Frank Oz (born May 25, 1944) is an American film director, actor and puppeteer.

Has appeared in many of director John Landis (I)'s films as a good luck charm of sorts. He didn't appear in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) and Landis had plenty of bad luck during that film. In Trading Places (1983) he plays a cop taking an inventory of Dan Aykroyd's personal items, ironically reprising his role from Blues Brothers, The (1980), where he took an inventory of the other Blues Brother's personal items, John Belushi, as Belushi was being freed from jail.

Often works with Steve Martin (I) (Muppet Movie, The (1979), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), HouseSitter (1992), Bowfinger (1999)).

The middle 3 letters of his car's license plate are "PYK", for Piggy, Yoda and Kermit. It is believed to be a coincidence, because it is a standard DMV-issued license plate, not a vanity plate.

Is a recipient of the prestigious Connor Award, given by the brothers of the Phi Alpha Tau fraternity based out of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also an honourary brother of the fraternity.

"Muppet Show, The" (1976) character "Fozzie Bear" is actually not named after Frank Oz, as is widely believed. "Fozzie Bear" is named after "Muppet Show, The" (1976) builder Faz Fazakas.

Uncle of Michelle Oznowicz and Jenny Oznowicz.

Though Yoda only appears in two episodes of the original Star Wars trilogy, Oz managed to make three movies with Carrie Fisher by appearing with her in Blues Brothers, The (1980), the same year that Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) was released. Then, in addition to working with Leia's on-screen mother, Natalie Portman in all three prequels, he also directed Carrie Fisher's real-life mother, Debbie Reynolds (I), in In & Out (1997).

Attended Jim Henson (I)'s funeral.

Has directed two of his Star Wars cast mates in otherwise unrelated films: Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine/Darth Sidious) appeared in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) and Terence Stamp (Supreme Chancellor Valorum) appeared in Bowfinger (1999).

George Lucas was so impressed by Frank Oz's performance as Yoda in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), that he spent thousands of dollars on an advertising campaign to try and get him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Was replaced by John Lithgow in the radio adaptations of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). Lithgow also appeared in the Broadway musical based on Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988).

One of his first performing duties for "Muppet Show, The" (1976) was performing Rowlf's right hand on "Jimmy Dean Show, The" (1963).

1961: Met Jim Henson (I) in Asilomar, California.

His mother was Flemish and his father Dutch.