Frank Oz

Born: 25th May 1944
Where: Hereford, England, UK

The accompished puppeteer, bit part actor, voice of Star Wars' Yoda and respected director enjoys one the most richly diverse careers in Hollywood.

Born to parents whose hobby was puppetry, Oz began putting on his own shows by the age of 12.

After studying journalism, he was recruited by Jim Henson at a West Coast convention of puppeteers in 1963.

A long time associate of the late Muppet creator, Oz's professional career took off when he worked on Sesame Street, where he operated and voiced the likes of Grover and The Cookie Monster.

Oz continued with Henson on The Muppet Show, then broke into features in 1979 with The Muppet Movie.

This paved the way for his vocal star turn as Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Phantom Menace.

He also found time for acting cameos in the films of his director friend John Landis.

These began with his role in The Blues Brothers and went on to include An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, Spies Like Us, Innocent Blood and Blues Brothers 2000.

In the director's chair, he made his debut co-directing with Henson for The Dark Crystal, after which he went solo with The Muppets Take Manhattan, which he also co-wrote.

The musical remake of Little Shop of Horrors proved Oz an able director, and marked his first collaboration with comic actor Steve Martin - their subsequent projects included Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Bowfinger and Housesitter.

Following Henson's death in 1990, Frank debuted as executive producer on The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island, directed by Henson's son Brian.

He went back to the director's chair with The Score, starring Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando and Edward Norton, then reprised his role as Yoda for Star Wars - Attack of the Clones.

Recent work includes the enjoyable remake of The Stepford Wives, starring Nicole Kidman and Glenn Close.