Frank Oz
Frank Oz | |
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Oz at the 38th Annual Saturn Awards 2012
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Born | Frank Richard Oznowicz May 25, 1944 Hereford, Herefordshire, England |
Nationality | American |
Education | Oakland Technical High School |
Alma mater | Oakland City College |
Occupation | Puppeteer, filmmaker, actor |
Years active | 1960–present |
Spouse(s) | Robin Garsen (m. 1979-1994)[1] Victoria Labalme (m. 2011–present)[2] |
Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz;[2] born May 25, 1944) is an English-born American filmmaker, puppeteer, and actor. His career began as a puppeteer, where he performed the Muppet characters of Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show, and Cookie Monster, Bert, and Grover in Sesame Street.[3] He is also known for being the puppeteer and voice of Yoda in the Star Wars films.
His work as a director includes Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999), The Score (2001) and Death at a Funeral (2007).
Contents
Early life and personal life
Oz was born in Hereford, England, the son of Frances (née Ghevaert) and Isidore Oznowicz, both of whom were puppeteers.[4][5] His father was also a window trimmer.[1][6] His parents moved to England after fighting the Nazis with the Dutch Brigades. Oz's Dutch/Polish father was Jewish and his Flemish mother was a lapsed Roman Catholic.[2][7][8][9] Oz left England when he was six months old and lived in Belgium until he was five.[10][11] Oz and his family moved to Montana in 1951.[6] They eventually settled in Oakland, California.[1] Oz attended Oakland Technical High School and Oakland City College. He worked as an apprentice puppeteer at Children's Fairyland as a teenager[12] with the Vagabond Puppets, a production of the Oakland Recreation Department, where Lettie Connell[13] was his mentor.
Oz was previously married to Robin Garsen.[1] He is now married to Victoria Labalme.[14] Oz is the father of three sons [14] and a daughter. Oz maintained a residence in England for nine years.[11] He currently resides in Manhattan as of 2012.[14]
Career
Puppeteering
Oz is known for his work as a puppeteer, performing with Jim Henson's Muppets. His characters have included Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show, and Grover, Cookie Monster and Bert on Sesame Street.
In addition to performing a variety of characters, Oz has been one of the primary collaborators responsible for the development of the Muppets over the last 30 years. Oz has performed as a Muppet performer in over 75 productions including Labyrinth, 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 retired completely from the Muppets in 2000.[15] His characters were taken primarily over by Eric Jacobson (with David Rudman as Cookie Monster) in 2001.[16]
Oz is also known as the performer of Jedi Master Yoda from George Lucas' Star Wars series. Jim Henson had originally been contacted by Lucas about possibly performing Yoda. Henson was pre-occupied and suggested Oz to be assigned as chief puppeteer and as creative consultant. While Stuart Freeborn designed and fabricated the Yoda puppet, Oz performed the voice and puppet for Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Oz also provided the voice of the computer-generated imagery (CGI) Yoda in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The conversion to CGI was met with some criticism among fans but Oz himself said that was "exactly what [Lucas] should have done."[17] Oz had a great deal of creative input on the character and was himself responsible for creating the character's trademark syntax.[18] Oz reprised his vocal role as Yoda in Disney's Star Tours–The Adventures Continue attraction at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios[19] and in the Star Wars Rebels episode "Path of the Jedi."
Directing
Inspiration as a film-maker came to Oz upon a viewing of the film Touch of Evil, the director tells Robert K. Elder in an interview for The Film That Changed My Life.[20]
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I think it opened up my view of film—that there's so much more that could be done. Actually, by breaking so many rules, he allowed other people to say, "Hey, I can maybe think of some stuff, too!" He just opened up the possibilities more for me. That's what he did.[21]
Oz began his behind-the-camera work when he co-directed the fantasy film The Dark Crystal with long-time collaborator Jim Henson. The film featured the most advanced puppets ever created for a movie. 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 movie 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 times required up to 40 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 directing comedies, 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.[22][23][24][10] Oz was also considered to direct other films such as Mermaids (1990) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).[10][11]
Acting
As an actor, Oz appeared in a bit part as Prison Storeroom Keeper in The Blues Brothers (1980), directed by John Landis. He also appeared in later Landis movies An American Werewolf in London, Spies Like Us, Trading Places and Innocent Blood. In 1998, Oz portrayed a warden in Blues Brothers 2000. In 2001 he had a minor part in the Pixar film Monsters, Inc. as Randall's scare assistant, Fungus.[25] In 2005, he had a minor part in the Columbia film Zathura as the voice of the Robot.
Other cameos have included playing a surgeon in scenes cut from the theatrical release of Superman III,[26] 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.
Even if he does not appear in a Landis movie, 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'.
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | Director | Actor | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | The Muppet Movie | No | Yes | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Marvin Suggs |
Puppeteer/Voice |
1980 | The Blues Brothers | No | Yes | Corrections officer | |
The Empire Strikes Back | No | Yes | Yoda | Puppeteer/Voice | |
1981 | The Great Muppet Caper | No | Yes | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice Also producer |
An American Werewolf in London | No | Yes | Mr. Collins | ||
1982 | The Dark Crystal | Yes | Yes | Aughra | Co-directed with Jim Henson |
1983 | Superman III | No | Yes | Surgeon | Deleted scene |
Return of the Jedi | No | Yes | Yoda | Puppeteer/Voice | |
Trading Places | No | Yes | Booking cop | ||
1984 | The Muppets Take Manhattan | Yes | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal Bert Cookie Monster Ocean Breeze Board member Additional characters |
Also screenwriter |
1985 | Spies Like Us | No | Yes | Test monitor | |
Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird | No | Yes | Bert Grover Cookie Monster |
Puppeteer/Voice | |
1986 | Little Shop of Horrors | Yes | No | ||
Labyrinth | No | Yes | The Wiseman | ||
1988 | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Yes | No | ||
1991 | Muppet*Vision 3D | No | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice Theme park attraction |
What About Bob? | Yes | No | |||
1992 | Housesitter | Yes | No | ||
Innocent Blood | No | Yes | Pathologist | ||
The Muppet Christmas Carol | No | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice Also executive producer |
|
1995 | The Indian in the Cupboard | Yes | No | ||
1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | No | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice Also executive producer |
1997 | In & Out | Yes | No | ||
1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | No | Yes | Warden | |
1999 | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace | No | Yes | Yoda | Puppeteer/Voice |
Muppets from Space | No | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Voice | |
Bowfinger | Yes | No | |||
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | No | Yes | Bert Grover Cookie Monster |
Voice | |
2001 | The Score | Yes | No | ||
Monsters, Inc. | No | Yes | Jeff Fungus | Voice | |
2002 | Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones | No | Yes | Yoda | |
2004 | The Stepford Wives | Yes | No | ||
2005 | Zathura | No | Yes | Robot | Voice |
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | No | Yes | Yoda | ||
2007 | Death at a Funeral | Yes | No | ||
2011 | Star Tours–The Adventures Continue | No | Yes | Yoda | Voice Theme park attraction |
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey | No | Yes | Himself | Documentary | |
2014 | I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story | No | Yes | Himself | Documentary |
2015 | Inside Out | No | Yes | Subconscious Guard Dave[27] | Voice |
Star Wars: The Force Awakens | No | Yes | Yoda[28] | Voice archive recording |
Television
Year | Title | Director | Actor | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969–present | Sesame Street | No | Yes | Bert Grover Cookie Monster Lefty the Salesman Harvey Kneeslapper Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice; semi-retired from the show in 2001, now performs his characters a few episodes per year |
1976–1981 | The Muppet Show | No | Yes | Fozzie Bear Miss Piggy Sam Eagle Animal Marvin Suggs Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice |
1977 | Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas | No | Yes | Alice Otter (puppetry) Chuck Stoat (puppetry and voice) |
Puppeteer/Voice Television film |
1989–1990 | The Jim Henson Hour | No | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear |
Puppeteer/Voice |
1990 | The Muppets at Walt Disney World | No | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Animal |
Puppeteer/Voice |
1994 | Jim Henson's Animal Show | No | Yes | Sam Eagle | Puppeteer/Voice Episode: "Bald Eagle" |
1996–1998 | Muppets Tonight | No | Yes | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal Additional characters |
Puppeteer/Voice |
1999 | CinderElmo | No | Yes | Bert Grover Cookie Monster |
Voice Television film |
2002 | The Funkhousers | Yes | No | Television film | |
2011 | Leverage | Yes | No | Episode: "The Carnival Job" | |
2015 | Star Wars Rebels | No | Yes | Yoda | Voice Episode: "Path of the Jedi" |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear |
Voice |
The Muppet CDROM: Muppets Inside | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Animal |
||
2000 | Muppet Monster Adventure | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear |
|
Muppet RaceMania | Miss Piggy Fozzie Bear Sam Eagle Animal |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Program | Result[29] |
---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | News & Documentary Emmy Award | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming Shared with Fran Brill, Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson & Caroll Spinney |
Sesame Street | Won |
1976 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Children's Programming Shared with Gerri Brioso, Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson & Caroll Spinney |
Won | |
1977 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series Shared with Jack Burns, Dave Goelz, Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, David Lazer, John Lovelady, Jerry Nelson, Eren Ozker & Caroll Spinney |
The Muppet Show | Nominated |
1978 | Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series Shared with Jim Henson, David Lazer, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt & Dave Goelz |
Won | ||
1979 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming Shared with Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson & Caroll Spinney |
Won | |
Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series Shared with Jim Henson, David Lazer, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt & Dave Goelz |
Nominated |
References
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- ↑ http://www.zwinstreek.eu/zs/images/publicaties/hle/hle198002p021-023.pdf
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- ↑ Exclusive: A Chat with Frank Oz, comingsoon.net
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- ↑ Oz, Frank. Interview by Robert K. Elder. The Film That Changed My Life. By Robert K. Elder. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2011. N. p. 272. Print.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Oz. |
- Frank Oz at the Internet Movie Database
Preceded by
None
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Performer of Cookie Monster 1969 - present |
Succeeded by David Rudman |
Preceded by
None
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Performer of Bert 1969 - present |
Succeeded by Eric Jacobson |
Preceded by
None
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Performer of Grover 1970 - present |
Succeeded by Eric Jacobson |
Preceded by
None
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Performer of Miss Piggy 1976 - 2002 |
Succeeded by Eric Jacobson |
Preceded by
None
|
Performer of Animal 1975 - 2000 |
Succeeded by Eric Jacobson |
Preceded by
None
|
Performer of Sam the Eagle 1975 - 2000 |
Succeeded by Eric Jacobson |
Preceded by
None
|
Performer of Fozzie Bear 1976 - 2000 |
Succeeded by Eric Jacobson |
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- Articles with hCards
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- 1944 births
- Male actors from California
- American male film actors
- American people of Dutch-Jewish descent
- American people of Flemish descent
- American people of Polish-Jewish descent
- American puppeteers
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Daytime Emmy Award winners
- Emmy Award winners
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- Film directors from California
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- Muppet performers
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- Sesame Street Muppeteers
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