21 Actors Who Appeared In "The Muppet Movie"

1979's The Muppet Movie not only stars the Muppets but also a slew of celebrities. Here are 21 actors who appeared in the Muppet's first full-length feature film.

1. Bruce Kirby as the gate guard

The Walt Disney Company

Television and film character actor Bruce Kirby appeared as the World Wide Studios gate guard greeting Statler and Waldorf at the beginning of the movie. Kirby's career, which has spanned five decades, includes roles on "Car 54," and "Where Are You," plus appearances on such shows as "Bonanza," "The Patty Duke Show," "Barney Miller," "M*A*S*H," "The West Wing," "The Sopranos," "Scrubs," and "Columbo." His film credits also include Catch-22, How to Frame a Figg, Stand By Me, and Crash.

2. Dom DeLuise as Bernie the agent

The Walt Disney Company

Dom DeLuise first worked with the Muppets on "The Muppet Show" as a guest star in the second season. He also appeared as Bernie the agent, a Hollywood talent scout who gets lost in Kermit's swamp and sets Kermit off on his quest for Hollywood in The Muppet Movie. DeLuise starred in a number of movies directed by Mel Brooks, in a series of films with career-long best friend Burt Reynolds, and as a voice actor in various animated films by Don Bluth. Not bad for a guy terrified by Arnie the Alligator.

3. Austin Pendleton as Max

The Walt Disney Company

Character actor Austin Pendleton played Max, Doc Hopper's assistant and chauffeur, in The Muppet Movie. Prior to working with the Muppets, Pendleton originated the role of Motel in the Broadway musical "Fiddler on the Roof", began his film career with Fred the Professor in Otto Preminger's surreal drug film Skidoo, and co-starred with Madeline Kahn in What's Up, Doc?. Subsequent movie roles included the stuttering public defender in My Cousin Vinny and an ex-chess champion in Searching for Bobby Fischer. Pendleton's recent film credits include key roles in the Pixar animated feature Finding Nemo, A Beautiful Mind, Piccadilly Jim, and Dirty Work.

4. James Coburn as the owner of the El Sleezo

The Walt Disney Company

James Coburn played the ousted owner of the El Sleezo Café in The Muppet Movie. Coburn later guest starred on "The Muppet Show" during it's final season. During his 45-year career, Coburn was featured in more than 70 films and made 100 television appearances. A capable, rough-hewn leading man, his toothy grin and lanky body made him a perfect tough guy in numerous leading and supporting roles in westerns and action films, such as The Magnificent Seven, Hell Is for Heroes, The Great Escape, Our Man Flint, In Like Flint, Duck, You Sucker!, and Cross of Iron

5. James Frawley as an El Sleezo waiter

The Walt Disney Company

As director of The Muppet Movie, James Frawley had the distinction of helming the first cinematic showcase for the Muppets. Frawley also appeared in the film in a small cameo role, as a greasy waiter at the El Sleezo Cafe.

6. Madeline Kahn as a woman at the El Sleezo

The Walt Disney Company

Madeline Kahn first worked with the Muppets as a guest star on the second season of "The Muppet Show. She appeared briefly in The Muppet Movie as a flirtatious patron of the El Sleezo Cafe. Kahn was a comedic actress best known for her roles in Mel Brooks films, including Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety. During her career, she earned two Academy Award nominees, and also won an Emmy Award and a Tony Award.

7. Telly Savalas as the tough guy at the El Sleezo

The Walt Disney Company

Telly Savalas made a cameo appearance in The Muppet Movie as a tough guy at the El Sleezo Cafe. Perhaps best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama "Kojak," Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in 1962's Birdman of Alcatraz.

8. Carol Kane as the myth

The Walt Disney Company

Carol Kane became a twice-recurring gag in The Muppet Movie. Appearing when Kermit says the word "myth," Kane appears, saying "Yeth?" The comedic stage, screen and television actress became known in the 1970s for her role in films such as Hester Street (for which she received an Academy Award nomination) and Annie Hall. She appeared on the television series "Taxi" in the early 1980s, as the wife of Latka, the character played by Andy Kaufman, winning two Emmy Awards for her work. She also played the character of Madame Morrible in the musical "Wicked," both in regional productions and on Broadway from 2005 to 2014.

9. Paul Williams as the piano player at the El Sleezo

The Walt Disney Company

Songwriter Paul Williams developed a strong relationship with the Muppets when he appeared on "The Muppet Show" during it's first season. Williams, along with Kenny Ascher, were selected to write all the songs for The Muppet Movie (Williams earned an Academy Award nomination for "The Rainbow Connection"). In addition to writing the songs, Williams also made an on-screen cameo as the piano player at the El Sleezo Cafe in the film. Over the years Williams collaborated with the Muppets on other productions -- writing the songs for Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa.

10. Charles Durning as Doc Hopper

The Walt Disney Company

Charles Durning was the veteran character actor who played the villainous Doc Hopper in The Muppet Movie. Throughout his career, Durning appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays; memorable roles included the Oscar-winning The Sting in 1973 and Dog Day Afternoon in 1975, along with the comedies Tootsie, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and To Be or Not to Be... however none of these films had Durning dressed in a giant frog suit singing about French-fired frog legs au gratin.

11. Big Bird as himself

The Walt Disney Company

While heading westward Kermit and Fozzie encounter a large yellow bird on his way to New York City to try to break into public television. Movin' right along...

12. Milton Berle as Mad Man Mooney

The Walt Disney Company

Milton Berle was a comedian known for his work on vaudeville, in films, and early TV comedy (earning the nickname "Mr. Television"). Berle guest starred on "The Muppet Show" during its second season and made a memorable cameo appearance in The Muppet Movie as the used-car salesman Mad Man Mooney.

13. Elliott Gould as the Miss Bogen County Beauty Pageant host

The Walt Disney Company

Elliott Gould began acting in Hollywood films during the 1960s, and has remained active ever since. In addition to his performance in the 1969 comedy Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Gould is perhaps best known for his significant roles in Robert Altman films, starring in M*A*S*H, The Long Goodbye, and California Split. In 1979, Gould made a cameo appearance in The Muppet Movie as the chairman of the Miss Bogen County Beauty Pageant; he also appeared briefly in The Muppets Take Manhattan as a New York City cop.

14. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy as themselves

The Walt Disney Company

Famed vaudevillian Edgar Bergen (and his wooden sidekick, Charlie McCarthy) held particular meaning for Jim Henson (who called his work an inspiration. Bergen (and McCathy) guest starred in the second season of "The Muppet Show" and the duo made a cameo in The Muppet Movie as judges of the Miss Bogen County Beauty Pageant. Bergen died shortly after his scene for The Muppet Movie was filmed; the film is "dedicated to the memory and magic of Edgar Bergen."

15. Bob Hope as the ice cream salesman

The Walt Disney Company

With a career spanning nearly 80 years, Bob Hope appeared in over 70 films, including a series of "Road" movies co-starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. In addition to hosting the Academy Awards fourteen times (more than any other host), he is often celebrated for his long career performing USO shows to entertain active service American military personnel—he made 57 tours for the USO between 1941 and 1991. Hope appeared in The Muppet Movie as an ice cream vendor at the Bogen County Fair and urged Fozzie Bear not to mix up his honey and dragonfly ripple ice cream cones.

16. Richard Pryor as the balloon salesman

The Walt Disney Company

Richard Pryor was a groundbreaking and versatile comedian, actor and social commentator. Pryor made a cameo appearance in The Muppet Movie as a balloon salesman, selling all his balloons to Gonzo. Pryor's body of work includes several concert movies and numerous films; including several collaborations with actor Gene Wilder. Pryor was slated to be a guest on the fifth season of "The Muppet Show," but had to cancel because he blew himself up freebasing.

17. Steve Martin as the waiter at the Terrace Restaurant

The Walt Disney Company

Making one of his earliest film appearances, Steve Martin appeared in The Muppet Movie as Kermit and Piggy's insolent waiter at the Terrace Restaurant. Martin had guest starred in the second season of "The Muppet Show." He has gone on to host "Saturday Night Live" over 15 times and has starred in many feature films - including The Jerk, Roxanne, Parenthood, Father of the Bride, Cheaper by the Dozen, and The Pink Panther.

18. Mel Brooks as Professor Krassman

The Walt Disney Company

Mel Brooks made a cameo appearance in The Muppet Movie as Professor Krassman (the world's leading authority in the rapidly growing field of mind control in frogs). Brooks is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a comic and a writer for "Your Show of Shows" and became well known his 2000-year-old man comedy act with Carl Reiner. Brooks became one of the most successful film directors of the 1970s; his best known films include , Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, History of the World, Part I, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Brooks is one of the few individuals to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award.

19. Scott Walker as Snake Walker

The Walt Disney Company

Scott Walker played Snake Walker (Doc Hopper's hired "frog killer") in The Muppet Movie. A frequent TV bit player in the 1970s, Walker was largely cast as thugs, hoods, guards, and gunmen in assorted crime shows and Westerns, including "The Rockford Files," "Gunsmoke," "Baretta," "Cannon," "Bonanza," and "Mission: Impossible."

20. Cloris Leachman as Miss Tracy

The Walt Disney Company

Cloris Leachman was a guest star in the second season of "The Muppet Show," and also made a cameo appearance in The Muppet Movie as Miss Tracy, Lew Lord's secretary. Leachman was known for playing the nosy, self-centered and manipulative landlady Phyllis Lindstrom on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and later on the spin-off series, "Phyllis." She also appeared in three Mel Brooks films, including Young Frankenstein.

21. Orson Welles as Lew Lord

The Walt Disney Company

Orson Welles was an American actor, director, writer and producer who worked in theater, radio and film. Welles is best remembered for his innovative work in all three mediums: in theater, most notably "Caesar," a groundbreaking Broadway adaptation of Julius Caesar; in radio, the 1938 broadcast "The War of the Worlds", one of the most famous in the history of radio; and in film, Citizen Kane, consistently ranked as one of the all-time greatest films. Welles appeared in The Muppet Movie playing the part of Lew Lord, the head of World Wide Studios. LEw Lord provides the film's happy ending by ordering his secretary to "prepare the standard 'Rich and Famous' contract for Kermit the Frog and Company."

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Muppet Wiki / Via muppet.wikia.com

Explore all the characters, performers, and actors in The Muppet Movie on the Muppet Wiki at www.muppet.wikia.com.