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Frank Oz is a Actor, Director, Scriptwriter and Producer American born on 25 may 1944 at Hereford (United-kingdom)

Frank Oz

Frank Oz
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Birth name Frank Richard Oznowicz
Nationality USA
Birth 25 may 1944 (79 years) at Hereford (United-kingdom)
Creator of Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Awards Emmy Award, Primetime Emmy Award, Daytime Emmy Award

Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz; born May 25, 1944) is an English-born American director, puppeteer, actor, and filmmaker.

His career began as a puppeteer, where he performed the Muppet characters of Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in The Muppet Show, and Cookie Monster, Bert, and Grover in Sesame Street. He is also known for being the puppeteer and voice of Yoda in the Star Wars films.

His work as a director includes Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), What About Bob? (1991), In & Out (1997), Bowfinger (1999) and Death at a Funeral (2007).

Biography

À l'âge de cinq ans, il déménage avec ses parents pour la Californie.

Frank Oz est surtout connu pour son travail comme marionnettiste sur les séries télévisées de Jim Henson, Le Muppet Show et 1, rue Sésame ainsi que les films qui en ont été dérivés. Parmi ses personnages, on retrouve Miss Piggy, Fozzie et Sam the Eagle pour la première série ; Grover, Cookie Monster et Bert pour la seconde. Il a été marionnettiste dans plus de 75 films ou téléfilms depuis 1969.

Le plus connu des personnages de Frank Oz est certainement le petit maître Jedi Yoda, de la série Star Wars. Il est la voix et l'homme derrière la marionnette de Yoda depuis le deuxième film sorti en 1980, Star Wars, épisode V : L'Empire contre-attaque, jusqu'au dernier, Star Wars, épisode VIII : Les derniers Jedi, sorti en 2017, le personnage étant absent de Rogue One : A Star Wars story. Il a eu beaucoup d'influence sur l'apparence et la personnalité du personnage et est à l'origine de la construction inversée des phrases de Yoda.

Frank Oz est également acteur. Il est en particulier apparu dans plusieurs films de John Landis : The Blues Brothers, Le Loup-garou de Londres, Un fauteuil pour deux, Blues Brothers 2000, Drôles d'espions, etc. Ses rôles sont en général modestes.

En 1982, Frank Oz s'est lancé dans la réalisation avec le film fantastique Dark Crystal, en collaboration avec son complice de longue date Jim Henson. À l'époque, le film fait appel aux marionnettes les plus sophistiquées jamais créées pour un film. Plus tard, il réalise en 1986 la comédie musicale La Petite Boutique des horreurs avec dans les rôles principaux Rick Moranis et Ellen Greene ainsi que Steve Martin, Bill Murray, John Candy et Christopher Guest. Une marionnette de taille est également présente dans ce film, la plante géante (5 mètres), qui à la fin du film se met à danser et chanter (avec la voix de Levi Stubbs) ; exploit qui nécessita à l'époque le concours de trente marionnettistes.

Depuis il a réalisé près de dix films dont Le Plus Escroc des deux en 1988 avec Steve Martin et Michael Caine, Quoi de neuf, Bob ? en 1991 avec Bill Murray et Richard Dreyfuss, Fais comme chez toi ! en 1992, L'Indien du placard en 1995 et plus récemment The Score avec Robert De Niro, Edward Norton et Marlon Brando et en 2004 le remake Et l'homme créa la femme avec Nicole Kidman et Glenn Close.

Best films

Monsters, Inc. (2001)
(Actor)
In & Out (1997)
(Director)
The Dark Crystal (1982)
(Actor)
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
(Actor)

Usually with

Jim Henson
Jim Henson
(21 films)
Jerry Nelson
Jerry Nelson
(21 films)
Dave Goelz
Dave Goelz
(18 films)
George Lucas
George Lucas
(12 films)
Brian Henson
Brian Henson
(10 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Frank Oz (61 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, 2h22
Directed by J. J. Abrams
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, War, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Monde imaginaire, Dans l'espace, Sur une planète fictive, Space opera, Children's films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films
Actors Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels
Roles Yoda (voice)
Rating63% 3.199433.199433.199433.199433.19943
L'univers de Star Wars se déroule dans une galaxie qui est le théâtre d'affrontements entre les Chevaliers Jedi et les Seigneurs noirs des Sith, personnes sensibles à la Force, un champ énergétique mystérieux leur procurant des pouvoirs psychiques. Les Jedi maîtrisent le Côté lumineux de la Force, pouvoir bénéfique et défensif, pour maintenir la paix dans la galaxie. Les Sith utilisent le Côté obscur, pouvoir nuisible et destructeur, pour leurs usages personnels et pour dominer la galaxie.
Knives Out
Knives Out (2019)
, 2h10
Directed by Rian Johnson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Themes Assassinat
Actors Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Toni Collette
Roles Alan Stevens
Rating78% 3.9495853.9495853.9495853.9495853.949585
Le romancier Harlan Thrombey convie dans son manoir sa famille, aussi excentrique que dysfonctionnelle, pour célébrer son 85e anniversaire. Mais le lendemain matin, le riche patriarche est retrouvé mort la gorge tranchée. Alors que tout indique un suicide, le détective privé Benoit Blanc s'invite dans l'enquête de l'inspecteur Elliott et commence à suspecter un meurtre.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi, 2h32
Directed by Rian Johnson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, War, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Romance
Themes Space adventure films, Monde imaginaire, Dans l'espace, Sur une planète fictive, Space opera, Children's films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films
Actors Oscar Isaac, Benicio del Toro, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega
Roles Yoda (voice)
Rating68% 3.4490053.4490053.4490053.4490053.449005
L'univers de Star Wars est amorcé avec le conflit entre la République galactique et la Confédération des systèmes indépendants, alliance de planètes séparatistes. Cette confédération entraîne des dirigeants de la République dans des affaires ingérables à cause des manigances du Chancelier Suprême Palpatine, chef d'État de la République, qui dit servir la démocratie tout en visant secrètement à établir un empire. Pour rétablir la paix, les Jedi combattent les ennemis de la République, sans savoir que les deux camps sont manipulés par les Seigneurs Sith (Palpatine étant en réalité le Seigneur Sith Dark Sidious). Les Jedi, comme les Sith, sont sensibles à la Force, une capacité d'origine physiologique qui permet à leurs détenteurs d'acquérir certains pouvoirs surnaturels.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 2h15
Directed by J. J. Abrams
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Monde imaginaire, Dans l'espace, Sur une planète fictive, Films about extraterrestrial life, Space opera, Children's films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films
Actors Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, John Boyega
Roles Yoda (archive sound) (uncredited)
Rating77% 3.895083.895083.895083.895083.89508
L'univers de Star Wars se déroule dans une galaxie théâtre d'affrontements entre les Chevaliers Jedi et les Seigneurs noirs des Sith, personnes sensibles à la Force, un champ énergétique mystérieux leur procurant des pouvoirs psychiques. Les Jedi maîtrisent le côté lumineux de la Force, pouvoir bénéfique et défensif, pour maintenir la paix dans la galaxie. Les Sith utilisent le côté obscur, pouvoir nuisible et destructeur, pour leur usage personnel et pour dominer la galaxie. Les Sith vont par deux : un maître et un apprenti.
Inside Out
Inside Out (2015)
, 1h34
Directed by Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Children's films
Actors Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, John Ratzenberger, Phyllis Smith
Roles Subconscious Guard Dave (voice)
Rating80% 4.0476854.0476854.0476854.0476854.047685
A girl named Riley is born in Minnesota, and within her mind, five personifications of her core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger—come to life. The emotions live in Headquarters, Riley's conscious mind, where they influence Riley's actions and memories via a control console. Her new memories are housed in colored orbs, which are sent into storage at the end of every waking period. The most important or "core" memories are housed in a hub in Headquarters and power five "islands", each of which reflects a different aspect of Riley's personality. Joy acts as the dominant emotion to keep Riley in a happy state, but she and the others do not understand Sadness's purpose, other than making Riley cry.
The Great Gilly Hopkins, 1h39
Directed by Stephen Herek
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Actors Sophie Nélisse, Julia Stiles, Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Octavia Spencer, Bill Cobbs
Roles Cookie Monster (voice)
Rating65% 3.2500753.2500753.2500753.2500753.250075
Gilly Hopkins is the meanest girl in town: she has a birth mother she has never seen and has moved from one foster home to another. Learning that she will be sent to a new home, she wastes no time stirring up trouble. Then she meets a woman named Trotter, who wants to be the mother Gilly needs. With Gilly posing a challenge, Trotter must prove a good relationship will benefit both of them.
Monsters University, 1h42
Directed by Dan Scanlon
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes L'adolescence, Films about education, Films about children, Films about the labor movement, Time travel films, Children's films, Films about school violence, Harcèlement au travail
Actors Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley
Roles Fungus (voice)
Rating71% 3.597793.597793.597793.597793.59779
A young monster named Michael "Mike" Wazowski dreams of being a scarer (a monster who enters the human world at night to scare children so their screams can be harvested for energy) when he grows up, after visiting Monsters Inc. (Monstropolis' most profitable and best-known scaring company) on a school field trip. Eleven years later, Mike is a first-year scare major at Monsters University, where he meets a monster named James P. "Sulley" Sullivan.
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, 1h17
Origin USA
Genres Documentary
Themes Documentaire sur une personnalité
Actors Bill Barretta, Frank Oz, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Clash, Fran Brill, Arsenio Hall
Roles Self
Rating75% 3.7954053.7954053.7954053.7954053.795405
The film focuses on Clash's early career in Baltimore, Maryland. It covers his meeting and interactions with Sesame Street creator Jim Henson, puppet maker Kermit Love, and the phenomenal success of Elmo. (Clash joined Sesame Street in 1984. He resigned from Sesame Street in 2012 amid allegations of improper sexual conduct with minors, which he denied. This was not included in the documentary since it was released before the accusations were made.)
The Muppets, 1h38
Directed by James Bobin
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical, Animation, Romance
Themes Films about films, Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Musical films, Road movies, Children's films
Actors Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, Zach Galifianakis, Jim Parsons
Roles The Snowths (voice) (archive footage)
Rating70% 3.5469053.5469053.5469053.5469053.546905
Brothers Walter and Gary, residents of Smalltown, are fans of the Muppets, having watched The Muppet Show throughout their youth. Now adults, Gary plans a vacation to Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Mary, to celebrate their tenth anniversary, inviting Walter so he can tour the Muppet Studios. Mary feels Gary's devotion to Walter is detracting from their relationship.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, 2h20
Directed by George Lucas, David Tattersall
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Pregnancy films, Monde imaginaire, Films about sexuality, Dans l'espace, Sur une planète fictive, Films about extraterrestrial life, Political films, Dystopian films, Space opera, Children's films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films
Actors Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, James Earl Jones, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson
Roles Yoda (voice)
Rating75% 3.798443.798443.798443.798443.79844
During a space battle over Coruscant between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker lead a mission to rescue the kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from Separatist commander General Grievous. After infiltrating Grievous' flagship, the Jedi engage Count Dooku in a lightsaber duel, which ends with Anakin killing Dooku at Palpatine's urging. Grievous flees the battle-torn cruiser, which the Jedi crash-land on Coruscant. There, Anakin reunites with his wife, Padmé Amidala, who reveals she is pregnant. Initially excited, Anakin begins to have premonitions of Padmé dying in childbirth.
Zathura: A Space Adventure, 1h41
Directed by Jon Favreau
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantastic, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films about children, Space adventure films, Films about families, Jeu, Films based on science fiction novels, Films about extraterrestrial life, Space opera, Children's films, Films about extraterrestrial life
Actors Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo, Dax Shepard, Kristen Stewart, Tim Robbins, Frank Oz
Roles Robot (voice)
Rating62% 3.102893.102893.102893.102893.10289
Brothers Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Danny (Jonah Bobo) can never seem to get along with each other, or with their older teen-aged sister, Lisa (Kristen Stewart). While staying at their divorced father's home while he is away at work and Lisa is asleep, the boys discover an old clockwork-driven space-themed board game called "Zathura" in the basement. The two begin to play the game, the goal to be the first to reach the final space named Zathura. During each turn, the game provides a card with instructions, but the two quickly realize the cards affect reality, starting with a meteor shower. They soon discover the house is floating on a small rock in outer space. Meanwhile, Lisa looks out the window, and believing it is merely dark, goes to shower for her date. When the boys try to warn Lisa about what has happened, they find she is frozen in cryonic sleep as a result of one of the cards. The brothers realize that the only way to end the game and hopefully return to Earth is to reach the end space of Zathura.
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy, 2h30
Directed by Kevin Burns
Origin USA
Genres Documentary
Themes Films about films, Space adventure films, Dans l'espace, Documentary films about business, Documentary films about the film industry, Films about extraterrestrial life, Documentary films about films, Space opera, Films about extraterrestrial life
Actors Robert Clotworthy, Kenny Baker, Ben Burtt, Walter Cronkite, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg
Roles Self
Rating82% 4.134274.134274.134274.134274.13427
L'Empire des Rêves relate l'épopée que fût la création de la première trilogie Star Wars. Des tous premières ébauches de scénario dans l'esprit de son créateur George Lucas jusqu'au succès qu'on connaît à la saga, ce documentaire nous entraine dans les coulisses d'un tournage tantôt chaotique, tantôt enivrant, racontés par les acteurs, les membres de la production, et George Lucas lui-même.
Hey Arnold! The Movie, 1h16
Directed by Tuck Tucker
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Animation
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Children's films
Actors Paul Sorvino, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Francesca Smith, Jamil Walker Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Tress MacNeille
Roles Buttler
Rating59% 2.9622952.9622952.9622952.9622952.962295
Arriving home from a basketball game, Arnold and his best friend Gerald learn that a man named Scheck, the CEO of FutureTech Industries (FTI), has announced plans to redevelop the entire neighborhood as a luxurious high-rise shopping mall. That night, Helga discovers that her father, Big Bob, is working with FTI to build a new super-sized branch of his beeper store in the proposed mall. Helga tells her father that their neighbors are going to suffer if he builds his store. Big Bob argues that his store is a good thing, because the Patakis will become extremely wealthy. Helga ultimately sides with her father, though is hesitant to do so due to her love for Arnold.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, 2h22
Directed by George Lucas
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Romance
Themes Space adventure films, Monde imaginaire, Dans l'espace, Sur une planète fictive, Films about extraterrestrial life, Space opera, Children's films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films
Actors Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee
Roles Yoda (voice)
Rating65% 3.2996553.2996553.2996553.2996553.299655
Ten years after the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo, the Galactic Republic is threatened by a Separatist movement organized by former Jedi Master Count Dooku. Senator Padmé Amidala comes to Coruscant to vote on a plan to create an army of the Republic to assist the Jedi against this threat. Narrowly avoiding an assassination attempt upon arrival, she is placed under the protection of Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker. The two Jedi thwart another attempt on her life and subdue the assassin, Zam Wesell, a shape-shifter who is killed by her bounty hunter client with a toxic dart before she can reveal his identity. The Jedi Council assigns Obi-Wan to identify and capture the bounty hunter, while Anakin is assigned to escort Padmé back to Naboo, where the two fall in love.