Fran Brill
Known for Acting · 105 credits
- Born
- 1946-09-30 (age 79)
- Place of birth
- Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
- Also known as
- Frances Joan Brill · Frances 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.
Known For
Law & Order
1990
as Sondra More / Leah Bartlett / Mrs. Stark / Maureen Donovan
Sesame Street
1969
as Zoe/Prairie Dawn (voice)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Ilene Maxwell
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Vazh (voice)
The West Wing
1999
as Zoe
The Cosby Show
1984
as Pink Frackle / Patina / Tomato (voice)
TV Shows (18)
Law & Order
1990
as Sondra More / Leah Bartlett / Mrs. Stark / Maureen Donovan
Sesame Street
1969
as Zoe/Prairie Dawn (voice)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Ilene Maxwell
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Vazh (voice)
The West Wing
1999
as Zoe
The Cosby Show
1984
as Pink Frackle / Patina / Tomato (voice)
Third Watch
1999
as Mrs. Simpson
American Playhouse
1982
as Betty Armstrong
Doug
1991
as Emily Kristal (voice)
Reading Rainbow
1983
as Self - Narrator (voice)
My Little Pony
1986
The Jim Henson Hour
1989
as Self / Various
CBS Schoolbreak Special
1984
as Mrs. DiFazio
Sesame Unpaved
1999
Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame
2002
as Prairie Dawn
Dog City
1992
as Colleen (voice) / Terri (voice)
Sheep in the Big City
2000
as Little Girl
On The Level
1980
Movies (87)
Dog City
1989
as Colleen Barker (voice)
What About Bob?
1991
as Lily Marvin
Midnight Run
1988
as Dana Mardukas, Jonathan's Wife
Jim Henson Idea Man
2024
as Self
City Hall
1996
as Angie
The Muppets Take Manhattan
1984
as Additional Muppet Performer / News Reporter (voice)
Being There
1979
as Sally Hayes
The World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self (archive footage)
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
1999
as Zoe (voice)
The Muppet Introduction
1975
as Janice
Elmo's Christmas Countdown
2007
as Prairie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Learning to Share
1996
as Zoe
Sesame Street: Count on Sports
2008
as Prairie Dawn / Zoe
Doug's 1st Movie
1999
as Mrs. Perigrew (voice)
Routed
1989
as Mrs. Grove
Muppet Picker Upper
1975
as Janice (voice)
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
2011
as Self
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!
1993
as Prairie Dawn
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!
1998
as Zoe / Prairie Dawn / Roxie Marie (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales
2009
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Summer Vacation
2008
as Muppet Performer (voice)
Sesame Street: Let's Eat! Funny Food Songs
2003
as Cereal (voice)
Muppet Sing Alongs: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs
1993
Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas
1996
as Zoe (voice)
Amber Waves
1980
as Suze Winter
Sesame Street: The Best of Elmo
1994
as Prarie Dawn/Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmo
2009
as Zoe (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: A Celebration of Me, Grover
2004
as Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994
as Prairie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
My Little Pony
1984
as Applejack (voice)
Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
2011
Elmo's World: Family Feature
2002
as Zoe
Old Enough
1984
as Mrs. Sloan
Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance Moves
2003
as Zoe
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993
as Prarie Dawn (voice)
Sesame Street Stays Up Late!
1993
as Prarie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
2021
as Self
Sesame Street: Elmo's World
2000
as Zoe
The No Show
1987
as Chicken Licken
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
1991
as Bluejay / Sparrow (voice)
Getting Ready to Read
1992
as "OP" Family Song (voice)
Sesame Street: Quiet Time
1997
as Zoe (voice)
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990
as Additional Muppet Performer
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
2015
as Self
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
2004
as Zoe
The Great Santa Claus Switch
1970
as Snerf (voice)
CinderElmo
1999
as Zoe (voice)
Just a Few Announcements
1975
as Janice
Jim Henson's Memorial Service
1990
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
2019
as Self
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
2006
as Additional Muppet Performer (voice) (archive footage)
Lip Service
1988
as Debbie
Sesame Street: Imagine That!
1996
as Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty Time
2006
as Prairie Dawn (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbers
2012
as Zoe
Muppet Sing Alongs: It's Not Easy Being Green
1994
as Clam / Frog (voice) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word Play
2002
as Prairie Dawn / Zoe / Frosty Four Singer (voice)
Sesame Street: Sesame Sings Karaoke
2003
as Zoe
Sesame Street: Fiesta!
1997
as Betty Lou / Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Wild Wild West!
2001
as Zoe
Sesame Street: Abby in Wonderland
2008
as Zoe as Mousey the Hatter Helper (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!
2004
as Zoe / Prairie Dawn (voice)
Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame: Let's Play Games
2008
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best Bites
2004
as Lavender Anything Muppet Girl (voice)
Sesame Street: Do the Alphabet
1996
as Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street Animals
1991
as Little Bird / Chicken (voice)
Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched
2017
as Self
Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!
2005
as Zoe (voice)
Oh, Boy! Babies!
1982
as Kay
The Song of the Cloud Forest
1989
as Louise (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Adventure: The Story of Peter and the Wolf
2001
as Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Love the Earth!
2008
as Zoe
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story
2009
Sesame Street: The Alphabet Jungle Game
1998
as Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Wake Up with Elmo!
2002
as Zoe
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: All About Faces
2009
Look Back in Anger
1980
as Helena Charles
Sesame Street: Ready for School!
2007
Sesame Street: When Families Grieve
2010
as Mae
Sesame Beginnings: Exploring Together
2006
as Prairie Dawn
Muppet Guys Talking: A Special Conversation to Honor Jim Henson
2020
as Self
Jerry Nelson: A Celebratory Birthday Animatic
2022
as Prairie Dawn (voice) / Zoe (voice)
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs 2
2001
as Zoe / Mary (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmo's Music Magic
2011
Hyde in Hollywood
1991
as Betty Armstrong
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs
1999
as Zoe / Prairie Dawn (voice)
Sesame Street: M is for Mystery
2014
as Zoe
About Fran Brill
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. With 105 credits spanning from 1969 to 2024, Fran Brill has appeared in 87 films and 18 TV shows.
Fans searching for Fran Brill movies, Fran Brill filmography, or the latest projects starring Fran Brill can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Fran Brill Movies
- Dog City (1989) — as Colleen Barker (voice)
- What About Bob? (1991) — as Lily Marvin
- Midnight Run (1988) — as Dana Mardukas, Jonathan's Wife
- Jim Henson Idea Man (2024) — as Self
- City Hall (1996) — as Angie
Where to Watch Fran Brill Films
Most Fran Brill movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Fran Brill, check our movies catalogue and browse page.