Steve Whitmire (born September 24, 1959 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American puppeteer actor and performer. In 1978 began his career at the age of 20. He replaced Jim Henson's muppet characters. He is performer for Kermit, and many other characters that Jim Henson preformed. He has also preformed rizzo. He is married to Mellisa Whitmire. He has also preformed Ernie on Sesame Street.

Filmography
The Muppet Show as Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Foo-Foo, Billy Boy, Caveman, Geri & the Atrics tuba player, Leo (episode 403: Shields & Yarnell), Rowlf the Dog (occasional, hands only), Security Guard, The Snorers' Chorus member, Thog (episode 502), Timmy Monster (occasional, voice in episode 423), Trevor the Gross, The White Rabbit, Winky Pinkerton (episode 308: Loretta Lynn), Zeke (1979 - ca. 1980s)
The Muppet Movie as The Muppet Movie: Kermit the Frog (assistant for "The RAINBOW Connection" number)
The Great Muppet Caper as Rizzo the Rat and Lips
The Muppets Take Manhattan as Rizzo the Rat, Gil, Dogs
The Christmas Toy as Mew
The Jim Henson Hour as Flash, Jacques Roach, Waldo C. Graphic, Yellow Extreme, Bean Bunny, Foo-Foo
The Muppets at Walt Disney World as Bean Bunny, Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Foo-Foo, Sprocket
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson as Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, & Kermit the Frog
Muppet*Vision 3D as Waldo C. Graphic, Bean Bunny, & Rizzo the Rat
The Muppet Christmas Carol as Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Kermit the Frog (as Bob Cratchit), Beaker, Belinda Cratchit, Laundress, Lips, Sprocket, Whatnots, Rats, Inkspots, Pig Businessman
Muppet Meeting Films as Flunky, Kermit the Frog, Mr. Briteweight
Billy Bunny’s Animal Songs as Kermit the Frog
Sesame Street Stays Up Late as Ernie
Sesame Street as Ernie (1993 - 2014), Kermit the Frog (1996 - 2001; 2009), Dr. Feel, Guy Smiley (Season 32)
Muppet Sing-A-Long: It’s Not Easy Being Green as Kermit the Frog
Jim Henson’s The Animal Show with Stinky & Jake as Jake the Polar Bear
Muppet Classic Theater as Rizzo the Rat and Kermit the Frog
Muppets on Wheels as Kermit the Frog
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree as Kermit the Frog
Muppet Treasure Island as Kermit the Frog (as Captain Abraham Smollett), Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Walleye Pike, Jacques Roach, Inkspots, The Dodo, Rats
Things That Fly as Kermit the Frog, Co-Pilot
Muppets Tonight as Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Andy Pig, George the Janitor, Captain Pighead, Eugene, Lash Holstein, Miss Weatherington, Mr. Poodlepants, Meepzorp, Bug Llewelyn, Farm person, Pigeons, Nigel's Mom, Alphonso D'Bruzzo
Elmo Saves Christmas as Kermit the Frog
123 Count with ME as Ernie
Quiet Time as Ernie
Elmopalooza as Ernie and Kermit the Frog
The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street as Kermit the Frog
Muppets from Space as Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Cosmic Fish, Beach Hippie
The Adventures of Elmo in GROUCHland as Ernie, Bad Humor Man, Sharon Groan, Stuckweed, Football Stenchman
CinderElmo as Ernie, Kermit the Frog, Prince the Dog
Muppet RaceMania as Kermit the Frog, Link Hogthrob, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Gil, Flange Doozer
Play With Me Sesame as Ernie (Seasons 1 & 3)
Bert & Ernie’s Word Play as Ernie, Lead Singer of The Frosty Four, Mo, Troll
Kermit’s Swamp Years as Kermit the Frog, Young Kermit, Jack Rabbit, Chico
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie as Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Mr. Poodlepants, Statler (1 line) & 1 of the Elvises
Talk, Read, Write as The King of Reading & Writing
Muppets Party Cruise as Kermit the Frog, Link Hogthrob, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Andy Pig
The Muppets ' Wizard of Oz as Kermit the Frog (as the Scarecrow), Rizzo the Rat (as the Mayor of Munchkinland), Beaker, Statler (as Kalidah Critic), Bean Bunny
Statler & Waldorf: From the Balcony as Statler (episodes 1-8)
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium as Kermit the Frog
Disney Xtreme Digital as Kermit the Frog, The Newsman, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Statler, Bean Bunny, Singing Food, Turkey
Count on Sports as Ernie
Studio DC : Almost Live as Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker & Statler
Abby in Wonderland as Ernie
A Muppets Christmas as Letters to Santa: Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker & Statler
Bohemian Rhapsody as Kermit the Frog, The Newsman, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, & Statler
Christmas in Rockefeller Center as Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat & Lips
The Muppets as Kermit the Frog, Link Hogthrob, The Newsman, Lips, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, & Statler
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as Kermit the Frog ("When the River Meets the Sea")
Muppets Most Wanted as Kermit the Frog, Link Hogthrob, The Newsman, Lips, Rizzo the Rat, Foo-Foo, Beaker, & Statler
Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular as Kermit the Frog, Lips, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, & Statler
Just for Laughs as Kermit the Frog, Beaker, & Statler
The Muppets as Kermit the Frog, Link Hogthrob, The Newsman, Lips, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, & Statler

References

1959 births
Living people
American television actors
Actors from Atlanta, Georgia
Muppets
American puppeteers