Frank Oz
Birthdate – May 25, 1944 (79 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).
Videos
Filmography
The Dark Crystal: 2018 Re-release
(2018)
The Muppet Movie: 2019 Re-release
Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam the Eagle/Doc Hopper's Men/Marvin Suggs/Swedish Chef (assistant)/Motorcycle Guy (2019)
The Wiseman ()
Miss Piggy ()
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Yoda (1983)
Knives Out
Alan Stevens (2019)
Yoda ()
Inside Out
Subconscious Guard Dave (2015)
Monsters, Inc.
Fungus (2001)
Miss Piggy ()
Aughra, a Keeper Of Secrets (performer) ()
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
Yoda (2017)
Inside Out 2
Subconscious Guard Dave (2024)
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Yoda (1999)
Miss Piggy ()
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Yoda (1983)
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Yoda (1983)
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
Yoda (2017)
Little Shop of Horrors
(1986)
Sesame Street
'Alphabet Chat' director1st MotoristAM BoyAM GirlAdditional Anything MuppetsAdditional MonstersAdditional MuppetsAdditional PerformersAladdinAlistair CookieAlphabeatAlphabet O'MalleyAnnouncerAnything MuppetAnything MuppetsAssistant DirectorAttendantAugustine WashingtonBaby BearBackup DoctorBallBarberBaritone Elevator SingerBartBatBatsBearded HippieBeautiful Day MonsterBertBig BarneyBig BillBig BirdBlue SingerBoyBoy (Green)BrotherBrother ('Five People in My Family')Brown WolfBruce RumpelstiltskinBruno the TrashmanBunnyCaller #2CatererCave MailmanCaveboyCavemanCharlieCheerleaderCity MouseCleanerCloudClucky LucianoCookie MonsterCountry VocalistCowCowpokeDelivery ManDental AssistantDirectorDoc HolidayDoc HollidayDoctorDogDr. RainbrainDr. ReinbrainDriverDuckDwarvesE-Sweater ManElaineEmployment AgentEndEvil Prime MinisterFarmer FrankieFat Blue GuyFat Blue SingerFat Blue Tarnish BrotherFat Blue Tarnish Brother (Assistant)Fat Blue VocalistFiremanFirstFishFloristFood Cart VendorFrances OznowiczFrankFuzzyfaceGame Show AnnouncerGas Station AttendantGas Station ManGeorge's FatherGirlGirl (Reddish-Magenta)Green AM CowboyGreen AlienGreen CowboyGreen CowpokeGreen GirlGreen GrouchGreen J FriendGreen P LoverGroverGrover's MommyHareHaroldHarold PigHarvey KneeslapperHelen HappyHorseHot Dog ManHot Pink Boy ('Alphabet Conversation')Humpty DumptyInezJackJascha LombardiJefferyKeith HeartburnKingKing MorrisLamontLarryLarry RhymieLavender SonLead CheerleaderLeftyLefty the SalesmanLettuceLittle Bad WolfLittle BoyLittle Girl ('Lulu's Back in Town')Little Miss MuffetLittle Miss MuffettLive Hand CloserLucy JonesLuluMahna Mahna's Backup GirlMailmanMale TeacherManMaurice's Love InterestMoe BusbyMonster #1Monster #2Monsters Flanking TonyMotherMother GooseMr. DraperMrs. RooneyMumford's AnnouncerMumford's DuckMuppetMuppet KidOscar the GrouchPapa PiperParker PiperPigPig #1Pig #3PigsPigs #1 and 3PineapplePink GirlPinocchioPoppa PiperPorter PiperPrince CharmingPrincess PenelopeProfessor HastingsPumpkin CheerleaderPumpkin ManPumpkin SubjectPurple BoyRabbitRalphRepairmanRocky's MotherRosemaryRound MonsterRoyal CookRoyal SubjectsRubber BallsRufusRumplestiltskinSalesmanSally ScreamerSanta ClausScooterShoemakerShopkeeperSingerSisterSlimeySmilin' JackSnow WhiteSon #3Sour BirdSpiderSplurgeSquareStore ClerkStreet CleanerT-Sweater ManTaminella GrinderfallTelephone RepairmanTessie TwiddlebugThe Biggest Person in the KingdomThe Cat with the FiddleThe City MouseThe Colonel ExplorerThe Encyclopedia SalesmanThe Evil Prime MinisterThe MailmanThe Old Woman Who Lives in a ShoeThe Old Woman who Lives in a ShoeThe Pied PiperThe ShoemakerThe Smallest Person in the KingdomThe SquareThe TortoiseThe Wicked WitchThe WoodsmanThief #1Thin Green MonsterToothTortoiseTownsperson #3Train ConductorTrain EngineerTrudyTurtleTwo Headed MonsterVarious MonstersVillagerWicked WitchWindy (Beautiful Day Monster)Wisecracking BallWomanWoodsmanYoung CowboyZeldaZizzy Zoomer #3 (2022)
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
Yoda(voice) (2002)
The Muppet Movie
Miss Piggy (1979)
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Yoda (1999)
Labyrinth
The Wiseman (1986)
