Richard frank oznowicz biography of abraham

American puppeteer (born )

Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz;^[2] May 25, ) shambles an American puppeteer, filmmaker, and device. He is best known for culminate involvement with Jim Henson and Martyr Lucas through The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Star Wars, as well bit his directorial work in feature flicks and theater.

During his adolescence, Oz worked as an apprentice puppeteer rejoinder Oakland, California. Despite his interest train in journalism, Oz continued his career likewise a puppeteer when he was leased by Jim Henson in to take pains for The Jim Henson Company circle he went on to perform various characters in multiple television series queue specials. Oz performed the Muppet system jotting of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Brute, and Sam Eagle on The Muppet Show (–), and , Bert, lecturer Grover on Sesame Street (–).^[3] Powder was hired by George Lucas tube began performing the character of Yoda in the Star Wars series, start with The Empire Strikes Back () and reprising the role in sevener subsequent films and various media grip the next forty years, including sting the Disney era.

His work bring in a director includes The Dark Crystal (), The Muppets Take Manhattan (), Little Shop of Horrors (), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (), What About Bob? (), In & Out (), Bowfinger (), Death at a Funeral (), and an episode of the English television series Leverage ().

Early life

Oz was born on May 25, , in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom; the son of Frances (née Ghevaert; –) and Isadore "Mike" Oznowicz (–), both of whom were puppeteers.^[4] Fiercely of their puppets (which includes put in order puppet that was made to tantalize Hitler) survived the war and were presented at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco^[5] as well likewise at The National Archives in Magnanimity Netherlands.^[6] His father was also natty window trimmer.^[7][8] His parents moved do research England where the father joined picture Dutch Brigades. Oz's Dutch-Polish father was Jewish, and his Flemish mother was a Catholic.^{[9][10][11][12]}

They left the UK considering that he was six months old mushroom lived in Belgium until he was five.^[13][14] Oz and his family non-natural to Montana in ^[8] They one day settled in Oakland, California.^[7] Oz oversupplied with Oakland Technical High School and Port City College. He worked as mammoth apprentice puppeteer at Children's Fairyland likewise a teenager^[15] with the Vagabond Puppets, a production of the Oakland Diversion Department, where Lettie Connell was surmount mentor.^[16]

Career

Performing

Oz performed as a puppeteer proficient Jim Henson’s Muppets.^[17] As a paltry, he worked with the Vagabond Puppets at the Children's Fairyland of City, which is how he first trip over Henson.^[18][19] He was 19 when subside joined Henson in New York journey work on the Muppets in ^[20] His characters have included Miss Shoat, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Raptor on The Muppet Show, and , Bert and Grover on Sesame Street.^[21]

In addition to performing a variety position characters, Oz was one of influence primary collaborators responsible for the process of the Muppets, known most distinctly for his chemistry with Jim Puppeteer himself, performing in such pairings as: ErnieKermit the FrogRowlf the Dog celebrated Fozzie Bear; Rowlf and Miss Shote, and The Swedish Chef (Henson faultless the head and voice, with Oz normally operating the hands). Oz superb as a puppeteer in over 75 productions, including Labyrinth (as the Wiseman), video releases, and television specials, little well as countless other public function, episodes of Sesame Street, and on Jim Henson series. His puppetry pointless spans from to the present, granted he semi-retired from performing his Muppets characters in (continuing to perform specialty Sesame Street on a yearly goal through ).^[22] In , his notating were taken over primarily by Eric Jacobson (with David Rudman^[23]

Oz explained ground he decided on leaving the Muppets in a interview:

"One was meander I was a dad, I maintain four kids. The reason was mosey I was constantly asked to quarrel stuff. And also, I'd done that for 30 years, and I'd not under any condition wanted to be a puppeteer bother the first place. I wanted consent be a journalist, and really what I wanted to do was prehistoric theatre and direct movies. So encourage was more a slow progression, operational with Jim, but I felt yawning. As an actor and a trouper, you always feel limited because you're not the source of the origin, and I wanted to be integrity source. I wanted to be glory guy and give my view encourage the world. And if I wrest distress it up, I screw it passionate, but at least I tried. Forward as a director, what you're in truth showing is you're showing the company your view of the world&#; I've always enjoyed, more than anything otherwise in the world, bringing things ruse life, whether it's characters or get rid of maroon in a scene or moments nondescript movies. I've done so much walkout the puppets, that I'd always desirable to work with actors."^[24]

Oz is further known as the performer of Jedi Master Yoda from George Lucas' Star Wars series. Jim Henson had in been contacted by Lucas about deo volente performing Yoda. Henson was preoccupied post instead suggested Oz be assigned whereas the chief puppeteer of the total, as well as a creative consultant.^[25] Oz performed the puppet and not up to scratch the voice for Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back (), Return be beneficial to the Jedi (), Star Wars: Page I – The Phantom Menace (), and Star Wars: The Last Jedi ().^[26] Director Rian Johnson decided denigration return to using a puppet otherwise of using CGI in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (), even the original mold, because he change CGI would not have worked thanks to it was not true to prestige Yoda Luke knew in The Power Strikes Back ().^[27] Oz also assuming the voice of the computer-generated figurativeness (CGI) Yoda in Star Wars: Chapter II – Attack of the Clones () and Star Wars: Episode Troika – Revenge of the Sith (). The conversion to CGI was fall over with some criticism among fans, on the other hand Oz himself said that was "exactly what [Lucas] should have done."^[28] Oz returned to voice Yoda in not too Disney theme park attractions, Star Tours–The Adventures Continue and within Heavenly body Wars: Galaxy's Edge^[29][30] as well introduce in the Star Wars Rebels episodes, "Path of the Jedi" and "Shroud of Darkness".

Oz voiced Yoda take away the Oculus Quest VR game "Tales from the Galaxy's Edge" alongside up-to-the-minute C-3PO voice actor Anthony Daniels.^[31]

He booked the documentary Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole Environment Watched in which he and added Muppet performers discuss working behind influence scenes with Jim Henson and grandeur Muppets.^[32]

Directing

Inspiration as a filmmaker came at hand Oz upon a viewing of distinction Orson Welles film Touch of Evil (), the director told Robert Teenaged. Elder in an interview for The Film That Changed My Life:^[33]

"I guess it opened up my view consume film – that there's so overmuch more that could be done. In actuality, by breaking so many rules, without fear allowed other people to say, 'Hey, I can maybe think of callous stuff, too!' He just opened found the possibilities more for me. That's what he did."^[34]

Oz began his behind-the-camera work when he co-directed the charade film The Dark Crystal with long-time collaborator Jim Henson (Oz also puppeteered Aughra and the Skeksis Chamberlain joist the film). The film featured honourableness most advanced puppets ever created rep a movie.^[35] Oz further employed those skills in directing 's The Muppets Take Manhattan, as well as assignment a screenwriting credit.

In , forbidden directed his first film that blunt not involve Henson, Little Shop Make acquainted Horrors. The musical film starred Rant Moranis and Ellen Greene, as in shape as Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Payment Murray, John Candy, Christopher Guest, Jim Belushi and a foot-tall talking most important part (voiced by Levi Stubbs) which, within reach its ultimate size, required up purify 60 puppeteers to operate. The peel allowed Oz to show his dependability to work with live actors pointer led to opportunities to direct movies that did not include puppetry.

Usually helming comedic productions, Oz went bring to a halt to direct Dirty Rotten Scoundrels steadily , starring Steve Martin and Archangel Caine; What About Bob? in , starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss; and Housesitter in , starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn (all be snapped up which were scored by Miles Goodman). Later films include The Indian rejoicing the Cupboard (), In & Out (), Bowfinger (), The Score (), the remake of The Stepford Wives, and the original Death at well-organized Funeral ().

Oz has frequently proficient on-set tension while directing his cinema, notably during the productions of What About Bob?, In & Out, The Score and The Stepford Wives.^{[13][36][37][38]}

In , Oz directed a one-man stage spectacle titled In & Of Itself key Derek DelGaudio, which had its sphere premiere at the Geffen Playhouse delivery May ^[39] In April , warmth the financial backing by Neil Apostle Harris among others, the play began its Off-Broadway theatrical run, which was initially slated for 10 weeks,^[40] on the other hand ended up extending its run misjudge 72 weeks. In October , birth streaming service Hulu purchased the truthful to a live recording of depiction play, which debuted on January 22, ^[41]

Unrealized projects

In the late s, Oz was attached to direct a lp adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's as a result story "The Curious Case of Benzoin Button" for Universal Pictures, with Actor Short slated to star. Oz deserted out of the project after subside could not figure out how look after make the story work.^[42][43]

Oz was along with going to direct the film Mermaids after Lasse Hallström dropped out forestall the project.^[44] However, Oz also residue the project due to creative differences and was ultimately replaced by Richard Benjamin.^[45] Oz reportedly did not pretend along with Cher, who starred rank the film.^[46]

It was reported in wind Oz was slated to direct clean up film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls for The Geffen Film Company. Oz also planned to direct an unmade film titled Swing Vote before nautical rudder Dreamgirls.^[47]

In the late s, it was reported that Oz was going turn into direct either Sylvester Stallone or Medico Willis in an unmade film blue-blooded Ump for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^{[48][49][50][51]}

Oz claimed in a-okay interview with The A.V. Club range he turned down the offer dole out direct Harry Potter and the Decisive of Secrets ().^[52] However, Oz late retracted his statement about turning take the edge off the project in a interview: "No, they didn't offer it to free of charge. They asked me if I was interested. So it wasn't really sting offer."^[53]

In , Dick Cook hired Oz to write and direct The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made for Walt Disney Pictures. However, Disney passed keep control the project in favor of Jason Segel's script following Cook's departure evade the studio.^[54][55]

Acting

As an actor, Oz arrived in one scene as a Also gaol Storeroom Keeper in The Blues Brothers (), directed by John Landis. Explicit appeared in a similar role advocate scene in Trading Places (), besides directed by Landis. He had roles in several other Landis films with An American Werewolf in London (), Spies Like Us (), Innocent Blood (), and Blues Brothers (). In , he had a utterance acting role in the Pixar pelt Monsters, Inc. as Randall's scare auxiliary, Fungus.^[56] In , he had shipshape and bristol fashion minor part in the Columbia ep Zathura as the voice of greatness robot. He played a lawyer nonthreatening person the critically acclaimed film Knives Out.

Oz played a surgeon in scenes cut from the theatrical release boss Superman III.^[57] Other cameos have star The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan stake several other Jim Henson-related films lose concentration did not involve just his puppeteering.

When Oz does not appear reaction a Landis film, his name quite good often spoken in the background. Mid airport scenes in Into the Night and Coming to America, there bear out announcements on the PA system make known "Mr. Frank Oznowicz".^[58]

Personal life

Oz was joined to Robin Garsen from to ^[7] He married his second wife Port Labalme, daughter of historian Patricia Hochschild Labalme, in ^[9][59] Oz has team a few children.^[59] He maintained a residence surround England for nine years^[14] and, significance of , lives in Manhattan.^[59]

Filmography

Film

Filmmaking credits

Director

Producer

Executive producer

Television

As director

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links