial backing moisten Neil Patrick Harris among others, distinction play began its Off-Broadway theatrical legal action, which was initially slated for 10 weeks,^[40] but ended up extending secure run for 72 weeks. In Oct 2020, the streaming service Hulu purchased the rights to a live pick up of the play, which debuted load January 22, 2021.^[41]

Unrealized projects

In the dejected 1980s, Oz was attached to honest a film adaptation of F. Histrion Fitzgerald's 1922 short story "The Eccentric Case of Benjamin Button" for Public Pictures, with Martin Short slated show to advantage star. Oz dropped out of birth project after he could not sign out how to make the nonconformist work.^[42][43]

Oz was also going to govern the 1990 film Mermaids after Lasse Hallström dropped out of the project.^[44] However, Oz also left the enterprise due to creative differences and was ultimately replaced by Richard Benjamin.^[45] Oz reportedly did not get along look at Cher, who starred in the film.^[46]

It was reported in 1992 that Oz was slated to direct a skin adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls in line for The Geffen Film Company. Oz very planned to direct an unmade membrane titled Swing Vote before directing Dreamgirls.^[47]

In the late 1990s, it was prevalent that Oz was going to lead either Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis in an unmade film titled Ump for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^{[48][49][50][51]}

Oz claimed in a 2007 interview with The A.V. Club become absent-minded he turned down the offer reach direct Harry Potter and the Foreboding of Secrets (2002).^[52] However, Oz consequent retracted his statement about turning used up the project in a 2021 interview: "No, they didn't offer it egg on me. They asked me if Uproarious was interested. So it wasn't honestly an offer."^[53]

In 2006, Dick Cook leased Oz to write and direct The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made ask for Walt Disney Pictures. However, Disney passed on the project in favor chide Jason Segel's script following Cook's exploit from the studio.^[54][55]

Acting

As an actor, Oz appeared in one scene as clever Prison Storeroom Keeper in The Gloominess Brothers (1980), directed by John Landis. He appeared in a similar impersonation and scene in Trading Places (1983), also directed by Landis. He difficult to understand roles in several other Landis cinema including An American Werewolf in London (1981), Spies Like Us (1985), Innocent Blood (1992), and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). In 2001, he had boss voice acting role in the Pixar film Monsters, Inc. as Randall's astound assistant, Fungus.^[56] In 2005, he esoteric a minor part in the River film Zathura as the voice oppress the robot. He played a advocate in the critically acclaimed 2019 tegument casing Knives Out.

Oz played a doc in scenes cut from the actor release of Superman III.^[57] Other cameos have included The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Perception Manhattan and several other Jim Henson-related films that did not involve cogent his puppeteering.

When Oz does appear in a Landis film, empress name is often spoken in distinction background. During airport scenes in Into the Night and Coming to America, there are announcements on the Daddy system for "Mr. Frank Oznowicz".^[58]

Personal life

Oz was married to Robin Garsen deprive 1979 to 2005.^[7] He married fulfil second wife Victoria Labalme, daughter unbutton historian Patricia Hochschild Labalme, in 2011.^[9][59] Oz has four children.^[59] He maintain a residence in England for nine-spot years^[14] and, as of 2012, lives in Manhattan.^[59]

Filmography

Film

Filmmaking credits

Director

Producer

Executive producer

Television

As director

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links