Ep 33 - Muppet Performer and Actress Fran Brill

Fran Brill

The brothers are joined today by actress, voice-over performer, and legendary puppeteer Fran Brill, best known for her work on Sesame Street. She was the first female puppeteer hired for the show, and over a 45-year career brought to life characters such as Prairie Dawn, Countess von Backwards, Zoe, and many others.

 

Expect to hear...

 

...Fran’s diverse and storied career in entertainment.

 

...what it was like to work with legends in the industry such as Jim Henson, Robert De Niro, and others.

 

...from two surprise guests who drop in halfway through the conversation!

 

MEMORABLE QUOTES BY FRAN

• “When I came to [Sesame Street] in the 70s, it was Women’s Lib and I think it was Dulcy Singer who said we really need to get females onboard as puppeteers to make more authentic female characters in this day and age. This is how things changed with the television show over time.”
• “Ride in the direction the horse is going. Sometimes you want desperately to be this. And yet people are screaming for you to be that.
• “I had a blast doing Doug. I loved that show. I thought it was just a lovely show. Jim Jinkins, the creator, was a huge fan of Jim Henson’s. I played so many different characters on that show. I loved it. I was so sorry when that stopped. [...] I loved the freedom of it.”
• “I’ve had a great life. I had great chances to work with wonderful people. No regrets, really. No regrets.”

 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE

• Fran’s first professional gig [05:36]
• Why Fran decided to retire [10:46]
• Getting her start with Sesame Street and other early roles [12:55]
• Balancing her work as a puppeteer with acting for film and television and theatre [20:07]
• Working with Frank Oz and Dave Goelz [31:36]
• The first time Dave and Frank met Fran [38:16]
• Dave’s and Frank’s heartfelt messages to Fran [45:46]
• Fran’s classic film roles [53:15]
• Fran’s voice work [59:27]
• The boots made for female puppeteers on Sesame Street [1:05:54]
• Fran’s work on The Jim Henson Hour [1:09:08]
• Fran’s roles in other prestigious TV shows [1:13:06]
• Why Fran has no regrets [1:18:05]
• Sharing Hirschfeld works [1:19:06]
• Saying goodbye to Fran [1:26:14]
• The brothers take a few questions and announce what to expect in future episodes [1:31:04]

 

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Fran Brill is an Emmy Award winning performer who has had successful careers as an actress, voice-over performer, and puppeteer.

 

She was the first female puppeteer hired by Jim Henson for Sesame Street and has created the iconic characters of Zoe and Prairie Dawn and many other loveable Muppets. Over the years, she has also worked on Saturday Night Live, The Jim Henson Hour, The Muppet Show, Dog City, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Play With Me Sesame, Men in Black and many CDs and DVDs including Zoe's Dance Moves with Paula Abdul.

 

Upon getting her B.F.A. from Boston University where she received classical training as an actress, Fran got her first acting job with Theatre Atlanta. Within months, one of the productions, a musical called Red, White and Maddox, got picked up and Fran found herself on Broadway.

 

As an actress, Fran has appeared in the films What About Bob? directed by Frank Oz and starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss, Midnight Run starring Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin, and Being There starring Peter Sellers. On television she has been on numerous soap operas including long runs on All My Children and the infamous How to Survive a Marriage for which she received an Afternoon TV Best Actress Award. Her other television credits include Spenser: For Hire, Third Watch, Lip Service directed by William H. Macy, Conan O'Brien, Hyde in Hollywood and several Law and Orders.

 

Her appearances on the New York stage include Look Back in Anger with Malcolm McDowell, Desdemona, Shirmishes, and Hyde in Hollywood. She was twice nominated for the Drama Desk Award for What Every Woman Knows and Knuckle. She has also played Stella opposite Shirley Knight and Peter Weller in A Streetcar Named Desire and appeared in Otherwise Engaged with Roddy McDowall.

 

For three years she was the on-camera spokesperson for Actonel and has recorded hundreds of commercials including the famous Beautymist Pantyhose commercial starring Joe Namath. She has also provided voices for several cartoon series including Doug and Sheep in the City.

 

Fran served on the Board of Directors for the Screen Actors Guild and currently serves as Vice President on the board of the Jim Henson Legacy.