Frank Richard Oznowicz, born in Hereford, England, to puppeteers Frances and Isidore Oznowicz, later relocated to Montana in 1951 and eventually settled in Oakland, California. As a teenager, Oz worked as an apprentice puppeteer at Children's Fairyland amusement park, laying the groundwork for his future career.
Oz's significant contributions to the world of puppetry include his role in developing Jim Henson's Sesame Street (1969) and The Muppet Show (1976),as well as over 75 other Muppet productions. His impressive portfolio also includes his work on various Muppet projects, showcasing his exceptional skill and dedication to the craft.
The renowned director and puppeteer George Lucas initially considered Oz for the role of Yoda in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980),but ultimately decided to recommend Oz for the part instead. Oz's portrayal of Yoda earned him widespread recognition, and he continued to voice and puppet the character in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
In addition to his work on the Star Wars franchise, Oz voiced the computer-generated Yoda in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005),facilitating the transition of the character's rendering to digital. The Blu-Ray edition of The Phantom Menace (2011) replaced the puppet Yoda with CGI to match the other prequel films.
Oz's impressive filmography also includes his work as a director and puppeteer on several notable projects. He co-directed The Dark Crystal (1982) with Jim Henson, and went on to direct The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984),Little Shop of Horrors (1986),Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988),What About Bob? (1991),The Indian in the Cupboard (1995),Bowfinger (1999),The Score (2001),The Stepford Wives (2004),and Death at a Funeral (2007).
