--- title: The Voice of Kermit the Frog Has Left His Muppets Role description: Longtime puppeteer Steve Whitmire has left his role as the voice of classic character Kermit the Frog, and is being replaced by Matt Vogel. canonical: https://time.com/4852111/kermit-frog-whitmire/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-07-10T21:17:23.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:47:29.093Z og:title: The Voice of Kermit the Frog Is About to Change og:description: The puppeteer behind Kermit for over 25 years will no longer do it og:url: https://time.com/4852111/kermit-frog-whitmire/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc47596e1903922fd/6988d520196cf432d8040f7b/kermit-steve-whitmire.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: kermit-steve-whitmire og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Voice of Kermit the Frog Is About to Change twitter:description: The puppeteer behind Kermit for over 25 years will no longer do it twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc47596e1903922fd/6988d520196cf432d8040f7b/kermit-steve-whitmire.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Puppeteer Behind Kermit the Frog Has Left His Role With The Muppets > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ## Video: Kermit and Miss Piggy - Behind the Scenes of The Muppets [Watch (HLS stream): Kermit and Miss Piggy - Behind the Scenes of The Muppets](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/VrlhrtD2.m3u8) (2:12)  _Published 2015-09-19. Kermit and Miss Piggy - Behind the Scenes of The Muppets_  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Jul 10, 2017 9:17 PM UTC  Muppet Kermit the Frog and his operator Steve Whitmire take questions from the audience November 14, 2003, at Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City. - Muppet Kermit the Frog and his operator Steve Whitmire take questions from the audience November 14, 2003, at Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City. -Lawrence Lucier—2003 Getty Images  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Jul 10, 2017 9:17 PM UTC Muppets fans, prepare for a change: the puppeteer who voices legendary green amphibian [Kermit the Frog](http://time.com/4761322/kermit-the-frog-solange-cranes-in-the-sky/) has swapped over. In the beloved character’s illustrious [62-year history](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Kermit%5Fthe%5FFrog), only two actors have delivered Kermit’s delightful lines, creator [Jim Henson](http://time.com/4626229/why-heroes-matter/) and Muppets mainstay Steve Whitmire, who took over Kermit and Ernie duties on [_Sesame Street_](http://time.com/4706631/sesame-street-julia-autism-diversity/) in 1990 after Henson passed away. But now, performer Matt Vogel will take the helm as the man behind the banjo-strumming [green felt puppet. ](http://time.com/4575608/evil-kermit-the-frog-memes/) After sharp-eyed viewers of recent Muppet Studios productions noted that characters usually voiced by Whitmire seemed to be missing from the latest lineup of Muppets content, fan blog [Tough Pigs](http://www.toughpigs.com/steve-whitmire-news/) confirmed with Disney that Whitmire had departed from his longtime role, and that Vogel will be taking over as the Kermit performer. They did not provide a reason for the change, and Whitmire has not stated anything publicly as of yet. Previously, Vogel — who joined _Sesame Street_ [in 1996](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Matt%5FVogel) — has voiced Kermit’s evil doppelgänger [Constantine](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Constantine) in the 2014 [_Muppets Most Wanted_](http://time.com/670/watch-muppets-most-wanted-golden-globes-ad-may-have-been-even-funnier-than-the-golden-globes/) film, so he clearly has some practice at the iconic role, although that outing required a Russian accent. He’s also performed dozens of other Muppets characters and puppets, including Baby Big Bird. He will feature as the new Kermit on next week’s installment of the Muppets Thought of the Week, Disney further noted. Whitmire, who’s 57, has been a much-loved staple of the Muppets franchise over the years, having started with the company back in 1978 and even originated popular characters like Rizzo the Rat. ## Transcript Our new show is called The Muppets. You know all your favorite muppets are back. Fozzie, Gonzo, Ms. Piggy, Pepe, Animal, [ YELL ] New fans are going to see lots of first rate comedy material . >> [ YELL ] All new jokes. Oh God, we're going to die of hypothermia. I hope it comes quick. [ LAUGH ] I guarantee you that things will happen on our show that you've never seen before. Oh, boy, he did not like your dancing sketch. You are going to see behind the scenes of The Muppets. And [ UNKNOWN ] The reality. The intensity. THe drama. What is she doing here? Well, I- Every time I- Cameras on all the time. Everything is unscripted. Maybe I didn't handle this the best way. Ha! Off camera, we have our own lives. but I can't understand ha things can get messy. Well I didn't want to **** up the show just because. What, no ha? No ha. I work with my ex- girlfriend so multiply messy times a thousand. Just because you have- ha! As you may have heard, Kermit and I I'm no longer mad. PIggy? Leave me alone! I came to apologize. Come in. We still have baggage of course. I have about 28 suitcases of clothes I need to get back from his place. I don't know what you see in your girlfriend and you're getting a little tummy. You know The Muppets are like a team. Good morning, everybody . >> Good morning, Kermit. Team where the coach and star player dated and had a really messy breakup but- Kermit. A team. Uh- oh. It's too late for me. Save yourself. This is the perfect time for moi to be working in television. [ APPLAUSE ] Everyone is hungry for something. Hungry for something new. Hungry for something different. You can see my personal life. Yeah, I've started dating. Very exciting. He's obviously very handsome. Aww. Fans are really going to be excited about this new show. God Bless America and it's magnificent broadcasting company. Yep. Starring role on a network show. My whole life's has been leading up to this. 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