![]() ©MGM DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, director Frank Oz, cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, on set, 1988. ©MGM DEATH AT A FUNERAL, director Frank Oz (second from left, bending), Peter Vaughan (far right), on set, 2007. ©MGM DEATH AT A FUNERAL, center: Keeley Hawes (back to camera), director Frank Oz, Andy Nyman, Matthew Macfadyen, on set, 2007. ©MGM DEATH AT A FUNERAL, director Frank Oz, Kris Marshall, on set, 2007. ©MGM DEATH AT A FUNERAL, director Frank Oz, Andy Nyman, Peter Vaughan, on set, 2007. ©MGM DEATH AT A FUNERAL, director Frank Oz, Ewen Bremner, on set, 2007. ©MGM DEATH AT A FUNERAL, foreground: director Frank Oz, on set, 2007. (c)Paramount DEATH AT A FUNERAL, Rupert Graves, director Frank Oz, Keeley Hawes, Matthew Macfadyen, on set, 2007. (c) Paramount IN & OUT, director Frank Oz, on set, 1997. ©Henson Associates THE SCORE, director Frank Oz, on set, 2001. THE MUPPET MOVIE, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, 1979. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Frank Oz, Mark Hamill, 1980. ©MGM LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Ellen Greene, director Frank Oz, Rick Moranis, on set, 1986. DEATH AT A FUNERAL, Keeley Hawes, director Frank Oz, Andy Nyman, Matthew MacFadyen, on set, 2007. ![]() HOUSESITTER, director Frank Oz, 1992, ©Universal Pictures / THE DARK CRYSTAL, Co-Director Frank Oz, 1982. The Great Muppet Caper The Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers Blues Brothers 2000 Blues Brothers 2000 Photos WHAT ABOUT BOB?, Director Frank Oz, 1991. Oz continued to lend his voice to the occasional animated film, like "Inside Out" (2015) while still voicing characters on "Sesame Street," "The Muppets," and Yoda in the evolving "Star Wars" universe. The success of that film helped propel a directing career that included "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (1988), "Bowfinger" (1999), and "The Stepford Wives" (2004) among others. Oz managed to completely escape Henson's muppet empire when he directed "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986). His first directing credit came when he paired with Henson to direct the fantasy "The Dark Crystal" (1982). Oz created and performed the role of Yoda in "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), his first major success without Henson. The shows was nominated for Emmys for Outstanding Comedy-Variety and/or Music Series three times and won the award in 1978. The trend continued with "The Muppet Show" (ITV/ABC, 1976-1981), with Oz performing Miss Piggie, Fozzy Bear, Animal, and more. He created and performed some of the best-loved characters on the show, including Bert, Grover, and Cookie Monster. When "Sesame Street" (NET, 1969 PBS, 1970- HBO, 2016-) premiered, Oz became part of the fabric of children's lives around the country. His first on screen puppeteering came in 1963, when he was the right hand of Henson's Rowlf the Dog on "The Jimmy Dean Show" (ABC, 1963-1966). When he was 17 he met Jim Henson at a Puppeteers of America festival, and went to join him in New York the next year, after graduating from high school. They moved from England to Belgium, then Montana, before settling in Oakland, California. Born Frank Oznowicz, in Hereford, England in 1944, young Frank Oz's parents were both puppeteers.
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