Steve Whitmire is well-known for portraying iconic characters such as Kermit the Frog and Ernie. He has also contributed to The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. After Jim Henderson’s death in 1990, he inherited the styles of Kermit, the frog, and Ernie. Steve has appeared in several films as a puppeteer and character voice-over artist.
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Wiki, Bio, Family, Siblings, Childhood & Education
He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1959, and has loved puppets since he was a child. It was 1969 when he became obsessed with puppetry after watching the then-popular show Sesame Street. He also used to write letters to Jim Henson, the TV star puppeteer.
Steve used to perform in school talent shows, and he once won the talent show with the help of his puppets. He used to perform in the local theme park with his character Otis the beach bum after graduating from high school.
Steve Whitmire’s Age, Height, Weight, and Body Dimensions
Steve Whitmire was born on September 24, 1959, and will be 62 years old on June 30, 2022. His height is 1.93 meters and his weight is 72 kilograms.
Steve Whitmire’s Profession & Career
Steve began working on The Muppet Show in 1978, and he became quite famous after working on The Muppet Show, eventually becoming a core member of the team. After Jim Henson’s death in 1990, Steve took over as Kermit the Frog. Jim’s son and daughter personally persuaded him to play the iconic character.
Steve also appeared in several films, the most notable of which was the Henson film “Labyrinth.” In the television special “The Christmas Toy,” he played the character “Mew.”
In the 1990s, Steve played a variety of characters on the popular television show Dinosaurs. He also appeared as Jake, one of the show’s lead characters, in “Jim Henson’s Animal Show with Stinky and Jake.”
Steve was chosen to play the iconic character of “Ernie” in 1993 when the Hensons decided to permanently recast the role. Steve began playing the character “Statler” in the early 2000s, alongside Dave Goelz, who played “Waldorf.” In 2017, he parted ways with the Henson family and “The Muppets.”
Achievements and Awards
Throughout his career, Steve has received numerous awards, including a Webby Award in 2010 for “The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody,” a BTVA People’s Choice Voice Acting Award in 2012 for “The Muppets,” and a BTVA Television Acting Award in 2013 for “Sesame Street.” He was also nominated on numerous occasions.
Steve Whitmire’s Wife, Marriage & Relationship
Steve and Melissa Whitmire have been married since 1978, the same year Steve began dating Melissa. have been married for about 42 years. Melissa also serves as Steve’s manager.
Steve Whitmire’s Salary and Net Worth
Steve Whitmire’s net worth is currently $12 million as of June 2022. He is best known for his portrayal of the iconic Jim Henson character Kermit the Frog. His most recent salary for the roles he played on the show was $2 million. Steve also worked in a pre-show at “Six Flags Over Georgia” where he was not paid and worked as an unpaid artist.
Steve’s main source of income was the popular characters he used to play while working with the Hensons, such as Kermit, Ernie, Statler, and Beaker.
Quick Facts
Celebrated Name | Steve Whitmire |
Full Name | Steven Lawrence Whitmire |
Gender | Male |
Age | 62 years old |
Birth Date | 24 September 1959 |
Birth Place | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Height | 1.93 m |
Weight | 72 kg |
Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Melissa Whitmire (m. 1978) |
Children | No |
Dating | N/A |
Profession | Puppeteer |
Salary | $2 million |
Net Worth | $12 million |
Brands | N/A |
Hobbies | N/A |