What profession was shared by Frank Oz and Jim Henson?
Jim Henson enigmatic Jedi Master Yoda. Henson suggested to "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, himself a Muppets fan, that he use Frank Oz as the puppeteer and voice of Yoda. Oz voiced Yoda in "The Empire Strikes Back" and each of the five subsequent "Star Wars" films. The naturalistic, lifelike Yoda became one of the most popular characters of the "Star Wars" franchise. Lucas even lobbied unsuccessfully to have Oz nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1982, Henson founded the Jim Henson Foundation to promote and develop the art of puppetry in the United States. Around that time,
Jim Henson debuted on "The Muppet Show", as each member of the congregation waved a brightly colored foam butterfly attached to a puppet performer's rod. Later, Caroll Spinney walked onto the stage dressed as Big Bird and sang Kermit the Frog's signature song "Bein' Green". Dave Goelz, Frank Oz, Kevin Clash, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, and Richard Hunt sang a medley of Jim Henson's favorite songs in their characters' voices, ending with a performance of "Just One Person". The funeral was described by "Life" as "an epic and almost unbearably moving event." The Jim Henson Company and the Jim Henson Foundation continued