Frank Oz

Actors/Filmmakers

Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz; May 25, 1944) is an American actor, puppeteer, director and producer. He began his career as a puppeteer, performing the Muppet characters of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle in The Muppet Show; and Cookie Monster, Bert, and Grover in Sesame Street.

He is also known for the role of Yoda in the Star Wars series created by George Lucas, providing the voice for the character in several films and television series. His work as a director includes The Dark Crystal (1982), co-directed with Jim Henson; Little Shop of Horrors (1986), with Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, and the voice of Levi Stubbs; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), with Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headly, Anton Rodgers, and Barbara Harris; What About Bob? (1991), with Richard Dreyfus, Bill Murray, Julie Hagerty, Charlie Korsmo, and Kathryn Erbe; In & Out (1997), with Kevin Klein, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds, Wilford Brimley, Shalom Harlow, Bob Newhart, Tom Selleck; Bowfinger (1999), with Martin, Eddie Murphy, Heather Graham, Christine Baranski, and Terence Stamp; The Score (2001), with Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Angela Bassett, and Marlon Brando; Death at a Funeral (2007), with Peter Dinklage; and an episode of the US TV series Leverage (2011).

Each review will be linked to the title below.

(*seen originally in theaters)

(**seen rereleased in theaters) Film

  • Time Piece (1965) – directed by Jim Henson – actor (as Frank Oznowicz) – short
  • The Paperwork Explosion (1967) – directed by Jim Henson – actor – short
  • The Muppet Movie (1979)** – directed by James Frawley – puppeteer, voices
  • The Blues Brothers (1980)** – directed by John Landis – actor
  • The Empire Strikes Back (1980)** – directed by Irvin Kershner – puppeteer, voice
  • The Great Muppet Caper (1981) – directed by Jim Henson – producer, puppeteer, voices
  • An American Werewolf in London (1981) – directed by John Landis – actor
  • The Dark Crystal (1982)** – co-director, puppeteer, voices
  • Return of the Jedi (1983)** – directed by Richard Marquand – puppeteer, voice
  • Trading Places (1983) – directed by John Landis – actor
  • The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) – director, co-writer, puppeteer, voices
  • Spies Like Us (1985) – directed by John Landis – actor
  • Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird (1985) – directed by Ken Kwapis – puppeteer, voices
  • Labyrinth (1986)** – directed by Jim Henson – puppeteer, voice
  • Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – director
  • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) – director
  • What About Bob? (1991) – director
  • Housesitter (1992) – director
  • Innocent Blood (1992) – directed by John Landis – actor
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)* – directed by Brian Henson – executive producer, puppeteer, voices
  • The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)* – director
  • Muppet Treasure Island (1996) – directed by Brian Henson – executive producer, voices
  • In & Out (1997) – director
  • Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) – directed by John Landis – actor
  • Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)* – directed by George Lucas – puppeteer, voice
  • Muppets from Space (1999)* – directed by Tim Hill – voice
  • Bowfinger (1999) – director
  • The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999) – directed by Gary Halvorson – voices
  • Monsters, Inc. (2001)* – directed by Pete Doctor, David Silverman, & Lee Unkrich – voice
  • The Score (2001) – director
  • Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)* – directed by George Lucas – voice
  • The Stepford Wives (2004)* – director
  • Zathura (2005) – directed by Jon Favreau – voice
  • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)* – directed by George Lucas – voice
  • Death at a Funeral (2007) – director
  • Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey (2011) – directed by Constance Marks & Philip Shane – self – documentary –
  • I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014) – directed by Dave LaMattina & Chad Walker – self – documentary
  • Inside Out (2015)* – voice
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)* – directed by J.J. Abrams – voice (archive)
  • Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched (2017) – director, producer, self – documentary
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)* – directed by Rian Johnson – puppeteer, voice
  • Knives Out (2019)* – directed by Rian Johnson actor
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)* – directed by J.J. Abrams – voice
  • Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself (2021) – director – documentary
  • Echoes of Violence (2021) – directed by Nicholas Woods – actor

TV

  • Sesame Street (1969-2013) – puppeteer,  voices (371 episodes)
  • Saturday Night Live (1976) – puppeteer, voice (12 episodes)
  • The Muppet Show (1976-1981) – puppeteer, voices (120 episodes)
  • Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977) – TV movie; puppeteer, voices
  • Muppets Tonight (1996-1998) – puppeteer, voices (15 episodes)
  • Cinderelmo (1999) – TV movie; voices
  • Star Wars: Rebels (2015-2016) – voice (2 episodes)