SAN ANTONIO – The man who has been operating and voicing Kermit the Frog since the death of the legendary creator Jim Henson has announced he is stepping away from the role after 27 years.
Steve Whitmire is leaving the Muppets and will be replaced by puppeteer Matt Vogel, according to Deadline.
Recommended Videos
Whitmire started on "The Muppet Show" back in 1978 and took over after Henson in 1990.
RELATED: Kermit the Frog: That pig isn't my girlfriend
RELATED: A muppet with autism to be welcomed soon on 'Sesame Street'
Whitmire's films include "The Muppets" which came out in 2011 and "Muppets Most Wanted" in 2014. He has played Kermit in every film going back to "The Muppet Christmas Carol" which came out in 1992 and also starred actor Michael Caine.
The reason Whitmire is stepping away is not presently known.
--------------------------------------------------------
Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT12 today.
Get alerted to news events as they happen or sign up for a scheduled news headline email that is delivered right to your inbox. Breaking news, severe weather, daily forecasts, entertainment news, all of the day’s important events to keep you up to date wherever you are.
Sign up today. It's Free.