| Steve Whitmire | |
| Birth Name: | Steven Lawrence Whitmire |
| Birth Date: | 24 September 1959 |
| Birth Place: | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.[1] |
| Occupation: | Puppeteer |
| Years Active: | 1978–present |
| Spouse: | [2] |
| Signature: | Steve Whitmire signature.svg |
Steven Lawrence Whitmire (born September 24, 1959) is an American puppeteer, known primarily for his work on The Muppets and Sesame Street. Beginning his involvement with the Muppets in 1978,[3] Whitmire originated the roles of Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Wembley Fraggle, and Bean Bunny. He also inherited the roles of Kermit the Frog and Ernie after Jim Henson's death in 1990; he performed the characters until 2016 and 2014, respectively.[4] In later years, he also performed Statler and Beaker. As part of the Muppet cast, he has appeared in multiple feature films and television series, performing a variety of characters on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock and during such occupations has been employed by the Jim Henson Company, Sesame Workshop, and the Muppets Studio.
Whitmire first appeared (unpaid) at a pre-show event at Six Flags Over Georgia. He performed with his then alter-ego puppet Otis for the children waiting to see a multimedia show.
Before graduating high school, Whitmire had his first "professional" puppeteering job using Otis at "The World of Sid & Marty Krofft" in Atlanta, the first indoor theme park. From there Whitmire appeared on local Atlanta TV live for 2 1/2 hours every day on "The Kids Show with Otis" taking telephone calls from children and adults. The show received more than 2000 calls per hour. WATL was owned at that time by former Atlanta children's television host "Officer Don" Kennedy. Otis made appearances on various WATL 36 shows with Atlanta's Ludlow Porch, performing with the Georgia Bulldogs' Larry Munson, Don Kennedy, and Entertainment Page host Artie Goodman. As Otis, Whitmire interviewed Olivia Newton-John during a tour promoting an album.
He worked with puppets after graduating high school, and eventually got a job working on The Muppet Show in 1978. Since then, Whitmire performed in almost every major Henson company project, including non-Muppet projects such as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and Dinosaurs.[5]
Whitmire was the second performer of two signature Muppets—Kermit the Frog and Ernie—after the death of their creator and original performer Jim Henson in 1990.[6] Whitmire was personally asked by Brian Henson and Jane Henson to be Kermit's performer a few weeks after Jim Henson's death. Heather Henson arranged for a Kermit puppet to be sent to Whitmire's residence; however, Whitmire hid the puppet away for weeks before deciding on taking on the role.[7] [8] Following Richard Hunt's death and Jerry Nelson's retirement, Whitmire took over the roles of Beaker and Statler, respectively.[9] In 2014, Billy Barkhurst took over the role of Ernie,[10] with Peter Linz taking over that role in 2017.[11] According to Whitmire, the decision to recast Ernie was due to Sesame Street facing budget restructuring at the time and it was getting too expensive to fly him to New York for filming.[12]
Muppet characters original to Whitmire include Rizzo the Rat,[13] [14] Lips (the trumpet player from Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem), Miss Piggy's dog Foo-Foo, Wembley Fraggle and Sprocket the Dog on Fraggle Rock, and Bean Bunny, a character that originated in the television special The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (1986).
Whitmire voiced Link Hogthrob in the Muppet RaceMania and Muppets Party Cruise video games. He also performed Link for the 2011 film The Muppets. This was the first speaking appearance of the character since the death of Jim Henson, the original performer of Link. Whitmire also performed him in the 2014 film Muppets Most Wanted. In 2008, he took over another of Jim Henson's roles, The Muppet Newsman.
In July 2017, the Muppets Studio announced that Whitmire was no longer involved with the Muppets and that fellow Muppet performer Matt Vogel was cast as Kermit's new performer.[15] Whitmire stated that he was dismissed from his roles in October 2016 because of undisclosed issues that he said had not been discussed before his dismissal. In their decision-making, Disney (the parent company of the Muppets Studio) consulted the Henson family, who supported the recasting of Kermit and Whitmire's dismissal.[16]
Brian Henson stated that issues with Whitmire began in the mid-1990s, and that he had warned Whitmire that his behavior needed to stop. He said that Whitmire would make "outrageous demands and often played brinkmanship", mentioning that "Steve would use 'I am now Kermit and if you want the Muppets, you better make me happy because the Muppets are Kermit.' And that is really not OK."[17] He additionally stated that Whitmire would "send emails and letters attacking everyone, attacking the writing and attacking the director". He also expressed guilt for not dismissing Whitmire and recasting Kermit before selling the Muppets to Disney in 2004, "because I knew that it was going to be a real problem". Lisa Henson stated that Whitmire was opposed to having an understudy for Kermit and refused to train one, which became problematic when it came to "B-level performances, such as a ribbon-cutting," at some of which she said he was unwilling to appear. She also stated that he "blackballed young performers" by refusing to appear in shows with them. Cheryl Henson stated "Steve is very difficult to work with, and it's been many years of being difficult, particularly for the producers".[18]
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that same month, Whitmire stated he was dismissed for disagreements over Kermit's characterization and prolonged labor union negotiations between Disney and SAG-AFTRA (of which Whitmire is a member) that delayed his involvement in Muppet productions.[19] Whitmire alleged that Disney offered him what he called "consolation prizes" if he voluntarily left, including honoring him as a Disney Legend, under the public pretense that he would be retiring from performing.[20] In a statement released to The New York Times, Debbie McClellan, then-head of the Muppets Studio, said that they "raised concerns about Steve’s repeated unacceptable business conduct over a period of many years, and he consistently failed to address the feedback". Whitmire expressed an interest in making amends and resuming his role with the Muppets in the future if possible.[21] [22]
In a 2017 episode of the Defunctland Podcast, Terri Hardin, longtime Muppet performer, alleged that Whitmire was fired for wanting to keep the integrity of the Muppet characters, and was smeared as "a diva" and "hard to work with" to justify his firing.[23] [24] In a 2017 interview, Frank Oz stated "with Stevie it's so sad, because the situation with Stevie was a pure business situation, as I understand it. I'd worked with Stevie since he was 18 years old, and on the floor he's terrific. We had a lot of fun. So when he's actually on the floor — I think it was something outside that. And it's very sad."[25]
In June 1978, Whitmire married his wife Melissa. They met during his senior year at Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Georgia.[26] [27] They live in Atlanta, Georgia.
| Film credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | The Muppet Movie | Additional Muppet performer, man attending Bogen County Fair (on-screen cameo) | Puppeteer |
| 1981 | The Great Muppet Caper | Rizzo the Rat, Lips | Puppeteer/voice |
| 1982 | The Dark Crystal | skekTek the Scientist | Puppeteer |
| 1984 | The Muppets Take Manhattan | Rizzo the Rat, Gil the Frog, Dog, additional characters | Puppeteer/voice |
| 1985 | Dreamchild | The Caterpillar, Mock Turtle | Puppeteer only |
| 1986 | Labyrinth | The Four Guards, Firey 4, Ambrosius | |
| 1987 | A Muppet Family Christmas | Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Wembley Fraggle, Sprocket the Dog, and Christmas Turkey | Puppeteer/voice |
| 1990 | The Witches | Luke Mouse | Puppeteer Only |
| 1992 | The Muppet Christmas Carol | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Lips, Sprocket, Beaker, Belinda Cratchit, Laundress, additional characters | Puppeteer/voice |
| 1993 | Billy Bunny's Animal Songs | Kermit the Frog | |
| 1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog, Beaker, The Dodo, Walleye Pike, Inkspots, Rats | |
| 1997 | 123 Count with Me | Ernie | |
| 1998 | Elmopalooza | Ernie, Kermit the Frog | |
| 1999 | Muppets from Space | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Cosmic Fish #1, Alien Gonzo, Rainbow the Beach Hippie (on-screen cameo) | |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Ernie, Bad Humor Man, Football Stenchman, Sharon Groan, Stuckweed, Parrot | |
| 1999 | CinderElmo | Ernie, Kermit the Frog, and Prince the Dog | |
| 2002 | Kermit's Swamp Years | Kermit the Frog, Young Kermit, Chico, Jack Rabbit | |
| 2002 | It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Mr. Poodlepants | |
| 2005 | The Muppets' Wizard of Oz | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler, Bean Bunny, Audience Member at Aunt Em's Diner (on-screen cameo) | |
| 2007 | Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium | Kermit the Frog | |
| 2008 | Sesame Street: Abby in Wonderland | Ernie (as Tweedledum) | |
| 2011 | The Muppets | Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Rizzo the Rat, Statler, Link Hogthrob, The Muppet Newsman, Lips | |
| 2014 | Muppets Most Wanted | Kermit the Frog, Foo-Foo, Statler, Beaker, Lips, Rizzo the Rat, Link Hogthrob, The Muppet Newsman, Andy Pig, gulag prisoner (on-screen cameo) | |
| Television credits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes | |
| 1978–1981 | The Muppet Show | Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Foo-Foo, Fletcher Bird (voice), additional characters | Performer | |
| 1979 | The Muppets Go Hollywood | Additional characters, extra | Performer/actor | |
| 1979 | Additional characters | Performer | ||
| 1982 | The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show | Rizzo the Rat, back-up singer, additional characters | Performer/actor | |
| 1983–1987 | Fraggle Rock | Wembley Fraggle, Sprocket, Marlon Fraggle, Flange Doozer, Murray the Minstrel, Papa Tree Creature, Phil Fraggle (puppetry only), Crusty Doozer | Performer | |
| 1983 | Rocky Mountain Holiday | Rizzo the Rat, Giant Man Eating Chicken | ||
| 1986 | Rizzo the Rat, additional characters | |||
| 1986 | The Christmas Toy | Mew | ||
| 1986 | The Tale of the Bunny Picnic | Bean Bunny | ||
| 1987 | A Muppet Family Christmas | Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Sprocket, Christmas Turkey, Wembley Fraggle | ||
| 1987 | Inner Tube | Henry, Duke | Performer, unaired pilot | |
| 1989 | The Jim Henson Hour | Bean Bunny, Flash, Jacques Roach, Waldo C. Graphic, Yellow Extreme, additional characters | Performer | |
| 1990 | The Muppets at Walt Disney World | Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Lips, Foo Foo, Sprocket | ||
| 1993–2014 | Sesame Street | Ernie (1993–2014), Kermit the Frog (1996–2001; 2009), Dr. Feel and Additional characters | Performer/voice | |
| 1990 | The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson | Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Kermit the Frog | Performer | |
| 1991–1994 | Dinosaurs | B.P. Richfield (puppetry), Robbie Sinclair (face), Chief Elder (face), Mr. Mason Dixon, Sonny Woody, Blarney, Judge H.T. Stone (puppetry) | Performer/puppeteer | |
| 1992–1993 | Muppet Meeting Films | Flunky, Mr. Briteweight, Kermit the Frog | Performer | |
| 1993 | Sesame Street Stays Up Late! | Ernie | ||
| 1994 | Jim Henson's Animal Show | Jake the Polar Bear, Wingo the Shoebill, Lawrence the Orangutan | ||
| 1994 | Muppet Classic Theater | Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog | ||
| 1995 | Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree | Bear, Kermit the Frog, Owl | ||
| 1996–1998 | Muppets Tonight | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Captain Pighead, Andy Pig, Mr. Poodlepants, additional characters | ||
| 1998-2009 | Elmo's World | Ernie, Kermit the Frog | ||
| 2001 | Family Feud | Kermit | Performer/Guest Contestant | |
| 2002-2007 | Play With Me Sesame | Ernie | Performer (Season 1 only and Season 3 for non-US markets, excluding Season 2) | |
| 2008 | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler, Bean Bunny, Foo-Foo | Performer | ||
| 2008 | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler | |||
| 2011 | WWE Raw | Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Statler | Puppeteer | |
| 2012 | WWE Tribute to the Troops | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat | Puppeteer | |
| 2012 | 30 Rock | Kermit the Frog | Puppeteer, Episode: "My Whole Life Is Thunder" | |
| 2013 | Good Luck Charlie | Kermit the Frog | Puppeteer/Guest Star, Episode: "Duncan Dream House" | |
| 2013 | Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular | Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Rizzo the Rat, Statler | Performer | |
| 2015 | Muppet Moments | Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Rizzo the Rat, Statler, Sheep, Andy Pig, Foo-Foo, The Muppet Newsman | ||
| 2015–2016 | The Muppets | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler, Lips, The Muppet Newsman, Andy Pig | ||
| 2021 | Lego Masters | Willy | Performer, (2 episodes) | |
| Video games | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Muppet Treasure Island | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Walleye Pike | Voice role[28] |
| 1996 | The Muppets CD-Rom: Muppets Inside | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker | |
| 1999 | Sesame Street: Baby and Me | Ernie | |
| 1999 | Elmo's Number Journey | Ernie | |
| 1999 | Elmo's Letter Adventure | Ernie | |
| 1999 | Sesame Street: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Football Stenchman | |
| 1999 | Sesame Street Music Maker | Ernie | |
| 2000 | Sesame Street: Ernie's Adventure in Space | Ernie | |
| 2000 | Muppet Race Mania | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Gil, Link Hogthrob, Flange Doozer | |
| 2000 | Muppet Monster Adventure | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker | |
| 2001 | Sesame Street Sports | Ernie | |
| 2002 | Sesame Street Preschool | Ernie | |
| 2003 | Muppets Party Cruise | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Andy Pig, Bean Bunny, Link Hogthrob | |
| 2006 | Bert and Ernie's Imagination Adventure | Ernie | |
| Other credits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes | |
| 1991 | Muppet*Vision 3D | Waldo C. Graphic, Bean Bunny, Rizzo the Rat | Performer, theme park film | |
| 2005–2006 | Statler (Ep. 1-8) | Performer | ||
| 2008–2009 | Muppet YouTube Shorts | Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler, Rabbits, Pumpkins, Penguins, Turkey | ||
| 2010 | Disney's Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade | Kermit the Frog | Voice, theme park parade | |
| 2010 | The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora | Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Andy Pig, Foo-Foo, The Muppet Newsman | Performer | |
| 2013–2014 | Muppisodes[29] | Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Rizzo the Rat, Statler | ||
| 2014 | Disney Drive-On with The Muppets[30] | Kermit the Frog | ||
| 2016 | The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History | Kermit the Frog | Voice, theme park show | |
| 2019–2022 | CAVE-iN | Weldon the I.T. Guy | Performer, Internet videos | |
