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.
Known For
Midnight Run
(1988)
Dana Mardukas
Being There
(1979)
Sally Hayes
The Muppets Take Manhattan
(1984)
Additional Muppet Performer / News Reporter (voice)
City Hall
(1996)
Angie
What About Bob?
(1991)
Lily Marvin
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
(1999)
Zoe (voice)
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
(2011)
Self
Doug's 1st Movie
(1999)
Mrs. Perigrew (voice)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Great Santa Claus Switch
(1970)
Snerf (voice)
Just a Few Announcements
(1975)
Janice
Muppet Picker Upper
(1975)
Janice (voice)
The Muppet Introduction
(1975)
Janice
Being There
(1979)
Sally Hayes
Look Back in Anger
(1980)
Helena Charles
Amber Waves
(1980)
Suze Winter
Oh, Boy! Babies!
(1982)
Kay
Old Enough
(1984)
Mrs. Sloan
The Muppets Take Manhattan
(1984)
Additional Muppet Performer / News Reporter (voice)
The No Show
(1987)
Chicken Licken
Midnight Run
(1988)
Dana Mardukas
The Song of the Cloud Forest
(1989)
Louise
Dog City: The Movie
(1989)
Colleen Barker (voice)
What About Bob?
(1991)
Lily Marvin
Hyde In Hollywood
(1991)
Betty Armstrong
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
(1991)
Bluejay / Sparrow (voice)
Muppet Sing Alongs: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs
(1993)
Sesame Street Stays Up Late!
(1993)
Prarie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
(1993)
Prarie Dawn (voice)
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
(1993)
Prairie Dawn
The World of Jim Henson
(1994)
Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street: The Best of Elmo
(1994)
Prarie Dawn/Zoe (voice)
Muppet Sing Alongs: It's Not Easy Being Green
(1994)
Clam / Frog (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
(1994)
Prairie Dawn / Zoe
Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Learning to Share
(1996)
Zoe
Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet
(1996)
Zoe (voice)
City Hall
(1996)
Angie
Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas
(1996)
Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Imagine That!
(1996)
Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Quiet Time
(1997)
Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Fiesta!
(1997)
Betty Lou / Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!
(1998)
Zoe / Prairie Dawn / Roxie Marie (voice)
Sesame Street: The Alphabet Jungle Game
(1998)
Zoe (voice)
Doug's 1st Movie
(1999)
Mrs. Perigrew (voice)
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
(1999)
Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs
(1999)
Zoe / Prairie Dawn (voice)
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs 2
(2001)
Zoe / Mary (voice)
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
(2002)
Prairie Dawn / Zoe / Frosty Four Singer (voice)
Sesame Street: Let's Eat! Funny Food Songs
(2003)
Cereal (voice)
Sesame Street: Sesame Sings Karaoke
(2003)
Zoe
Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves
(2003)
Zoe
Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic
(2003)
Prairie Dawn / Zoe
Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!
(2005)
Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty Time
(2006)
Prairie Dawn (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's Christmas Countdown
(2007)
Prairie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Abby in Wonderland
(2008)
Zoe as Mousey the Hatter Helper (voice)
Sesame Street: Love the Earth!
(2008)
Zoe
Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmo
(2009)
Zoe (voice) (archive footage)
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story
(2009)
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
(2011)
Self
Sesame Street: Elmo's Music Magic
(2011)
Sesame Street: M is for Mystery
(2014)
Zoe
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
(2015)
Self
Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched
(2017)
Herself
Sesame Street: 50th Anniversary Celebration!
(2019)
Self
Muppet Guys Talking: A Special Conversation to Honor Jim Henson
(2020)
Herself
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
(2021)
Self
Jerry Nelson: A Celebratory Birthday Animatic
(2022)
Prairie Dawn (voice) / Zoe (voice)
Muppets & Magic: Celebrating 70 Years of Jim Henson
(2024)
Colleen Barker (voice)