Frank Oz was born on May 25, 1944 in Hereford, England. He is an American film director, actor and puppeteer.
Frank Oz is a veteran puppeteer and the performer behind Miss Piggy, the porcine diva of Jim Henson's Muppets. Oz began working with Henson in 1963 and was a key player as the Muppets became regulars on the children's program Sesame Street and then starred in their own comedy program, The Muppet Show (1976-81).
It was on the latter show that Miss Piggy's persistent pursuit of Kermit the Frog made her a household name. Oz worked with George Lucas to create and voice the mystical midget Yoda for The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and subsequent Star Wars sequels.
He also starred in Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005).
Filmography
- "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008)
- A Sesame Street Christmas Carol (2006)
- Elmo's Potty Time (2006)
- Guess That Shape and Color (2006)
- Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)
- Elmo Visits the Doctor (2005)
- Sesame Street: All-Star Alphabet (2005)
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
- "Play with Me Sesame" (2002)
- Monsters, Inc. (2001)
- Muppet Monster Adventure (2000)
- Muppet Race Mania (2000)
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999)
- Muppets from Space (1999)
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Cinderelmo (1999)
- Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
- The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street (1998)
- "Muppets Tonight" (1 episode, 1996-1998)
- Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
- Elmo Saves Christmas (1996)
- The Muppet CDROM: Muppets Inside (1996)
- Muppets Treasure Island (1996)
- Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration (1994)
- "Animal Show" (1 episode 1994)
- Muppet Classic Theater (1994)
- It's Not Easy Being Green (1994)
- Sesame Songs: Sing-Along Earth Songs (1993)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- Innocent Blood (1992)
- Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show' (1992)
- Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake (1991)
- Muppet*vision 3-D (1991)
- The Muppets at Walt Disney World (1990)
- "Disneyland" (1 episode, 1990)
- Sesame Songs: Rock & Roll (1990)
- Sesame Songs: Monster Hits! (1990)
- "The Jim Henson Hour" (1989)
- Wow, You're a Cartoonist! (1988)
- Sesame Street, Special (1988)
- "Dolly" (1 episode, 1987)
- Big Bird Brings Spring to Sesame Street (1987)
- "Alive from Off Center" (1 episode, 1987)
- The Adventures of Super Grover (1987)
- A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
- Muppet Breakaway (1987)
- Inner Tube (1987)
- Muppet Coffee Break (1987)
- Labyrinth (1986)
- The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986)
- Learning About Numbers (1986)
- "Great Performances" (1 episode, 1985)
- Spies Like Us (1985)
- "Sesame Street" (31 episodes, 1969-2000)
- Sesame Street Presents: Follow that Bird (1985)
- Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets (1985)
- Muppet Video: Muppet Treasures (1985)
- Muppet Video: Muppet Moments (1985)
- Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook (1985)
- Muppet Perk-Up (1985)
- Muppet Video: The Kermit and Piggy Story (1985)
- Muppet Lift Off (1985)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
- Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1983)
- Trading Places (1983)
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Big Bird in China (1983)
- Muppet Breakthrough (1983)
- The Dark Crystal (1982)
- The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show (1982)
- An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- The Muppets Go to the Movies (1981)
- Muppet Side Splitter (1981)
- "The Muppet Show" (25 episodes, 1976-1981)
- The Blues Brothers (1980)
- Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979)
- The Muppet Movie (1979)
- The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979)
- "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1 episode, 1979)
- Muppet Breaker Upper (1979)
- Muppet Gimme a Break (1979)
- Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)
- "International Festival of Animation" (1977)
- The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special (1977)
- Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
- "Saturday Night Live" (13 episodes, 1975-1976)
- Julie Andrews: One to One (1975)
- The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (1975)
- Muppet Picker Upper (1975)
- Out to Lunch (1974)
- The Muppets Valentine Show (1974)
- Tales from Muppetland: The Muppet Musicians of Bremen (1972)
- Tales from Muppetland: The Frog Prince (1971)
- The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970)
- Hey Cinderella! (1969)
- Sesame Street Pitch Reel (1969)
- "Our Place" (1967)
- The Paperwork Explosion (1967)
- Coffee Break Machine (1967)
- Time Piece (1965)
- "The Jimmy Dean Show" (1963)
Awards
- Art Directors Guild Cinematic Imagery Award 2002
- American Comedy Award for Lifetime Achievement 1998
- Daytime Emmy Individual Achievement in Children's Programming "Sesame Street" 1978 - 79
- Emmy Outstanding Comedy Variety or Music Series "The Muppet Show" 1977 - 78
- Daytime Emmy Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming "Sesame Street" 1975 - 76
- Daytime Emmy Individual Achievement in Children's Programming "Sesame Street" 1973 - 74