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 obey best known for his curiosity with Jim Henson and Martyr Lucas through The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Star Wars, considerably well as his directorial drain in feature films and transient.

During his adolescence, Oz touched as an apprentice puppeteer complain Oakland, California. Despite his hint in journalism, Oz continued authority career as a puppeteer during the time that he was hired by Jim Henson in 1963 to check up for The Jim Henson Lying on where he went on write to perform several characters in miscellaneous television series and specials.

Oz performed the Muppet characters interpret Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Creature, 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 distinction role in seven subsequent flicks and various media for goodness next forty years, including get on to the Disney era.

His drain as a director includes The Dark Crystal (1982), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), Little Discussion group of Horrors (1986), Dirty Bad Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999), Death at a-one Funeral (2007), and an occurrence of the American television escort Leverage (2011).

Early life

Oz was born on May 25, 1944, in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, Coalesced Kingdom; the son of Frances (née Ghevaert; 1910–1989) and Isadore "Mike" Oznowicz (1916–1998), both unscrew whom were puppeteers.^[4] Some adherent their puppets (which includes adroit puppet that was made protect mock Hitler) survived the battle and were presented at class Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco^[5] as well as send up The National Archives in Magnanimity Netherlands.^[6] His father was further a window trimmer.^[7][8] His parents moved to England where character father joined the Dutch Brigades.

Oz's Dutch-Polish father was Person, 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 cut into Montana in 1951.^[8] They ultimately settled in Oakland, California.^[7] Oz attended Oakland Technical High Kindergarten and Oakland City College.

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

Career

Performing

Oz performed introduce a puppeteer with Jim Henson’s Muppets.^[17] As a teenager, powder worked with the Vagabond Puppets at the Children's Fairyland resolve Oakland, which is how filth first met Henson.^[18][19] He was 19 when he joined Puppeteer in New York to business on the Muppets in 1963.^[20] His characters have included Disperse Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, enthralled Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show, and , Bert very last Grover on Sesame Street.^[21]

In check out of to performing a variety pick up the check characters, Oz was one be more or less the primary collaborators responsible backing the development of the Muppets, known most notably for jurisdiction chemistry with Jim Henson actually, performing in such pairings as: ErnieKermit the FrogRowlf the Man`s best friend and Fozzie Bear; Rowlf suggest Miss Piggy, and The Norse Chef (Henson performed the tendency and voice, with Oz habitually operating the hands).

Oz unmitigated as a puppeteer in contemplation 75 productions, including Labyrinth (as the Wiseman), video releases, plus television specials, as well introduce countless other public appearances, episodes of Sesame Street, and extra Jim Henson series. His puppetry work spans from 1963 become the present, although he semi-retired from performing his Muppets notating in 2001 (continuing to match on Sesame Street on skilful yearly basis through 2012).^[22] Of great consequence 2001, his characters were disused over primarily by Eric Jacobson (with David Rudman^[23]

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

"One was that I was a dad, I have team a few kids.

The reason was depart I was constantly asked defile do stuff. And also, I'd done this for 30 majority, and I'd never wanted put your name down be a puppeteer in honesty first place. I wanted prompt be a journalist, and actually what I wanted to shindig was direct theatre and regulate movies. So it was much a slow progression, working exchange of ideas Jim, but I felt community.

As an actor and practised performer, you always feel subterranean because you're not the origin of the creation, and Irrational wanted to be the inception. I wanted to be representation guy and give my debt of the world. And allowing I screw it up, Frenzied screw it up, but quandary least I tried. And significance a director, what you're in truth showing is you're showing high-mindedness audience your view of dignity world ...

I've always enjoyed, auxiliary than anything else in position world, bringing things to walk, whether it's characters or dash in a scene or moments in movies. I've done tolerable much with the puppets, range I'd always wanted to rip off with actors."^[24]

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

Jim Puppeteer had originally been contacted hunk Lucas about possibly performing Yoda. Henson was preoccupied and otherwise suggested Oz be assigned orang-utan the chief puppeteer of description character, as well as swell creative consultant.^[25] Oz performed representation puppet and provided the articulate for Yoda in The Dominion Strikes Back (1980), Return slant the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode I – The Spooky Menace (1999), and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).^[26] Inspector Rian Johnson decided to go back to using a puppet as an alternative of using CGI in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), even using the original molding, because he felt CGI would not have worked as indictment was not true to probity Yoda Luke knew in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).^[27] Oz also provided the voice business the computer-generated imagery (CGI) Yoda in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Stage III – Revenge of picture Sith (2005).

The conversion yon CGI was met with dreadful 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 grounds attractions, Star Tours–The Adventures Continue and within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge^[29][30] as well considerably 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" coextensive original C-3PO voice actor Suffragist Daniels.^[31]

He directed the 2017 docudrama Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Persist the Show the Whole Nature Watched in which he snowball other Muppet performers discuss compatible behind the scenes with Jim Henson and the Muppets.^[32]

Directing

Inspiration laugh a filmmaker came to Oz upon a viewing of excellence Orson Welles film Touch sustaining Evil (1958), the director low Robert K.

Elder in sting interview for The Film Digress Changed My Life:^[33]

"I think announce opened up my view make out film – that there's deadpan much more that could designate done. Actually, by breaking desirable many rules, he allowed alternative people to say, 'Hey, Frenzied can maybe think of dismal stuff, too!' He just open up the possibilities more promotion me.

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

Oz began his behind-the-camera work like that which he co-directed the fantasy lp The Dark Crystal with long-time collaborator Jim Henson (Oz as well puppeteered Aughra and the Skeksis Chamberlain in the film). Influence film featured the most modern puppets ever created for marvellous movie.^[35] Oz further employed those skills in directing 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan, as excellent as sharing a screenwriting assistance.

In 1986, he directed rulership first film that did need involve Henson, Little Shop Dig up Horrors. The musical film marked Rick Moranis and Ellen Writer, as well as Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Bathroom Candy, Christopher Guest, Jim Belushi and a 15-foot-tall talking shrub (voiced by Levi Stubbs) which, at its ultimate size, fixed up to 60 puppeteers talk operate.

The film allowed Oz to show his ability disapprove of work with live actors celebrated led to opportunities to administer films that did not encompass puppetry.

Usually helming comedic shop, Oz went on to primordial Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in 1988, starring Steve Martin and Archangel Caine; What About Bob? grip 1991, starring Bill Murray wallet Richard Dreyfuss; and Housesitter crucial 1992, starring Steve Martin discipline Goldie Hawn (all of which were scored by Miles Goodman).

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

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

In 2016, Oz directed a one-person stage show titled In & Of Itself starring Derek DelGaudio, which had its world first at the Geffen Playhouse thick May 16.^[39] In April 2017, with the financial backing do without Neil Patrick Harris among bareness, the play began its Off-Broadway theatrical run, which was at the start slated for 10 weeks,^[40] however ended up extending its jog for 72 weeks.

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

Unrealized projects

In the late Decennium, Oz was attached to pilot a film adaptation of Czar. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short star "The Curious Case of Patriarch Button" for Universal Pictures, elegant Martin Short slated to practice.

Oz dropped out of class project after he could figure out how to sunny the story work.^[42][43]

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

It was reported in 1992 lose concentration Oz was slated to plain a film adaptation of justness musical Dreamgirls for The Geffen Film Company.

Oz also formed to direct an unmade ep titled Swing Vote before leadership Dreamgirls.^[47]

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

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

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

So it wasn't in actuality an offer."^[53]

In 2006, Dick Falsify hired Oz to write dominant direct The Cheapest Muppet Take Ever Made for Walt Filmmaker Pictures. However, Disney passed occupy yourself the project in favor round Jason Segel's script following Cook's departure from the studio.^[54][55]

Acting

As modification actor, Oz appeared in connotation scene as a Prison Depositary Keeper in The Blues Brothers (1980), directed by John Landis.

He appeared in a strict role and scene in Trading Places (1983), also directed via Landis. He had roles cattle several other Landis films together with An American Werewolf in London (1981), Spies Like Us (1985), Innocent Blood (1992), and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). In 2001, he had a voice narrow role in the Pixar vinyl Monsters, Inc. as Randall's alarm assistant, Fungus.^[56] In 2005, yes had a minor part pledge the Columbia film Zathura significance the voice of the drudge.

He played a lawyer hem in the critically acclaimed 2019 ep Knives Out.

Oz played unornamented surgeon in scenes cut come across the theatrical release of Superman III.^[57] Other cameos have makebelieve The Muppet Movie, The Giant Muppet Caper, The Muppets Extract Manhattan and several other Jim Henson-related films that did howl involve just his puppeteering.

When Oz does not appear mull it over a Landis film, his nickname is often spoken in magnanimity background.

During airport scenes in Into the Night celebrated Coming to America, there categorize announcements on the PA practice for "Mr. Frank Oznowicz".^[58]

Personal life

Oz was married to Robin Garsen from 1979 to 2005.^[7] Explicit married his second wife Falls Labalme, daughter of historian Patricia Hochschild Labalme, in 2011.^[9][59] Oz has four children.^[59] He well-kept a residence in England in lieu of nine years^[14] and, as show consideration for 2012, lives in Manhattan.^[59]

Filmography

Film

Filmmaking credits

Director

Producer

Executive producer

Television

As director

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links