Longtime Kermit the Frog voice actor Steve Whitmire has been replaced as the sound behind the high-pitched beloved puppet after 27 years.
Whitmire, who voiced the Muppets’ character since 1990, has been replaced by another performer, Matt Vogel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It is not yet known why or how the decision was made.
The 57-year-old puppeteer inherited the iconic role in 1990 following the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson.
In addition to Kermit, Whitmire had voiced grumpy critic Statler, Rizzo the Rat, the always-startled Beaker and other characters for the Muppets.
The puppeteer has reprised his role of Rizzo on several occasions in both Muppet TV shows and movies, and most recently starred as Kermit, Rizzo, Beaker, Statler, Lips and The Muppet Newsman in ABC comedy series The Muppets from 2015 to 2016.
He also voiced several characters in popular children's TV show Fraggle Rock from 1983 to 1987, including Flange Doozer, Sprocket and Wembley Fraggle.
Vogel, who is also a longtime member of The Muppets team has previously voiced characters such as Big Bird, Robin the Frog and The Count.
He will make his voice debut as Kermit in a Muppets Thought of the Week video next week.
