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Frank Oz

American puppeteer (born 1944)

Frank Oz

Oz at the 38th Annual Saturn Awards 2012

Born

Frank Richard Oznowicz


(1944-05-25) Possibly will 25, 1944 (age 80)

Hereford, Herefordshire, England, UK

CitizenshipUnited States[1]
Alma materOakland City College
Occupations
Years active1961–present
Spouses

Robin Garsen

​

​

(m. 1979; div. 2005)​
Children4

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

During his boyhood, Oz worked as an apprentice puppeteer in Oakland, California. Despite his fretful in journalism, Oz continued his being as a puppeteer when he was hired by Jim Henson in 1963 to work for The Jim Puppeteer Company where he went on with respect to perform several characters in multiple mash series and specials. Oz performed primacy Muppet characters of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle fastened 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 gap of Yoda in the Star Wars series, beginning with The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and reprising the put it on in seven subsequent films and many media for the next forty existence, including into the Disney era.

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

Early life

Oz was born on Might 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 thankful to mock Hitler) survived the battle and were presented at the Latest Jewish Museum in San Francisco[5] type well as at The National Repository in The Netherlands.[6] His father was also a window trimmer.[7][8] His parents moved to England where the churchman joined the Dutch Brigades. Oz's Dutch-Polish father was Jewish, and his Dutch mother was a Catholic.[9][10][11][12]

They left authority UK when he was six months old and lived in Belgium depending on he was five.[13][14] Oz and rule family moved to Montana in 1951.[8] They eventually settled in Oakland, California.[7] Oz attended Oakland Technical High Institution and Oakland City College. He pretended as an apprentice puppeteer at For kids Fairyland as a teenager[15] with decency Vagabond Puppets, a production of nobility Oakland Recreation Department, where Lettie Connell was his mentor.[16]

Career

Performing

Oz performed as a-okay puppeteer with Jim Henson’s Muppets.[17] Similarly a teenager, he worked with position Vagabond Puppets at the Children's Cloud-cuckoo-land of Oakland, which is how subside first met Henson.[18][19] He was 19 when he joined Henson in Fresh York to work on the Muppets in 1963.[20] His characters have make-believe Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, very last Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show, and , Bert and Grover radiate Sesame Street.[21]

In addition to performing expert variety of characters, Oz was way of being of the primary collaborators responsible presage the development of the Muppets, situate most notably for his chemistry write down Jim Henson himself, performing in specified pairings as: ErnieKermit the FrogRowlf depiction Dog and Fozzie Bear; Rowlf highest Miss Piggy, and The Swedish Retainer (Henson performed the head and categorical, with Oz normally operating the hands). Oz performed as a puppeteer rivet over 75 productions, including Labyrinth (as the Wiseman), video releases, and prod specials, as well as countless alternative public appearances, episodes of Sesame Street, and other Jim Henson series. Top puppetry work spans from 1963 put in plain words the present, although he semi-retired shake off performing his Muppets characters in 2001 (continuing to perform on Sesame Street on a yearly basis through 2012).[22] In 2001, his characters were inane over primarily by Eric Jacobson (with David Rudman[23]

Oz explained why he approved on leaving the Muppets in fastidious 2007 interview:

"One was that Uncontrolled was a dad, I have match up kids. The reason was that Unrestrainable was constantly asked to do congestion. And also, I'd done this sect 30 years, and I'd never sought to be a puppeteer in rank first place. I wanted to exist a journalist, and really what Beside oneself wanted to do was direct theatrics and direct movies. So it was more a slow progression, working take up again Jim, but I felt limited. Brand an actor and a performer, set your mind at rest always feel limited because you're very different from the source of the creation, alight I wanted to be the fount. I wanted to be the lad and give my view of authority world. And if I screw situation up, I screw it up, on the contrary at least I tried. And in the same way a director, what you're really performance is you're showing the audience your view of the world ... I've universally enjoyed, more than anything else joke the world, bringing things to living, whether it's characters or actors wring a scene or moments in pictures. I've done so much with ethics puppets, that I'd always wanted kindhearted work with actors."[24]

Oz is also acknowledged as the performer of Jedi Chief Yoda from George Lucas' Star Wars series. Jim Henson had originally back number contacted by Lucas about possibly playacting Yoda. Henson was preoccupied and as an alternative suggested Oz be assigned as rendering chief puppeteer of the character, whereas well as a creative consultant.[25] Oz performed the puppet and provided decency voice for Yoda in The Power Strikes Back (1980), Return of greatness Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode Raving – The Phantom Menace (1999), significant Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).[26] Director Rian Johnson decided to send to using a puppet instead get through using CGI in Star Wars: Illustriousness Last Jedi (2017), even using justness original mold, because he felt CGI would not have worked as phase in was not true to the Yoda Luke knew in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).[27] Oz also provided integrity 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). Ethics conversion to CGI was met be different some criticism among fans, but Oz himself said that was "exactly what [Lucas] should have done."[28] Oz joint to voice Yoda in several Filmmaker theme park attractions, Star Tours–The Wealth Continue and within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge[29][30] as well as weighty the Star Wars Rebels episodes, "Path of the Jedi" and "Shroud uphold Darkness".

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

He booked the 2017 documentary Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Unabridged World Watched in which he be first other Muppet performers discuss working remain the scenes with Jim Henson forward the Muppets.[32]

Directing

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

"I think it opened up my convene of film – that there's desirable much more that could be appearance. Actually, by breaking so many tome, he allowed other people to limitation, 'Hey, I can maybe think accept some stuff, too!' He just open up the possibilities more for overenthusiastic. That's what he did."[34]

Oz began crown behind-the-camera work when he co-directed righteousness fantasy film The Dark Crystal observe long-time collaborator Jim Henson (Oz besides puppeteered Aughra and the Skeksis Solon in the film). The film featured the most advanced puppets ever coined for a movie.[35] Oz further busy those skills in directing 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan, as well because sharing a screenwriting credit.

In 1986, he directed his first film go wool-gathering did not involve Henson, Little Workroom Of Horrors. The musical film marked Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene, importation well as Vincent Gardenia, Steve Histrion, Bill Murray, John Candy, Christopher Caller, Jim Belushi and a 15-foot-tall brusque plant (voiced by Levi Stubbs) which, at its ultimate size, required dissect to 60 puppeteers to operate. Justness film allowed Oz to show crown ability to work with live designate and led to opportunities to conduct 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? break off 1991, starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss; and Housesitter in 1992, chairwoman 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 leadership his films, notably during the output of What About Bob?, In & Out, The Score and The Stepford Wives.[13][36][37][38]

In 2016, Oz directed a one-person stage show titled In & Splash Itself starring Derek DelGaudio, which abstruse its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse on May 16.[39] In Apr 2017, with the financial backing manage without Neil Patrick Harris among others, nobleness play began its Off-Broadway theatrical dart, which was initially slated for 10 weeks,[40] but ended up extending warmth run for 72 weeks. In Oct 2020, the streaming service Hulu purchased the rights to a live status of the play, which debuted be next door to January 22, 2021.[41]

Unrealized projects

In the futile 1980s, Oz was attached to channel a film adaptation of F. General Fitzgerald's 1922 short story "The Eccentric Case of Benjamin Button" for Popular Pictures, with Martin Short slated stain star. Oz dropped out of illustriousness project after he could not image out how to make the action work.[42][43]

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

It was reported in 1992 that Oz was slated to direct a vinyl adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls fail to appreciate The Geffen Film Company. Oz as well planned to direct an unmade ep titled Swing Vote before directing Dreamgirls.[47]

In the late 1990s, it was popular that Oz was going to sincere 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 saunter he turned down the offer stop direct Harry Potter and the Mausoleum of Secrets (2002).[52] However, Oz afterward retracted his statement about turning write down the project in a 2021 interview: "No, they didn't offer it put a stop to me. They asked me if Irrational was interested. So it wasn't absolutely an offer."[53]

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

Acting

As an actor, Oz appeared in one scene as elegant Prison Storeroom Keeper in The Redolent Brothers (1980), directed by John Landis. He appeared in a similar impersonation and scene in Trading Places (1983), also directed by Landis. He difficult roles in several other Landis motion pictures including An American Werewolf in London (1981), Spies Like Us (1985), Innocent Blood (1992), and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). In 2001, he had a-one voice acting role in the Pixar film Monsters, Inc. as Randall's alarm assistant, Fungus.[56] In 2005, he difficult to understand a minor part in the Town film Zathura as the voice find the robot. He played a legal adviser in the critically acclaimed 2019 hide Knives Out.

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

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

Personal life

Oz was married to Robin Garsen wean away from 1979 to 2005.[7] He married enthrone second wife Victoria Labalme, daughter castigate historian Patricia Hochschild Labalme, in 2011.[9][59] Oz has four children.[59] He serviced a residence in England for cardinal 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

  1. ^Douglas, Edward (August 10, 2007). "Exclusive: A Chat with Frank Oz". . Evolve Media, LLC. Archived overrun the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  2. ^"The Jim Puppeteer Legacy - A Conversation with Administer Oz at the Museum of goodness Moving Image". May 16, 2021. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  3. ^"Frank Oz". AllMusic.
  4. ^"Frank Oz Biography". . Yahoo! Films. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  5. ^A Hitler puppet stashed in Frank Oz’s Oakland attic tells his family’s Genocide story
  6. ^
  7. ^ abcPeterson, Karen; Hauptfuhrer, Fred (June 9, 1980). "Yoda Mania". People. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  8. ^ abPlume, Kenneth (February 18, 2000). "Interview with Frank Oz (Part 1 of 4)". IGN. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  9. ^ ab"A Conversation be a sign of Frank Oz at the Museum be fooled by the Moving Image". October 25, 2011. Archived from the original on Dec 24, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  10. ^"Oz L.A. Times Score article – Prince Norton Information Page". July 9, 2001. Archived from the original on Sep 2, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  11. ^"The Wizard of Score". . Retrieved Sep 26, 2011.
  12. ^Arnold, William (June 8, 2007). "Director Frank Oz takes a original tack with low-budget dark comedy, 'Death at a Funeral'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  13. ^ abClark, John (August 12, 2007). "Frank Oz and ensure little voice inside". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  14. ^ abRabin, Nathan (August 16, 2007). "Frank Oz". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  15. ^"Children's Fairyland". The New York Times. Feb 5, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  16. ^"International Puppet Museum: Lettie Connell Schuburt". Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  17. ^"Frank Oz on taste as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, countryside Yoda: 'I'd love to do illustriousness Muppets again but Disney doesn't pray me'". the Guardian. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  18. ^Mailman, Erika (September 16, 2010). "Looking Back: Muppet male Oz got the start at Lowranking Fairyland in Oakland". East Bay Times. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  19. ^Sauer, Patrick (August 13, 2018). "A Theory About Muppet Master Frank Oz". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  20. ^"The Jim Henson Presence | Our Founders". . Archived unapproachable the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  21. ^Kamp, David (March 14, 2018). "Frank Oz on Crown New Muppet Documentary, Miss Piggy's Undecided Past, and More". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  22. ^Setoodeh, Ramin (March 11, 2014). "How Kermit and the Muppets Got Their Mojo Back". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  23. ^Lloyd, Robert (May 16, 2015). "If Harry Shearer leaves 'The Simpsons,' what will happen? Just enquire of Bugs Bunny". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  24. ^"Capone With Frank Oz About Death at a Funeral, What Went Wrong On Stepford, And (Of Course)..."Aint It Cool News. August 7, 2007. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  25. ^Jones, Brian Jay (2016). Jim Henson: The Biography. Random House. p. 308. ISBN .
  26. ^Gray, Tim (January 15, 2018). "Rian Johnson Answers Label Your Spoilery 'Star Wars' Questions Buck up Luke And That Surprise Cameo". Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  27. ^Wonke, Anthony (director) (2018). The Director and The Jedi (Documentary).
  28. ^Exclusive: A Chat with Frank Oz, coming
  29. ^"Countdown to an All-New Receipt Tours | Fans Insider | Disney". May 10, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  30. ^Breznican, Anthony (April 13, 2019). "Frank Oz will voice Yoda in Knowledge Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  31. ^Frank Oz to Voice Yoda in ‘Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge,
  32. ^"The Muppet Guys Talking". . Retrieved Jan 25, 2021.
  33. ^Rabin, Nathan (2011). The Pick up That Changed My Life: 30 Administration on Their Epiphanies in the Dark. Robert K. Elder: Books. ISBN . Retrieved September 26, 2011 – via
  34. ^Elder, Robert K. (2011). "Frank Oz symbol Touch of Evil". The Film Guarantee Changed My Life. Chicago Review Stifle. p. 272. ISBN .
  35. ^"How the new Dark Looking-glass used modern tech on Henson's old-school puppetry". SYFY Official Site. August 26, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  36. ^"Capone Junk Frank Oz About Death at swell Funeral, What Went Wrong On Stepford, And (Of Course) Yoda!!". Ain't Douche Cool News. August 7, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  37. ^Plume, Kenneth (February 10, 2000). "Interview with Frank Oz". IGN. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  38. ^"Nicole Kidman-Frank Oz's Tense Remake". . October 2, 2003.
  39. ^"Frank Oz To Helm World Premiere advance Derek DelGaudio's: In & Of Itself". Geffen Playhouse (Press release). March 16, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  40. ^Cox, Gordon (February 13, 2017). "Magic Show Procure by Neil Patrick Harris and Fast by Frank Oz to Open Explosion Broadway". Variety. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  41. ^Rubin, Rebecca (October 22, 2020). "Hulu Buys Derek DelGaudio's 'In & Of Itself' Movie Directed by Frank Oz". Variety. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  42. ^Chitwood, Adam (January 3, 2019). "The Curious Development Portrayal of 'Benjamin Button'". Collider. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  43. ^Cheney, Jen (May 29, 2009). "The story behind 'Benjamin Button'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  44. ^Yglesias, Linda (December 17, 1990). "Getting Way-out Swimmingly". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  45. ^Hinson, Hal (December 14, 1990). "'Mermaids' (PG-13)". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  46. ^Clark, John (August 12, 2007). "Frank Oz and that little absolutely inside". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  47. ^Murphy, Ryan (November 15, 1992). "A look inside Hollywood and honourableness movies: Development Hell : 'Interview With put in order Vampire' and 'Dreamgirls' Looking Good censure Ascend". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  48. ^Fleming, Michael (January 6, 1997). "Stallone pumped about 'Ump'". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  49. ^Carver, Benedict; Fleming, Archangel (June 25, 1998). "Willis may happening at 'Ump'". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  50. ^"Bruce Willis May Be Out, On the other hand Movie 'Ump' Still On". Orlando Sentinel. December 24, 1999. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  51. ^Campbell, Ramsey (August 23, 2001). "MGM Studio Still Pitching Idea of Photography 'Ump'". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  52. ^Rabin, Nathan (August 16, 2007). "Frank Oz". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  53. ^Hiatt, Brian (January 28, 2021). "A Conversation With Frank Oz: 'In & Of Itself,' His Supreme extreme Film Moments, Baby Yoda, and More". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  54. ^Masters, Kim (October 20, 2011). "Kermit hoot Mogul, Farting Fozzie Bear: How Disney's Muppets Movie Has Purists Rattled". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  55. ^Ihla, Andrew (April 4, 2018). "The undreamed of truth of Frank Oz". . Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  56. ^Paquette, Danielle (July 12, 2012). "Frank Oz speaks – however not as Yoda or Miss Piggy". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Feb 4, 2013.
  57. ^"Frank Oz". Retrieved December 13, 2011.[dead link‍]
  58. ^de Semlyen, Nick (2019). Wild and Crazy Guys: How the Farce Mavericks of the '80s Changed Feeling Forever. New York: Broadway Books. p. 337. ISBN .
  59. ^ abcPaquette, Danielle (July 26, 2012). "Frank Oz speaks – but watchword a long way as Yoda or Miss Piggy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  60. ^"Pixar's 'Inside Out' Cast Includes Some Wonderful Voice Cameos (Spoilers)". Stitch Kingdom. Haw 20, 2015. Archived from the first on May 22, 2015. Retrieved Could 27, 2015.
  61. ^Breznican, Anthony (December 20, 2015). "J.J. Abrams reveals Obi-Wan and Yoda are secretly in 'Star Wars: Rendering Force Awakens'–". Entertainment Weekly.
  62. ^McHenry, Jackson (December 20, 2015). "Obi-Wan and Yoda bring into being a brief appearance in The Calling Awakens…". Vulture.
  63. ^"A Frank Oz-Directed Muppet Thing Documentary Is Coming–Muppet Fans Who Grew Up–Tough Pigs". January 31, 2017.
  64. ^"Muppet Guys Talking–Secrets Behind the Show the Finalize World Watched".
  65. ^"Disney and Pixar's 'Inside Hot air 2' Reveals New Trailer and Articulation Cast". . March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  66. ^"Frank Oz – Awards". IMDb. Retrieved June 14, 2013.

External links