Age, Biography and Wiki

Steve Whitmire (Steven Lawrence Whitmire) was born on 24 September, 1959 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., is an American puppeteer. Discover Steve Whitmire's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 64 years old?

Popular As Steven Lawrence Whitmire
Occupation Puppeteer
Age 64 years old
Zodiac Sign Libra
Born 24 September 1959
Birthday 24 September
Birthplace Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 24 September. He is a member of famous with the age 64 years old group.

Steve Whitmire Height, Weight & Measurements

At 64 years old, Steve Whitmire height is 1.93 m .

Physical Status
Height 1.93 m
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Steve Whitmire's Wife?

His wife is Melissa Whitmire (m. 1978)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Melissa Whitmire (m. 1978)
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Steve Whitmire Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Steve Whitmire worth at the age of 64 years old? Steve Whitmire’s income source is mostly from being a successful . He is from United States. We have estimated Steve Whitmire's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income

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Timeline

1959

Steven Lawrence Whitmire (born September 24, 1959) is an American puppeteer, known primarily for his work on The Muppets and Sesame Street.

1978

Beginning his involvement with the Muppets in 1978, Whitmire inherited the roles of Ernie and Kermit the Frog after Jim Henson's death in 1990; he performed the characters until 2014 and 2016, respectively.

As part of the Muppet cast, he has appeared in multiple feature films and television series, performing a variety of characters on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock and during such occupations has been employed by The Jim Henson Company, Sesame Workshop, and The Muppets Studio.

Whitmire first appeared (unpaid) at a pre-show event at Six Flags Over Georgia.

He performed with his then alter-ego puppet Otis for the children waiting to see a multimedia show.

Before graduating high school, Whitmire had his first "professional" puppeteering job using Otis at "The World of Sid & Marty Krofft" in Atlanta, the first indoor theme park.

From there Whitmire appeared on local Atlanta TV live for 2 1/2 hours every day on "The Kids Show with Otis" taking telephone calls from children and adults.

He worked with puppets after graduating high school, and eventually got a job working on The Muppet Show in 1978.

Since then, Whitmire performed in almost every major Henson company project, including non-Muppet projects such as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and Dinosaurs.

Steve Whitmire has been married to Melissa Whitmire, whom he met during his senior year of attending Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Georgia, since June 1978.

They live in Atlanta, Georgia.

1986

Muppet characters original to Whitmire include Rizzo the Rat, Lips (the trumpet player from Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem), Miss Piggy's dog Foo-Foo, Wembley Fraggle and Sprocket the Dog on Fraggle Rock, and Bean Bunny, a character that originated in The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (1986).

Whitmire voiced Link Hogthrob in the Muppet RaceMania and Muppets Party Cruise video games.

1990

Whitmire was the second performer of two signature Muppets—Kermit the Frog and Ernie—after the death of their creator and original performer Jim Henson (with whom he shared a birthday) in 1990.

Whitmire was personally asked by Brian Henson and Jane Henson to be Kermit's performer a few weeks after Jim Henson's death.

Heather Henson arranged for a Kermit puppet to be sent to Whitmire's residence; however, Whitmire hid the puppet away for weeks before deciding on taking on the role.

Following the death of Richard Hunt and the retirement of Jerry Nelson, Whitmire took over the roles of Beaker and Statler, respectively.

Brian Henson stated that issues with Whitmire began in the mid-1990s, and said that Whitmire would make "outrageous demands and often played brinkmanship", and additionally stated that Whitmire would "send emails and letters attacking everyone, attacking the writing and attacking the director".

2000

The show received more than 2000 calls per hour.

WATL was owned at that time by former Atlanta children's television host "Officer Don" Kennedy.

Otis made appearances on various WATL 36 shows with Atlanta's Ludlow Porch, performing with the Georgia Bulldogs' Larry Munson, Don Kennedy, and Entertainment Page host Artie Goodman.

As Otis, Whitmire interviewed Olivia Newton-John during a tour promoting an album.

2004

He also expressed guilt for not dismissing Whitmire and recasting Kermit before selling the Muppets to Disney in 2004, "because I knew that it was going to be a real problem".

Lisa Henson stated that Whitmire was opposed to having an understudy for Kermit and refused to train one, which became problematic when it came to "B-level performances, such as a ribbon-cutting," at some of which she said he was unwilling to appear.

She also stated that he "blackballed young performers" by refusing to appear in shows with them.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that same month, Whitmire stated he was dismissed for disagreements over Kermit's characterization and prolonged labor union negotiations between Disney and SAG-AFTRA (of which Whitmire is a member) that delayed his involvement in Muppet productions.

Whitmire alleged that Disney offered him what he called "consolation prizes" if he voluntarily left, including honoring him as a Disney Legend, under the public pretense that he would be retiring from performing.

In a statement released to The New York Times, Debbie McClellan, then-head of The Muppets Studio, said that they "raised concerns about Steve’s repeated unacceptable business conduct over a period of many years, and he consistently failed to address the feedback".

Whitmire has expressed an interest in making amends and resuming his role with the Muppets in the future if possible.

2008

In 2008, Whitmire took over another of Jim Henson's roles, The Muppet Newsman.

2011

He also performed Link for the 2011 film The Muppets.

This was the first speaking appearance of the character since the death of Jim Henson, the original performer of Link.

He also performed him in Muppets Most Wanted.

2014

In 2014, Billy Barkhurst took over the role of Ernie, with Peter Linz taking over that role in 2017.

2016

Whitmire revealed that he was dismissed from his roles in October 2016 because of undisclosed issues that he said had not been discussed before his dismissal.

In their decision-making, The Walt Disney Company (owner of The Muppets Studio) consulted the Henson family, who supported the recasting of Kermit and Whitmire's dismissal.

2017

In July 2017, The Muppets Studio announced that Whitmire was no longer involved with the Muppets and that fellow Muppet performer Matt Vogel was cast as Kermit's new performer.