Frank Oz

Frank Oz, born as Frank Richard Oznowicz on May 25, 1944, is a noted American puppeteer, filmmaker, and actor known for his long-term association with The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Star Wars. He reached paramount fame for his character portrayal of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show, as well as Cookie Monster, Bert, and Grover on Sesame Street. His signature role was that of Yoda in the Star Wars series; he initially started with The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and reprised the role for four decades across an array of media outlets including the Disney era. As a director, he showcased his genius in movies like The Dark Crystal, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Little Shop of Horrors, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Oz's journey in puppetry started as an apprentice in Oakland, California. Hired by Jim Henson in 1963 for The Jim Henson Company, his talent in character performance was soon recognised. Despite his initial aspiration to be a journalist, Oz embraced his career as a puppeteer, contributing significantly to over 75 productions. He later expanded his scope to include direct theatre, aiming to be the creative source of his performances. Besides his remarkable puppetry and direction, Oz is appreciated for lending his voice to Jedi Master Yoda from George Lucas' Star Wars series. He also enacted in many films, making remarkable appearances in The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, Innocent Blood among others and voice-acting in Pixar film Monsters, Inc.