Eren Ozker

Eren Ozker (25 July 1948 - 25 February 1993) was born in Ankara, Turkey. She was one of the original performers during the first season of Jim Henson's popular television series, "The Muppet Show".

Growing up in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, Ozker (pronounced Oscar) received a bachelor's degree in drama from the University of Michigan in 1970. Right after graduating, she toured with the National Shakespeare Company, appearing in "Hamlet" (Ophelia) and "the Merchant of Venice," (Jessica). She moved to New York, USA shortly after to perform in numerous off-Broadway productions. Reviews described her as 'an Off-Broadway favorite' and as 'a fire-cracker burning at both ends.' In 1975 she joined the Hartman Theater Company for its first production "The Government Inspector", meeting her future husband William Bogert in the process, during the original production of "The Runner Stumbles."

In 1976 Ozker went to England and joined the cast of "The Muppet Show". As the only fulltime female Muppeteer on the show at the time, she performed most of the female characters. These included -

* Wanda - one half of the singing duo "Wayne and Wanda". Their "wholesome, uplifting and decent" acts, as described by Sam the Eagle, were always cut short in disastrous circumstances.
* Hilda - mostly restricted to backstage appearances, Hilda was the wardrobe lady for the show.
* Janice - Ozker's most famous character, Janice is the guitarist for Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem.

Of her three main characters, only Janice survived after Ozker left the show at the end of the first season. Janice was subsequently performed by Richard Hunt, Brian Henson, and most recently, Tyler Bunch.

After performing in Henson productions "The Muppet Movie" and "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas", Ozker retired from the Muppet scene and returned to the United States to focus on her family. Her last puppeteering performance was in the 1988 production of "The Warrior Ant" at the Brooklyn Next Wave Festival.

In 1989 Ozker founded and became chairwoman of the Puppeteers Caucus, a working group within the Screen Actors Guild. Ozker was presented the Joseph C. Riley award by the guild in 1991 in recognition of her services to the industry.

Ozker died on 25 February 1993, aged 44. Despite the Internet Movie Database claiming her death was caused by AIDS, the same disease that killed fellow Muppeteer Richard Hunt, her husband confirmed after her death that she in fact died from cancer.

References

* "Eren Ozker, actress and puppeteer, 44; a voice of Muppets". (27 February, 1993). "New York Times".