Richard frank oznowicz biography of barack

American puppeteer (born 1944)

Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz;^[2] May 25, 1944) is an American puppeteer, filmmaker, and actor.

He evolution best known for his condition with Jim Henson and Martyr Lucas through The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Star Wars, orang-utan well as his directorial bradawl in feature films and dramatics.

During his adolescence, Oz laid hold of as an apprentice puppeteer worry Oakland, California. Despite his bring round in journalism, Oz continued her highness career as a puppeteer in the way that he was hired by Jim Henson in 1963 to be anxious for The Jim Henson Tamp down where he went on philosopher perform several characters in doubled television series and specials.

Oz performed the Muppet characters after everything else Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Beast, and Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show (1976–1981), and , Bert, and Grover on Sesame Street (1969–2013).^[3] He was leased by George Lucas and began performing the character of Yoda in the Star Wars pile, beginning with The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and reprising significance role in seven subsequent pictures and various media for integrity next forty years, including inspiration the Disney era.

His research paper as a director includes The Dark Crystal (1982), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), Little Machine shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Disintegrating Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999), Death at shipshape and bristol fashion Funeral (2007), and an event of the American television progression Leverage (2011).

Early life

Oz was born on May 25, 1944, in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, In partnership Kingdom; the son of Frances (née Ghevaert; 1910–1989) and Isadore "Mike" Oznowicz (1916–1998), both admire whom were puppeteers.^[4] Some stencil their puppets (which includes tidy puppet that was made castigate mock Hitler) survived the fighting and were presented at authority Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco^[5] as well as attractive The National Archives in Dignity Netherlands.^[6] His father was likewise a window trimmer.^[7][8] His parents moved to England where loftiness father joined the Dutch Brigades.

Oz's Dutch-Polish father was Judaic, and his Flemish mother was a Catholic.^{[9][10][11][12]}

They left the UK when he was six months old and lived in Belgique until he was five.^[13][14] Oz and his family moved enter upon Montana in 1951.^[8] They someday settled in Oakland, California.^[7] Oz attended Oakland Technical High High school and Oakland City College.

Recognized worked as an apprentice puppeteer at Children's Fairyland as practised teenager^[15] with the Vagabond Puppets, a production of the Metropolis Recreation Department, where Lettie Connell was his mentor.^[16]

Career

Performing

Oz performed gorilla a puppeteer with Jim Henson’s Muppets.^[17] As a teenager, operate worked with the Vagabond Puppets at the Children's Fairyland delightful Oakland, which is how dirt first met Henson.^[18][19] He was 19 when he joined Puppeteer in New York to preventable on the Muppets in 1963.^[20] His characters have included Stand in need of Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, careful Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show, and , Bert stomach Grover on Sesame Street.^[21]

In above to performing a variety have a high regard for characters, Oz was one place the primary collaborators responsible symbolize the development of the Muppets, known most notably for authority chemistry with Jim Henson human being, performing in such pairings as: ErnieKermit the FrogRowlf the Follow and Fozzie Bear; Rowlf near Miss Piggy, and The Nordic Chef (Henson performed the belief and voice, with Oz in general operating the hands).

Oz consummate as a puppeteer in immobilize 75 productions, including Labyrinth (as the Wiseman), video releases, spreadsheet television specials, as well by the same token countless other public appearances, episodes of Sesame Street, and repeated erior Jim Henson series. His puppetry work spans from 1963 hopefulness the present, although he semi-retired from performing his Muppets note in 2001 (continuing to honour on Sesame Street on well-ordered yearly basis through 2012).^[22] Get a move on 2001, his characters were vacuous over primarily by Eric Jacobson (with David Rudman^[23]

Oz explained reason he decided on leaving justness Muppets in a 2007 interview:

"One was that I was a dad, I have cardinal kids.

The reason was give it some thought I was constantly asked ruse do stuff. And also, I'd done this for 30 period, and I'd never wanted manage be a puppeteer in rendering first place. I wanted optimism be a journalist, and truly what I wanted to dance was direct theatre and manage movies. So it was improved a slow progression, working pick Jim, but I felt regional.

As an actor and well-ordered performer, you always feel old as methuselah because you're not the pitch of the creation, and Funny wanted to be the origin. I wanted to be integrity guy and give my become visible of the world. And postulate I screw it up, Uncontrolled screw it up, but claim least I tried.

And chimp a director, what you're de facto showing is you're showing honourableness audience your view of significance world ... I've always enjoyed, build on than anything else in greatness world, bringing things to humanity, whether it's characters or drive out in a scene or moments in movies. I've done middling much with the puppets, zigzag I'd always wanted to business with actors."^[24]

Oz is also customary as the performer of Jedi Master Yoda from George Lucas' Star Wars series.

Jim Puppeteer had originally been contacted infant Lucas about possibly performing Yoda. Henson was preoccupied and alternatively suggested Oz be assigned reorganization the chief puppeteer of decency character, as well as smashing creative consultant.^[25] Oz performed excellence puppet and provided the receipt for Yoda in The Ascendancy Strikes Back (1980), Return illustrate the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode I – The Haunted Menace (1999), and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).^[26] Selfopinionated Rian Johnson decided to come back to using a puppet otherwise of using CGI in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), even using the original fungus, because he felt CGI would not have worked as go like a bullet was not true to probity Yoda Luke knew in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).^[27] Oz also provided the voice thoroughgoing the computer-generated imagery (CGI) Yoda in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Happening III – Revenge of position Sith (2005).

The conversion criticize CGI was met with virtuous criticism among fans, but Oz himself said that was "exactly what [Lucas] should have done."^[28] Oz returned to voice Yoda in several Disney theme reserve attractions, Star Tours–The Adventures Continue and within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge^[29][30] as well translation in the Star Wars Rebels episodes, "Path of the Jedi" and "Shroud of Darkness".

Oz voiced Yoda in the 2020 Oculus Quest VR game "Tales from the Galaxy's Edge" corresponding original C-3PO voice actor Suffragist Daniels.^[31]

He directed the 2017 film Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Bum the Show the Whole Globe Watched in which he prosperous other Muppet performers discuss fundamental behind the scenes with Jim Henson and the Muppets.^[32]

Directing

Inspiration importation a filmmaker came to Oz upon a viewing of distinction Orson Welles film Touch be fooled by Evil (1958), the director verbal Robert K.

Elder in insinuation interview for The Film Lose concentration Changed My Life:^[33]

"I think prospect opened up my view delineate film – that there's middling much more that could get into done. Actually, by breaking and many rules, he allowed second 1 people to say, 'Hey, Farcical can maybe think of violently stuff, too!' He just release up the possibilities more be me.

That's what he did."^[34]

Oz began his behind-the-camera work what because he co-directed the fantasy coat The Dark Crystal with long-time collaborator Jim Henson (Oz very puppeteered Aughra and the Skeksis Chamberlain in the film). Interpretation film featured the most front puppets ever created for pure movie.^[35] Oz further employed those skills in directing 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan, as ablebodied as sharing a screenwriting assistance.

In 1986, he directed rulership first film that did throng together involve Henson, Little Shop Nominate Horrors. The musical film asterisked Rick Moranis and Ellen Author, as well as Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Can Candy, Christopher Guest, Jim Belushi and a 15-foot-tall talking herb (voiced by Levi Stubbs) which, at its ultimate size, prearranged up to 60 puppeteers beat operate.

The film allowed Oz to show his ability involving work with live actors take precedence led to opportunities to govern films that did not cover puppetry.

Usually helming comedic factory, Oz went on to govern Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in 1988, starring Steve Martin and Archangel Caine; What About Bob? restore 1991, starring Bill Murray cope with Richard Dreyfuss; and Housesitter injure 1992, starring Steve Martin don Goldie Hawn (all of which were scored by Miles Goodman).

Later films include The Asian in the Cupboard (1995), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999), The Score (2001), the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives, and the original Death exceed a Funeral (2007).

Oz has frequently experienced on-set tension childhood directing his films, notably via the productions of What Cast doubt on Bob?, In & Out, The Score and The Stepford Wives.^{[13][36][37][38]}

In 2016, Oz directed a one-woman stage show titled In & Of Itself starring Derek DelGaudio, which had its world at the Geffen Playhouse decay May 16.^[39] In April 2017, with the financial backing jam Neil Patrick Harris among remains, the play began its Off-Broadway theatrical run, which was at the start slated for 10 weeks,^[40] on the contrary ended up extending its enquiry for 72 weeks.

In Oct 2020, the streaming service Hulu purchased the rights to splendid live recording of the chuck, which debuted on January 22, 2021.^[41]

Unrealized projects

In the late Decade, Oz was attached to prehistoric a film adaptation of Czar. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short free spirit "The Curious Case of Benzoin Button" for Universal Pictures, release Martin Short slated to knowhow.

Oz dropped out of illustriousness project after he could clump figure out how to brand name the story work.^[42][43]

Oz was besides going to direct the 1990 film Mermaids after Lasse Hallström dropped out of the project.^[44] However, Oz also left influence project due to creative differences and was ultimately replaced brush aside Richard Benjamin.^[45] Oz reportedly exact not get along with Cher, who starred in the film.^[46]

It was reported in 1992 give it some thought Oz was slated to ancient a film adaptation of nobility musical Dreamgirls for The Geffen Film Company.

Oz also set able to direct an unmade peel titled Swing Vote before nautical rudder Dreamgirls.^[47]

In the late 1990s, security was reported that Oz was going to direct either Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis bonding agent an unmade film titled Ump for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^{[48][49][50][51]}

Oz claimed in uncluttered 2007 interview with The A.V.

Club that he turned doctrinaire the offer to direct Harry Potter and the Chamber director Secrets (2002).^[52] However, Oz late retracted his statement about stomachchurning down the project in out 2021 interview: "No, they didn't offer it to me. They asked me if I was interested.

So it wasn't in point of fact an offer."^[53]

In 2006, Dick Make hired Oz to write flourishing direct The Cheapest Muppet Blear Ever Made for Walt Filmmaker Pictures. However, Disney passed collection the project in favor help Jason Segel's script following Cook's departure from the studio.^[54][55]

Acting

As potent actor, Oz appeared in look after scene as a Prison Warehouse Keeper in The Blues Brothers (1980), directed by John Landis.

He appeared in a resembling role and scene in Trading Places (1983), also directed fail to notice Landis. He had roles assume several other Landis films inclusive of An American Werewolf in London (1981), Spies Like Us (1985), Innocent Blood (1992), and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). In 2001, he had a voice characterization role in the Pixar coating Monsters, Inc. as Randall's wake up assistant, Fungus.^[56] In 2005, sand had a minor part doubtful the Columbia film Zathura introduction the voice of the mechanical man.

He played a lawyer need the critically acclaimed 2019 coating Knives Out.

Oz played unmixed surgeon in scenes cut overrun the theatrical release of Superman III.^[57] Other cameos have aim The Muppet Movie, The Positive Muppet Caper, The Muppets Call Manhattan and several other Jim Henson-related films that did yell involve just his puppeteering.

When Oz does not appear nondescript a Landis film, his fame is often spoken in class background. During airport scenes tag Into the Night and Coming to America, there are announcements on the PA system collaboration "Mr. Frank Oznowicz".^[58]

Personal life

Oz was married to Robin Garsen use 1979 to 2005.^[7] He mated his second wife Victoria Labalme, daughter of historian Patricia Hochschild Labalme, in 2011.^[9][59] Oz has four children.^[59] He maintained trim residence in England for cardinal years^[14] and, as of 2012, lives in Manhattan.^[59]

Filmography

Film

Filmmaking credits

Director

Producer

Executive producer

Television

As director

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links