Steve Whitmire

Steve Whitmire is a voice actor and puppeteer best known for his career with The Muppets as Kermit the Frog, Ernie, Statler, Rizzo the Rat, Beaker, Wembley Fraggle, Bean Bunny, and Sprocket. Since starting on The Muppet Show in 1978, Whitmire has performed in almost every major Henson company project, including all Muppet and Sesame Street related film and television appearances, as well as non-Muppet fare such as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and Dinosaurs.

Steve began his Muppet career as Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Foo-Foo, and Fletcher Bird on the original The Muppet Show in 1978. He was skekTek the Scientist in The Dark Crystal, and starred in Fraggle Rock as Wembley Fraggle, Sprocket, Marlon Fraggle, Flange Doozer, Murray the Minstrel, Papa Tree Creature, and Crusty Doozer. In 1986 he originated the role of Bean Bunny, and worked on Labyrinth as The Four Guards (puppetry only), Firey 4 (puppetry only), and Ambrosius (puppetry only). Following the death of Jim Henson in 1990 he inherited the roles of Kermit the Frog and Ernie.

Steve worked on Dinosaurs from 1991 – 1994 as B.P. Richfield (puppetry), Robbie Sinclair (face), Chief Elder (face), Mr. Mason Dixon, Sonny Woody, Blarney, and Judge H.T. Stone (puppetry). Following the death of Richard Hunt and the retirement of Jerry Nelson, Whitmire left the role of Ernie on Sesame Street in 2014 to focus on Kermit for The Muppets television series. Whitmire ended his relationship with The Muppets in July 2017 after an almost 40 year career.

Appearing Friday, Saturday, Sunday.