Steve Whitmire

300px|thumb|Whitmire performing on The Dark Crystal.
thumb|300px|Whitmire and Tippi Hedren.
Steve Whitmire (b. September 24, 1959) is a puppeteer who started working for The Jim Henson Company on March 24, 1978 (his 18½ birthday).ToughPigs forum - At the UK premiere of Muppets Most Wanted on March 24, 2014, Whitmire told the audience that it had been exactly 36 years since he joined the Muppets. His career with the Muppets began on The Muppet Show, where he developed his first major character, Rizzo the Rat. Other main characters included Bean Bunny and, on Fraggle Rock, Wembley Fraggle and Sprocket. When Jim Henson passed away in 1990, Whitmire was selected to take over the roles of Kermit the Frog and Ernie. Following Richard Hunt's death and Jerry Nelson's retirement, he took over the roles of Beaker and Statler, respectively. His wife, Melissa Whitmire, has also puppeteered on occasion.
In July 2017 it was reported that Whitmire's tenure with The Muppets had ended in October 2016, and that Matt Vogel would take over performing duties of Kermit the Frog. (see Leaving the Muppets)
==Early Years==
Born near Atlanta, Georgia, Steve Whitmire became interested in puppetry in his childhood, around the time that Sesame Street began airing in 1969. Whitmire recalled, "I wrote a letter to Jim Henson at the time, and he wrote back. It's an amazing thing for a ten-year-old to get a letter back from a TV star."Interview with Berkmar High School Newspaper Building on that early enthusiasm, Whitmire created his own puppets and performed throughout high school, even winning the school talent show on one occasion. After graduating high school, he briefly puppeteered at local theme park The World of Sid and Marty Krofft, performing his own character Otis the Beach Bum, and later co-hosted The Kid's Show with his best friend Gary Koepke for WATL in Atlanta, which was nominated for a state Emmy Award.Plume, Kenneth Muppet Central interview
Whitmire first made contact with the Muppets through Caroll Spinney, whom he met at the Southeastern Regional Puppetry Festival in 1977. That fall, Spinney informed Whitmire that auditions were being held for puppeteers for Sesame Street; upon calling the Henson offices, Whitmire learned that Jane Henson was coming to Atlanta the following week to inspect the Kermit balloon for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and that she could meet with him while there. After seeing Whitmire perform, she recommended him to Jim Henson, who eventually formally auditioned him and asked him to join the performers on The Muppet Show. His first day of performing was March 24, 1978.
==From Right-Handing to Regular==
Whitmire slowly became a major performer. On The Muppet Show, he often performed one-shot characters, right hands, and filled in when two of another performer's characters were in the same scene (for example, if Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy were in a scene together, Whitmire would generally perform Fozzie). He was given his own recurring characters, such as Foo-Foo, Rizzo the Rat, and Lips, all of whom were minor characters on The Muppet Show, with very little dialogue.
Whitmire became one of the core Muppet performers since performing on The Muppet Show and received his own major characters on Fraggle Rock, where he performed Sprocket and Wembley Fraggle, and the semi-recurring role of Marlon Fraggle. He would also add more characters to his repertoire over the years, performing many roles on The Jim Henson Hour, and Rizzo the Rat would gradually become a core member of the main cast.
==The 1980s==
Following the end of The Muppet Show, Whitmire continued to work within the Henson fold. He performed the Skeksis Scientist in The Dark Crystal, and was one of only two puppeteers who both operated and voiced his characters, the other being Brian Muehl. (Jerry Nelson also did vocal work on the movie, but did not puppeteer.) Whitmire commented on this: 
In addition to rising to the ranks of main performers with Fraggle Rock, Whitmire co-composed the music for two songs with Philip Balsam for the episode "The Bells of Fraggle Rock": "Weeba Weeba" and "The Festival of the Bells."The Encyclopedia Fragglia Whitmire reflected in a Muppet Central interview about his involvement, which was the result of collaborating with Balsam: 
Whitmire was a lead puppeteer for the 1986 Henson film Labyrinth, operating Ambrosius (with Kevin Clash) and one of the Fireys. In specials, he performed the starring roles of Mew in The Christmas Toy and Bean Bunny in The Tale of the Bunny Picnic. For a time, Bean Bunny became a main character in the Muppet cast, starting with The Jim Henson Hour, for which Whitmire also performed a variety of other characters, including Flash and Waldo C. Graphic. Whitmire also appeared on-screen as himself in "Secrets of the Muppets."
==Television Work in the 1990s==
Whitmire performed many characters on Dinosaurs, most notably B.P. Richfield and the face of Robbie Sinclair (with voices later looped) and was also heard as various one-shot hand puppet characters, such as Mr. Mason Dixon. Following the end of the series in 1994, he was paired with Dave Goelz as the title duo on Jim Henson's Animal Show with Stinky and Jake, playing Jake and various other characters.
In addition to reprising Kermit, Rizzo, and Beaker on Muppets Tonight, Whitmire also performed the regular roles of Andy Pig and Mr. Poodlepants.
==Continuing Kermit and Others==
Steve Whitmire took on the role of Kermit the Frog after the death of Jim Henson, starting in The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. Although The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson was his first on-screen performance as Kermit, he considers The Muppet Christmas Carol to be his first real production as Kermit.
Later, Whitmire learned that there was consideration of him performing Kermit even before Henson's death:
When it was decided that Steve Whitmire would take over as the frog, Heather Henson arranged for a Kermit puppet to be sent to Atlanta for Whitmire to practice performing. Whitmire thought that the puppet smelled like Jim Henson, and although he put the puppet on once, he couldn't get himself to go near it and try out a voice for months. Eventually, Brian Henson called and asked him to do something with Kermit, record it on tape, and send it to him, so Whitmire performed Kermit singing "Bein' Green."
Regarding his first performance as Kermit, Whitmire has said:
One of the hardest things that Steve Whitmire had to do in The Muppet Christmas Carol was pre-record Kermit's voice for all of the songs first, as he recalled in an interview with Muppet Central:
After Richard Hunt's death, he took over as Beaker:
Whitmire joined Sesame Street in 1993, when it was decided to permanently recast Ernie, although Jim Henson had originally auditioned him for the series years earlier. His first performance as Ernie was a fishing sketch with Bert, and he transitioned into the role on a more regular basis. According to Whitmire, 
Although John Tartaglia substituted during the second season of Play with Me Sesame, Whitmire continued to perform Ernie on Sesame Street and in other projects at least once a year until 2014, when he was succeeded by Billy Barkhurst and later Peter Linz. According to Whitmire, the decision to recast Ernie was due to the show facing budget restructuring at the time and it getting too expensive to fly him to New York (where the show was filmed).stevewhitmire.website Post #25 September 9, 2017
In contrast to his regular Sesame Street work as Ernie, Whitmire's performances as Kermit the Frog were much less frequent on the show. Among the notable exceptions are a sketch where Kermit teaches Grover the difference between light and dark (Episode 3784), Kermit reporting on Slimey landing on the moon (Episode 3740), Kermit reporting on Slimey returning home (Episode 3785), in the song "Everybody Be Yo'Self" and reporting on the hurricane that hit Sesame Street (Episode 3976). Whitmire has, however, performed Kermit in the Sesame Street specials Elmopalooza, Elmo Saves Christmas, CinderElmo, and the direct-to-video The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street. He also performed Kermit for his cameo appearance in the "Frogs" episode of Elmo's World.
In the early 2000s, he started performing Statler, beginning with the Weezer music video "Keep Fishin'." Whitmire puppeteered him in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie while Jerry Nelson looped the voice later; one of Whitmire's lines, "Historical landmark," remained un-looped. Following Nelson's retirement from the role, Steve Whitmire took over as Statler (with the notable exception of From the Balcony, where Drew Massey assumed the role from the ninth episode onward). In an interview, Whitmire talked about playing Statler:
In 2008, new Muppet video content was added to Disney Extreme Digital, where in addition to continuing to perform Kermit and Rizzo, Steve Whitmire also took over as the Newsman.
In September 2009, Whitmire took an unexpected leave from performing Kermit, for appearances on America's Got Talent and the MTV Video Music Awards. Kermit was briefly performed by Artie Esposito in these instances. Whitmire returned to the role at a press conference for Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.
Whitmire has stated that he doesn't think he could have taken over Jim Henson's characters if he had not worked with Henson for so many years.Louise Gikow, Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street, page 135
==Steve Whitmire and Dave Goelz==
As acknowledged by Whitmire in interviews, he and Dave Goelz work very well together. The aforementioned Bunsen and Beaker pairing was not the only time the two would work together as a team. On Fraggle Rock, Whitmire's Wembley often found himself paired off with Goelz as Boober, and they played Mew and Rugby respectively in The Christmas Toy.
Gonzo and Rizzo have become an almost inseparable team over the years, beginning with The Muppet Christmas Carol. In the same film, Goelz and Whitmire were paired as Betina and Belinda Cratchit, doing variations of Frank Oz's Miss Piggy.
On Muppets Tonight, the two remained paired as Piggy's nephews, Andy and Randy Pig. Whitmire took over the role of Beaker, playing off Goelz's Bunsen. Whitmire also took over the role of Statler, playing off Waldorf, whom Dave Goelz has performed since 1992, and during the 1990s, the two performed the duo Jake and Stinky on The Animal Show.
==Leaving the Muppets==
In July 2017, ToughPigs.com released a statement from Disney that Whitmire was no longer involved with the Muppets and that longtime Muppet performer Matt Vogel would take over performing Kermit, beginning with a Muppet Thought of the Week video (planned for the following week, but delayed until August).ToughPigs.com "Steve Whitmire No Longer with the Muppets" by Joe Hennes, July 10, 2017
Whitmire launched a personal blog revealing that he had been informed in October 2016 that he would be dismissed from his roles and his characters would be recast, citing issues that had previously not been communicated with him.Muppet Pundit "It’s Time To Get Things Started…" by Steve Whitmire, July 12, 2017 Before the decision had been made, Disney consulted with the Henson family, who supported the recasting of Kermit and Whitmire's dismissal. Lisa and Brian Henson made statements to the press about their views on working conditions over the years.New York Times "Kermit the Frog Performer and Disney Spar Over an Ugly Muppet Firing" By Sopan Deb and Sophie Haigney, July 17, 2017Hollywood Reporter "Jim Henson's Son Explains Why Kermit Actor Was Replaced" by Ryan Parker, July 18, 2017
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Whitmire claimed that he was fired over creative disagreements and prolonged labor union negotiations that delayed his involvement in Muppet productions. He specifically cited The Muppets episode "Little Green Lie," expressing concern over a situation in which Kermit lies to his nephew Robin in order to shield him from a romantic breakup with Miss Piggy.Hollywood Reporter "Disney Says It Fired Kermit the Frog Actor Over Unacceptable Business Conduct" by Ryan Parker, July 17, 2017
Disney released a follow-up statement to explain their reasons for letting Whitmire go, claiming that "unacceptable business conduct over a period of many years" and Whitmire's "[consistent failure] to address the feedback" led to the decision.ToughPigs.com "Muppets Studio Releases Statement on Steve Whitmire Situation" by Joe Hennes, July 17, 2017
Whitmire's final performances with the Muppets following the end of The Muppets (2015) include performing Kermit at the Vulture Festival in May 2016, performing Lips at the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in August 2016, two pre-recorded video appearances as Kermit (one for Tough Pigs' "Fozzie Awards" and another for the Puppets for Puppetry event honoring Dave Goelz, both in September 2016) and a pre-recorded audio track for Great Moments in American History, which debuted in October 2016.
Following his departure from the Muppets, Whitmire has toured the convention circuit, become active on Instagram, and launched a puppet project called "Cave In" with his own original character.
==Puppeteer Credits==
:for complete character gallery, see Steve Whitmire characters
* The Muppet Show Characters: Foo-Foo, Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Rowlf the Dog (occasional, hands only), Timmy Monster (occasional), Trevor the Gross, The White Rabbit, Winky Pinkerton, and others...
* The Muppet Movie: Additional Muppet performer (assisted on multiple characters)
* The Great Muppet Caper: Rizzo, Lips
* The Dark Crystal: Skeksis Scientist
* Fraggle Rock: Wembley Fraggle, Sprocket, Marlon Fraggle, Murray the Minstrel (except episode 512), Flange Doozer, and others...
* The Muppets Take Manhattan: Rizzo the Rat, Gil, Dogs
* Dreamchild: The Caterpillar, The Mock Turtle (puppetry only)
* Labyrinth: Ambrosius, Fiery 4, one of The Four Guards (puppetry only)
* The Christmas Toy: Mew
* The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years: Sprocket, Rizzo the Rat, Tomato
* A Muppet Family Christmas: The Christmas Turkey
* The Tale of the Bunny Picnic: Bean Bunny
* Inner Tube: Henry, Duke
* The Jim Henson Hour: Bean Bunny, Flash, Jacques Roach, Waldo C. Graphic, Mad Dog, and others...
* The Cosby Show: Food
* The Muppets at Walt Disney World
* The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson: Kermit the Frog, Whoopie Cushions
* Muppet*Vision 3D
* Dinosaurs: B.P. Richfield (puppeteer), Robbie Sinclair (face), Chief Elder (face), Mr. Mason Dixon, Sonny, Woody, Blarney, Judge H.T. Stone (puppeteer)
* The Muppet Christmas Carol: Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Kermit the Frog, Beaker, Belinda Cratchit, Laundress, and others...
* Muppet Meeting Films: Flunky, J.P. Braithwaite, Kermit
* Billy Bunny's Animal Songs: Kermit the Frog
* Sesame Street Stays Up Late: Ernie
* Sesame Street: Ernie (1993-2014), Kermit the Frog (1996-2001, 2009), Dr. Feel, and others...
* Jim Henson's The Animal Show with Stinky and Jake: Jake the Polar Bear, Wingo the Shoebill, Lawrence the Orangutan, and others...
* Muppet Classic Theater
* Muppets on Wheels
* Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
* Muppet Treasure Island: Walleye Pike, Inkspots, The Dodo, Rats
* Things That Fly: Co-Pilot
* Muppets Tonight: Andy Pig, Mr. Poodlepants, Captain Pighead, Eugene, and others...
* Elmo Saves Christmas
* 123 Count with Me
* Quiet Time
* Elmopalooza
* The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street: One of the Three Little Pigs
* Muppets from Space: Cosmic Fish, Rainbow
* The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Stuckweed, Football Stenchman, Bad Humor Man, Sharon Groan
* Sesame Street Goes to the Doctor: Doctor, Farmer
* CinderElmo: Prince the Dog
* Muppet RaceMania: Link Hogthrob, Gil, Flange Doozer
* Elmo's World: Wild Wild West!
* Play with Me Sesame
* Bert & Ernie's Word Play: Frosty Four lead singer, Mo, Troll
* Kermit's Swamp Years: Jack Rabbit, Young Kermit, and Chico
* It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie: Statler, one of the Elvises
* Talk, Read, Write: The King of Reading and Writing
* Muppets Party Cruise: Kermit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Bean Bunny, Andy Pig, Link Hogthrob
* The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
* From the Balcony: Statler (episodes 1-8)
* Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium: Kermit the Frog
* Disney Xtreme Digital
* Muppet viral videos
* Count on Sports
* Studio DC: Almost Live
* Abby in Wonderland
* A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
* The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora
* The Muppets
* Just for Laughs
* Muppets Most Wanted
* The Muppets 2015 Presentation Pilot
* The Muppets
==Notes==
* Was nicknamed Kermit in his youth because he aspired to become a puppeteer and even performed with a Kermit which he made. His high school yearbook even has the name "Kermit" on the front cover.A&E Biography: Sesame Street
* Shares the same birthday (September 24) as Jim Henson.
* At one of his last meetings with Jim Henson, Henson commented to Whitmire that although he was a main Muppet performer, he didn't really have any main Muppet characters besides Rizzo and Bean Bunny, and told him that he was going to try to create a new main character for Whitmire to perform.
* Whitmire's favorite Muppet movie is The Muppet Movie.2momluvme interview
* For The Muppet Movie, Whitmire assisted in performing Kermit in the "Rainbow Connection" sequence, operating the frog's left hand that fretted the banjo via remote control.The Importance of Jim Henson pg 76-77
* A quote from the Muppet Central interview with Steve Whitmire: "I designed the little mechanism inside of [Rizzo] that makes his mouth move."
* Supporter/chairperson and volunteer at actress Tippi Hedren's wildlife preserve SHAMBALA, located in Acton, CA. Whitmire and his wife, Melissa have volunteered countless hours helping bring wild cats for veterinarian care, etc.
==See also==
* Steve Whitmire cameos
==Sources==
==External links==
* Official website 
* IMDb
* Muppet Central's Interview with Whitmire
* 2momluvme interview with Whitmire (archive)
* Tough Pigs interview: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
* Integral Life website Interview
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