Frank Oz

Frank Oz (born Frank Oznowicz) was born 25 May 1944 in Herford England.  He is the son of Isidore and Frances Oznowicz.  Oz was raised in Belgium until he was 5 years old, he has an older brother Ronald (a former police officer turned businessman) and a sister Jenny.  He Moved to California, Oakland, in the 1950's with his parents.  He began staging puppet shows when he was 11 and until he was 18, in the San Francisco Bay area.  In 1961 he was introduced to Jim and Jane Henson.   At 19 Oz joined Jim Henson's staff of puppeteers.

One of Oz's first jobs was operating the right 'paw' of Rowlf the Dog on Sesame Street.

Oz has directed the comedies such as Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and In and Out.

Oz has also won a myriad of awards:  4 Emmy's, 2 George Foster Peabody Awards, An American Comedy Creative Achievement Award, 3 Gold and 2 platinum records. 

He lives in Connecticut with his wife Robin (an illustrator) they have 3 sons and 1 daughter.  He is currently on the Board of directors for the Jim Henson Company.

 

 

Film Actor

Treasures Untold: The Making of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" (DVD)~2006 - Himself

Zathura~2005 - Killer Robot

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 -  voice of Yoda

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002 - Attack of the Clones - voice of Yoda

Monsters Inc.~2001 - Fungus

Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, The~1999 - voice of Bert/Grover/Cookie Monster

Muppets From Space~1999 - voice of Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam Eagle

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 - voice of Yoda

Blues Brothers 2000~1998 - Warden

Elmo Saves Christman~1996 (V) - Cookie Monster/Grover

Muppets Treasure Island~1996 - Benjamina Gunn (Miss Piggy)/Squire Trelawney (Fozzie Bear)/Mr. Erroll (Sam the Eagle)/Animal

Muppet Classic THeater~1994(V) - Miss Piggy/Fozzie (Emperor)

Innocent Blood~1992 - Pathologist

Muppet Christmas Carol, The~1992 - Emily Cratchit (Miss Piggy)/Fozziwig (Fozzie Bear)/Same the Eagle/Animal/George the Janitor/Vegetable Peddler

Oscar's Greatest Moments: 1971 to 1991~1991 (V) - voice of Miss Piggy

Muppet vision 3-D~1991 - Fozzie Bear/Miss Piggy

Labyrinth~1986 - The Wiseman

Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird~1985 - Cookie Monster/Bert/Grover

Spies Like Us~1985 - Test Monitor

Muppets Take Manhattan, The~1983 - Miss Piggy/Fozzie/Animal

Twilight Zone: The Movie~1983

Trading Places~1983 - Corrupt Cop

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Yoda

Dark Crystal, The~1982 - Aughra/Chamberlain

Great Muppet Caper, The~1981 - Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam the Eagle

American Werewolf in London, An~1981 - Mr. Collins/Kermit the Frog (as Kermit)/Miss Piggy (as Miss Piggy) (see Actor Connections - Film)

Blues Brothers, The~1980 - Corrections Officer (see Actor Connections - Film)

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back~1980 -Yoda

Muppet Movie, The~1979 - Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam the Eagle

 

Film Director

Horrible Bosses~2006

Stepford Wives, The~2004

Ump, The~2002

Score, The~2001

Bowfinger~1999

In & Out~1997

Indian in the Cupboard, The~1995

HouseSitter~1992

What About Bob?~1991

Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels~1988

Little Shop of Horrors~1986

Muppets Take Manhattan, The~1984

Dark Crystal, The~1982

 

Film Producer

Muppet Treasure Island~1996  (exec producer)

Muppet Christmas Carol, The~1992 (exec producer)

Great Muppet Caper, The~1981

 

Film Writer

Muppets Take Manhattan, The~1984

 

TV 

Star Wars: Feel the Force~2005 - Himself

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy~2005 - himself

I Love Muppets~2002  - Himself

Big Breakfast, The (UK)~2000 - Himself 8/23/2001

Cinderelmo~1999  - Grover/Bert/Cookie Monster

Muppets Tonight!~1996  - Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Sam the Eagle/The Lion (In the Jungle)/Animal

Big Breakfast, The (UK)~1992 - Himself 8/22/2001

Muppets at Walt Disney World, The~1990  - Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Animal, Sam the Eagle

Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson, The~1990  - Himself

Jim Henson Hour, The~1989  series

Sesame Street Special~1988  - Grover/Bert/Cookie Monster

Big Bird Brings Spring to Sesame Street~1987  (uncredited) - Grover/Bert

Adventures of Super Grover, The1987  (uncredited) - Grover/Cookie Monster/Bert

Muppet Family Christmas, A~1987  - Fozzie Bear/Miss Piggy/Animal/The Swedish Chef (Hands)/Animal/Sam the Eagle/Bert/Grover/Cookie Monster (puppeteer)

Dolly~1987 - Miss Piggy

Orson Welles Show, The~1979  series

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas~1977  - Chuck (Muppet creative consultant)

Muppet Show, The~1976  series - Anima/Fozzie Bear/Miss Piggy/Sam the Eagle/The Swedish Chef (hands)

Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince  (voice and puppeteer)

Muppet Musicians of Bremen~1972  - (additional Muppet performer)

Electric Company, The~1971 - Grover

Sesame Street~1969  series - Bert/Grover/Cookie Monster/Harvey Kneeslapper/Mama Twiddlebug/The Salesman/Professor Hastings/Prince Charming/Various Characters

 

TV Director

Funkhousers, The~2002

Play with Me Sesame~2002  - Bert/Grover/Additional Muppets

 

TV Commercials Director

Energizer~1995/6 - Supervolt corp. hires movie Villain assassins to kill the Bunny

 

Film Crew

Muppets From Space~1999 - (special thanks) (uncredited)

Muppet Movie, The~1979 - (puppeteer: "The Swedish Chef's Hands")

 

Video Games

Muppet Race Mania~2000  - Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam the Eagle

Muppet CD-ROM: Muppets Inside, The~1996

Muppets Treasure Island~1996

 

Awards, Honors and Nominations

American Comedy Awards

Rec'd 1998 Creative Achievement Award

Art Director's Guild Awards

Rec'd 

Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival

Rec'd 1983  Grand Prize for: Dark Crystal, The  Award shared with: Jim Henson

Emmy Awards: 

Nom 1981 Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program for: "Muppet Show, The" (shared) 

Nom 1980 Outstanding Variety or Music Program for: "Muppet Show, The"

Nom 1979  Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Program for: "Muppet Show, The"

Rec'd 1978  Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series for: "Muppet Show, The" 

Nom 1977  Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series for: "Muppet Show, The"

George Foster Peabody Awards

Locarno International Film Festival

Rec'd 2007 'Prix du Public" for Death at a Funeral

 

Miscellany

He was the original director of 1990's Mermaids but was replaced after filming began

Archives

CONTESTS

Coming Soon!

LINKS

See Rare personal Star Wars photos!

Other

Stuff!

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