Frank Oz
Birthdate: May 25, 1944 (82 Years Old)
Birthplace: Hereford, England, UK
Frank Richard Oznowicz was born in Hereford, England to puppeteers Frances and Isidore Oznowicz. His family moved to Montana in 1951, eventually settling in Oakland, California. As a teenager, he worked as an apprentice puppeteer at Children's Fairyland amusement park. He is one of the primary puppeteers responsible for the development of Jim Henson's Sesame Street (1969) and The Muppet Show (1976) as well as over 75 other Muppet productions. George Lucas originally contacted Henson to play the part of Yoda in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), but he recommended Oz for the part instead. He developed the character's trademark syntax, returning to voice and puppet the Jedi Master in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
Oz voiced the computer-generated Yoda in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), supporting the transition of the character's rendering to digital. In 2011, the Blu-Ray edition of The Phantom Menace replaced the puppet Yoda with CGI to match the other prequel films.
He began a career of behind-the-camera puppet and live action filmmaking by co-directing The Dark Crystal (1982) with Henson. He went on to direct The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), The Indian in the Cupboard (1995), Bowfinger (1999), The Score (2001), The Stepford Wives (2004) and Death at a Funeral (2007).
Known For
The Muppet Show
Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal, Sam the Eagle, Mildred, George, George the Janitor, Marvin Suggs, Boppity, Frank, Zucchini Brother, Animal's Dancing Partner, Baby, Bert, Black Rooster, Crocodile, Gorgon Heap, Gramps, Whatnot Dancer, Whatnot Dancers, Additional Muppets, Alien, Atrics Piano Player, Atrics piano player, Banana, Baskerville, Beaker clones, Big Mary Louise, Billy the Bear, Boo Mortmorkinson, Borcellino, Bun-Bun Brother, Chickens, Clodhopper, Cookie Monster, Dog Bomber, Doglion, Dough, Fazoob, Feather Boa Constrictor, Fozzie's Cousin, Fred, Geri and the Atrics Piano Player, Girl Dancer, Gloat, Gogalala Jubilee Jugband Guitarist, Green Frackle, Green Heap, Grover, House, Hugga Wugga, Jugband Member, Killer Lamb, Lead Gingerbread Man, Male Koozebanian, Mary Louise, Merdlidop, Mother, Patient, Pig, Pigs, Purple Frackle, Purple Heap, Rat, Runaway, Salsburg Sauerkraut Singer, Scraggly Woman, Slim Wilson, Snake Frackle, Snowths, Tambourine Player, The Swedish Pig, Train Conductor, Tree, Two-Nosed Whatnot, Villain, Whatnot, Wolf, Wolfhound, Woman (1976)
Sesame Street
Bert, Grover, Cookie Monster, Harvey Kneeslapper, Tessie Twiddlebug, Lefty the Salesman, Anything Muppets, Prince Charming, Muppet, Beautiful Day Monster, Mailman, Humpty Dumpty, Pig, Snow White, Cow, Frank, King, Backup Doctor, Barber, Boy, Charlie, Green J Friend, Horse, Train Conductor, Farmer Frankie, Larry Rhymie, Parker Piper, Porter Piper, Professor Hastings, Pumpkin Cheerleader, Rocky's Mother, Salesman, The Woodsman, Additional Anything Muppets, Alistair Cookie, Doc Holiday, Dr. Rainbrain, Frances Oznowicz, Girl, Jascha Lombardi, Man, Mrs. Rooney, Pinocchio, Repairman, The Biggest Person in the Kingdom, The Pied Piper, The Smallest Person in the Kingdom, Additional Muppets, Bats, Big Bill, Cloud, Clucky Luciano, Director, Driver, Fat Blue Tarnish Brother, Fat Blue Vocalist, Fireman, Green Alien, Green Cowboy, Grover's Mommy, Lamont, Larry, Lefty, Little Miss Muffet, Mother Goose, Mr. Draper, Pig #1, Poppa Piper, Rosemary, Santa Claus, Scooter, Sister, Store Clerk, The City Mouse, The Encyclopedia Salesman, The Evil Prime Minister, Tooth, Turtle, Two Headed Monster, Announcer, Augustine Washington, Bart, Bat, Blue Singer, Cowpoke, Delivery Man, E-Sweater Man, End, First, Florist, Fuzzyface, Gas Station Attendant, Green Cowpoke, Jack, Kermit The Frog, King Morris, Lavender Son, Lettuce, Little Bad Wolf, Lulu, Mahna Mahna's Backup Girl, Maurice's Love Interest, Papa Piper, Pig #3, Pink Girl, Princess Penelope, Ralph, Royal Cook, Rubber Balls, Singer, Spider, Splurge, Square, T-Sweater Man, The Cat with the Fiddle, The Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe, The Square, The Tortoise, Townsperson #3, Trudy, Wicked Witch, Woman, Woodsman, Zizzy Zoomer #3, 'Alphabet Chat' director, 1st Motorist, AM Boy, AM Girl, Additional Monsters, Additional Performers, Aladdin, Alphabeat, Alphabet O'Malley, Anything Muppet, Assistant Director, Attendant, Baby Bear, Ball, Baritone Elevator Singer, Bearded Hippie, Big Barney, Big Bird, Blue Mouse, Blue Vocalist, Boy (Green), Brother, Brother ('Five People in My Family'), Brown Wolf, Bruce Rumpelstiltskin, Bunny, Caller #2, Caterer, Cave Mailman, Caveboy, Caveman, Cheerleader, City Mouse, Cleaner, Country Vocalist, Dental Assistant, Doc Holliday, Doctor, Dog, Dr. Reinbrain, Duck, Dwarves, Elaine, Employment Agent, Evil Prime Minister, Fat Blue Guy, Fat Blue Singer, Fat Blue Tarnish Brother (Assistant), Fish, Food Cart Vendor, Game Show Announcer, Gas Station Man, George's Father, Girl (Reddish-Magenta), Golfer, Green 'J Friends' Singer, Green AM Cowboy, Green Girl, Green Grouch, Green P Lover, Hare, Harold, Harold Pig, Helen Happy, Hot Dog Man, Hot Pink Boy ('Alphabet Conversation'), Inez, Jeffery, Keith Heartburn, Lavender Man, Lead Cheerleader, Little Boy, Little Girl ('Lulu's Back in Town'), Little Miss Muffett, Live Hand Closer, Lucy Jones, Male Teacher, Moe Busby, Monster #1, Monster #2, Monsters, Monsters Flanking Tony, Mother, Mumford's Announcer, Mumford's Duck, Muppet Kid, Oscar the Grouch, Pigs, Pigs #1 and 3, Pineapple, Pumpkin Man, Pumpkin Subject, Purple Boy, Purple Vocalist, Rabbit, Round Monster, Royal Subjects, Rufus, Rumplestiltskin, Sally Screamer, Shoemaker, Shopkeeper, Slimey, Smilin' Jack, Son #3, Sour Bird, Stage Manager, Street Cleaner, Taminella Grinderfall, Teacher, Telephone Repairman, The Colonel Explorer, The Count, The King, The Mailman, The Old Woman who Lives in a Shoe, The Shoemaker, The Wicked Witch, Thief #1, Thin Green Monster, Tortoise, Train Engineer, Various Monsters, Villager, Windy (Beautiful Day Monster), Wisecracking Ball, Young Cowboy, Zelda (1969)
Frank Oz Movies
Actor
Previous (22)
- 2019 |
Knives Out
asAlan Stevens
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.
- 2017 |
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
asYoda
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
Rey develops her abilities with the help of Luke Skywalker as the Resistance prepares for battle against the First Order.
- 2015 |
Inside Out
asSubconscious Guard Dave
After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
- 2005 |
Zathura: A Space Adventure
asRobot
Two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.
- 2005 |
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
asYoda
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
As the Clone Wars nears its end, Obi-Wan Kenobi pursues a new threat, while Anakin Skywalker is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot for galactic domination.
- 2002 |
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
asYoda
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Ten years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, while Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army crafted for the Jedi.
- 2001 |
Monsters, Inc.
asFungus
In order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.
- 1999 |
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
asYoda
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long-dormant Sith resurface to claim their former glory.
- 1996 |
Muppet Treasure Island
asMiss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle
The Muppets set sail in search of treasure, with Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver.
- 1992 |
The Muppet Christmas Carol
asMiss Piggy
The Muppets put their spin on the tale of an elder, Christmas-hating miser who is visited by spirits who foretell his future and share secrets from his past and present, which helps change his view on life.
- 1986 |
- 1985 |
Follow That Bird
asCookie Monster, Bert, Grover
Big Bird is sent to live far from Sesame Street by a pesky social worker named Miss Finch. Unhappy, he runs away from there, prompting the rest of the Sesame Street gang to go on a cross-country journey to find him.
- 1983 |
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
asYoda
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempts to destroy the second Death Star while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.
- 1982 |
The Dark Crystal
asAughra, a Keeper Of Secrets (performer)
On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and to restore order to his world.
- 1981 |
An American Werewolf in London
asMr. Collins, Miss Piggy
An American Werewolf in London
American college students David Kessler and Jack Goodman on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists. Jack dies. David recovers in a hospital, where he has nightmares.
- 1980 |
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
asYoda
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins training with Jedi Master Yoda, while Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.
- 1980 |
The Blues Brothers
asCorrections Officer
Jake Blues rejoins his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago.
- 1979 |
The Muppet Movie
asMiss Piggy
Kermit and his newfound friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog legs merchant is after Kermit.
- -- | as Yoda
- -- | as Fungus
- -- | as Aughra, a Keeper Of Secrets (performer)
- -- | as Miss Piggy
Director
Previous (1)
- 1986 |
Little Shop of Horrors
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.
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