Fran Brill

Biography

Fran Brill (born September 30, 1946) is an actress and puppeteer who worked on Sesame Street beginning in 1970. She was the first female puppeteer hired by Jim Henson, outside of wife Jane Henson. She is best known for performing Prairie Dawn and Zoe. Brill retired from performing in September 2014.

Career Overview

Fran Brill has 94 screen credits in a career dating back to 1969. Their work spans 3 cinematic universes — most prominently Muppet Guys Talking Collection with 2 titles. Signature works include Jim Henson Idea Man, Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame: Let's Play Games, Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

female

Known Credits

94

Birth Date

1946-09-30 00:00:00

Birth Place

Chester, Pennsylvania, USA

Known For

• 

  Jim Henson Idea Man
• 

  Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame: Let's Play Games
• 

  Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
• 

  Dog City
• 

  Routed
• Just a Few Announcements

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 3 universes

• Muppet Guys Talking Collection (2 titles)
• Midnight Run Collection (1 titles)
• Muppets Classic (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• Jim Henson (4 collaborations)
• Frank Oz (3 collaborations)
• Dave Goelz (3 collaborations)
• Jerry Nelson (3 collaborations)
• Kevin Clash (3 collaborations)
• Pam Arciero (2 collaborations)
• Eric Jacobson (2 collaborations)
• Carmen Osbahr (2 collaborations)
• Martin P. Robinson (2 collaborations)
• David Rudman (2 collaborations)

Credits

• actors (94 credits)

  • Jim Henson Idea Man

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Jerry Nelson: A Celebratory Birthday Animatic

    Prairie Dawn (voice) / Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2022
  • Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Muppet Guys Talking: A Special Conversation to Honor Jim Henson

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • Sesame Street: M is for Mystery

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbers

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Music Magic

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Sesame Street: When Families Grieve

    Mae

    actor

    actors
    2010
  • Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: All About Faces

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmo

    Zoe (voice) (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Sesame Street: Abby in Wonderland

    Zoe as Mousey the Hatter Helper (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Summer Vacation

    Muppet Performer (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Love the Earth!

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Count on Sports

    Prairie Dawn / Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame: Let's Play Games

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Elmo's Christmas Countdown

    Prairie Dawn / Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Sesame Street: Ready for School!

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • A Sesame Street Christmas Carol

    Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Sesame Beginnings: Exploring Together

    Prairie Dawn

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty Time

    Prairie Dawn (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Sesame Street: A Celebration of Me, Grover

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!

    Zoe / Prairie Dawn (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites

    Lavender Anything Muppet Girl (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Sesame Street: Sesame Sings Karaoke

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Sesame Street: Let's Eat! Funny Food Songs

    Cereal (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play

    Prairie Dawn / Zoe / Frosty Four Singer (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Wake Up with Elmo!

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Elmo's World: Family Feature

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Wild Wild West!

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs 2

    Zoe / Mary (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Adventure: The Story of Peter and the Wolf

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent

    - The Gift (2003) ... Ilene Maxwell actor actors
    2001
  • Sheep in the Big City

    Little Girl

    actor

    actors

    - Baa-hind the Scenes (2002) ... Little Girl actor actors

    - Here Goes Mutton (2002) ... Little Girl actor actors

    - Oh, the Ewemanity (2002) ... Little Girl actor actors

    - An Officer and a Gentlelamb (2002) ... Little Girl actor actors

    - Beauty and the Bleats (2002) ... Little Girl actor actors
    2000
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's World

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Doug's 1st Movie

    Mrs. Perigrew (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs

    Zoe / Prairie Dawn (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • CinderElmo

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • The West Wing

    - Eppur Si Muove (2004) ... Zoe actor actors
    1999
  • Third Watch

    - Welcome to Camelot (1999) ... Mrs. Simpson actor actors
    1999
  • Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!

    Zoe / Prairie Dawn / Roxie Marie (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Sesame Street: The Alphabet Jungle Game

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Sesame Street: Quiet Time

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • City Hall

    Angie

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Sesame Street: Imagine That!

    Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Learning to Share

    Zoe

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • The World of Jim Henson

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

    Prairie Dawn / Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Muppet Sing Alongs: It's Not Easy Being Green

    Clam / Frog (voice) (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Sesame Street: The Best of Elmo

    Prarie Dawn/Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Sesame Street Stays Up Late!

    Prarie Dawn / Zoe (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!

    Prairie Dawn

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration

    Prarie Dawn (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Muppet Sing Alongs: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Getting Ready to Read

    "OP" Family Song (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Hyde in Hollywood

    Betty Armstrong

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit

    Bluejay / Sparrow (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • What About Bob?

    Lily Marvin

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Sesame Street: Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street Animals

    Little Bird / Chicken (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Doug

    - Doug's Bad Trip (1994) ... Emily Kristal (voice) actor actors

    - Doug Graduates (1994) ... Emily Kristal (voice) actor actors

    - Doug Way Out West (1993) ... Emily Kristal (voice) actor actors

    - Doug Throws a Party (1993) ... Emily Kristal (voice) actor actors

    - Doug's Sister Act (1993) ... Emily Kristal (voice) actor actors
    1991
  • The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

    Additional Muppet Performer

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Jim Henson's Memorial Service

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Law & Order

    - Betrayal (2008) ... Maureen Donovan actor actors

    - Carrier (1998) ... Mrs. Stark actor actors

    - Privileged (1995) ... Leah Bartlett actor actors

    - Prisoner of Love (1990) ... Sondra More actor actors
    1990
  • The Song of the Cloud Forest

    Louise (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Dog City

    Colleen Barker (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Routed

    Mrs. Grove

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Lip Service

    Debbie

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Midnight Run

    Dana Mardukas, Jonathan's Wife

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • The No Show

    Chicken Licken

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • My Little Pony

    Applejack (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • Old Enough

    Mrs. Sloan

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • The Muppets Take Manhattan

    Additional Muppet Performer / News Reporter (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • The Cosby Show

    - Cliff's Nightmare (1990) ... Pink Frackle / Patina / Tomato (voice) actor actors
    1984
  • Oh, Boy! Babies!

    Kay

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • Look Back in Anger

    Helena Charles

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Amber Waves

    Suze Winter

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Being There

    Sally Hayes

    actor

    actors
    1979
  • Just a Few Announcements

    Janice

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • The Muppet Introduction

    Janice

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • Muppet Picker Upper

    Janice (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • Saturday Night Live

    - Raquel Welch with Phoebe Snow and John Sebastian (1976) ... Vazh (voice) actor actors

    - Candice Bergen with Martha Reeves and The Stylistics (1975) ... Vazh (voice) actor actors

    - Robert Klein with ABBA and Loudon Wainwright III (1975) ... Vazh (voice) actor actors

    - Candice Bergen with Esther Phillips (1975) ... Vazh (voice) actor actors
    1975
  • The Great Santa Claus Switch

    Snerf (voice)

    actor

    actors
    1970
  • Sesame Street

    - Every Plant That Ever Was (2014) ... Zoe/Prairie Dawn (voice) actor actors

    - Lights, Camera, Bert! (2014) ... Zoe/Prairie Dawn (voice) actor actors

    - The Wedding Planner (2014) ... Zoe/Prairie Dawn (voice) actor actors

    - Pogo Games (2014) ... Zoe/Prairie Dawn (voice) actor actors

    - Jack's Big Jump (2014) ... Zoe/Prairie Dawn (voice) actor actors
    1969