A young Frank Oz (left), Muppet Fozzie Bear, and Jim Henson

Puppeteer and film director Frank Oz was born Frank Richard Oznowicz
in Hereford, England. He launched his career as a teenager with Jim
Henson and the Muppets, and went on to become the performer behind
such characters as Miss Piggy, Grover, and Fozzie Bear. He also played
Yoda in the Star Wars franchise beginning in 1977. Oz has directed
several successful films, including the 1986 musical comedy Little Shop
of Horrors.

Frank Oz retired full-time from the Muppets in 2002.They are now handled
by Eric Jacobson and David Rudman. Oz still occasionally performs his
Sesame Street characters. 

Frank Oz lending popular Muppet Miss Piggy a HELPING HAND!

Sandy Kozel

   Deanna Durbin (Edna Mae Durbin) (December 4, 1921 – April 2013)

Durbin was a Canadian singer and actress, who appeared in a number of
musical films in the 1930s. She made her first film appearance with Judy
Garland in Every Sunday (1936), Durbin officially retired from acting in
1948.

Durbin’s death was initially reported by her son, Peter H. David on April 30
in the Deanna Durbin Society newsletter. He said she died “a few days ago”
in Paris, France. No further details were given.

1937

Go, Johnny Go! was filmed in five days at the Culver City, California studios
of Hal Roach Productions. It  was the only film appearance of Richie Valens,
who died shortly after filming it in a plane crash, along with Buddy Holly and
The Big Bopper on February 3. The film was released later after Valens’
death.