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Fran Brill
ACTOR

Fran Brill

Known for Law & Order · The West Wing · Saturday Night Live

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.

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Sep 30, 1946
Birthplace
Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Known For
Acting

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.

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Known For

TVLaw & Order
Law & OrderSondra More · 1990
★ 7.3
TVThe West Wing
The West WingZoe (voice) · 1999
★ 8.3
TVSaturday Night Live
Saturday Night LiveVazh (voice) · 1975
★ 6.9
TVLaw & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal IntentIlene Maxwell · 2001
★ 7.6
TVSesame Street
Sesame StreetZoe/Prairie Dawn (voice) · 1969
★ 7.1
TVThird Watch
Third WatchMrs. Simpson · 1999
★ 7.9
TVAmerican Playhouse
American PlayhouseBetty Armstrong · 1982
★ 6.6

Filmography

Movies

The Great Santa Claus SwitchSnerf (voice)
1970
Just a Few AnnouncementsJanice
1975
Muppet Picker UpperJanice (voice)
1975
The Muppet IntroductionJanice
1975
Being ThereSally Hayes
1979
Amber WavesSuze Winter
1980
Look Back in AngerHelena Charles
1980
Oh, Boy! Babies!Kay
1982
My Little PonyApplejack (voice)
1984
Old EnoughMrs. Sloan
1984
The Muppets Take ManhattanAdditional Muppet Performer / News Reporter (voice)
1984
The No ShowChicken Licken
1987
Lip ServiceDebbie
1988
Midnight RunDana Mardukas, Jonathan's Wife
1988
Dog CityColleen Barker (voice)
1989
RoutedMrs. Grove
1989
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989Self – Prairie Dawn
1989
The Song of the Cloud ForestLouise (voice)
1989
Jim Henson's Memorial Service
1990
The Muppets Celebrate Jim HensonAdditional Muppet Performer
1990
Hyde in HollywoodBetty Armstrong
1991
Sesame Street: Sing, Hoot & Howl with the Sesame Street AnimalsLittle Bird / Chicken (voice)
1991
The Tale of Peter RabbitBluejay / Sparrow (voice)
1991
What About Bob?Lily Marvin
1991
Getting Ready to Read"OP" Family Song (voice)
1992
Muppet Sing Alongs: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs
1993
Sesame Street Stays Up Late!Prarie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
1993
Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical CelebrationPrarie Dawn (voice)
1993
Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years: A Musical Celebration!Prairie Dawn
1993
Muppet Sing Alongs: It's Not Easy Being GreenClam / Frog (voice) (archive footage)
1994
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!Prairie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
1994
Sesame Street: The Best of ElmoPrarie Dawn/Zoe (voice)
1994
The World of Jim HensonSelf (archive footage)
1994
City HallAngie
1996
Sesame Street: Do the AlphabetZoe (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: Elmo Saves ChristmasZoe (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: Imagine That!Zoe (voice)
1996
Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Learning to ShareZoe
1996
Sesame Street: Fiesta!Betty Lou / Zoe (voice)
1997
Sesame Street: Quiet TimeZoe (voice)
1997
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!Zoe / Prairie Dawn / Roxie Marie (voice)
1998
Sesame Street: The Alphabet Jungle GameZoe (voice)
1998
CinderElmoZoe (voice)
1999
Doug's 1st MovieMrs. Perigrew (voice)
1999
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite SongsZoe / Prairie Dawn (voice)
1999
The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandZoe (voice)
1999
Sesame Street: Elmo's WorldZoe
2000
Sesame Street: Elmo's Musical Adventure: The Story of Peter and the WolfZoe (voice)
2001
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Wild Wild West!Zoe
2001
Sesame Street: Kids' Favorite Songs 2Zoe / Mary (voice)
2001
Elmo's World: Family FeatureZoe
2002
Sesame Street: Bert & Ernie's Word PlayPrairie Dawn / Zoe / Frosty Four Singer (voice)
2002
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!
2002
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Wake Up with Elmo!Zoe
2002
Sesame Street: Let's Eat! Funny Food SongsCereal (voice)
2003
Sesame Street: Sesame Sings KaraokeZoe
2003
Sesame Street: Zoe's Dance MovesZoe
2003
Sesame Street: A Celebration of Me, GroverZoe (voice)
2004
Sesame Street: Cookie Monster's Best BitesLavender Anything Muppet Girl (voice)
2004
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!Zoe / Prairie Dawn (voice)
2004
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?Zoe
2004
Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!Zoe (voice)
2005
A Sesame Street Christmas CarolAdditional Muppet Performer (voice) (archive footage)
2006
Sesame Beginnings: Exploring TogetherPrairie Dawn
2006
Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty TimePrairie Dawn (voice)
2006
Elmo's Christmas CountdownPrairie Dawn / Zoe (voice)
2007
Sesame Street: Ready for School!
2007
Sesame Street: Abby in WonderlandZoe as Mousey the Hatter Helper (voice)
2008
Sesame Street: Count on SportsPrairie Dawn / Zoe
2008
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: Summer VacationMuppet Performer (voice)
2008
Sesame Street: Love the Earth!Zoe
2008
Sesame Street: Play with Me Sesame: Let's Play Games
2008
JH
Jim Henson: His Sesame Street Story
2009
Sesame Street: Bedtime with ElmoZoe (voice) (archive footage)
2009
Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales
2009
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: All About Faces
2009
Sesame Street: When Families GrieveMae
2010
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's JourneySelf
2011
Sesame Street: Elmo's Music Magic
2011
Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
2011
Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic NumbersZoe
2012
Sesame Street: M is for MysteryZoe
2014
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney StorySelf
2015
Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World WatchedSelf
2017
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary CelebrationSelf
2019
Sesame Street: 50 Years and CountingPrairie Dawn / Zoe / Various Characters
2019
Muppet Guys Talking: A Special Conversation to Honor Jim HensonSelf
2020
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetSelf
2021
Jerry Nelson: A Celebratory Birthday AnimaticPrairie Dawn (voice) / Zoe (voice)
2022
Jim Henson Idea ManSelf
2024

Television

Sesame StreetZoe/Prairie Dawn (voice) · 3279 eps
1969
Saturday Night LiveVazh (voice) · 4 eps
1975
On The Level12 eps
1980
American PlayhouseBetty Armstrong · 1 eps
1982
Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
1983
CBS Schoolbreak SpecialMrs. DiFazio · 1 eps
1984
The Cosby ShowPink Frackle / Patina / Tomato (voice) · 1 eps
1984
My Little Pony65 eps
1986
The Jim Henson HourSelf / Various · 12 eps
1989
Law & OrderSondra More · 1 eps
1990
Law & OrderLeah Bartlett · 1 eps
1990
Law & OrderMrs. Stark · 1 eps
1990
Law & OrderMaureen Donovan · 1 eps
1990
DougEmily Kristal (voice) · 76 eps
1991
Dog CityColleen (voice) · 13 eps
1992
Dog CityTerri (voice) · 18 eps
1992
Sesame Unpaved67 eps
1999
The West WingZoe (voice) · 1 eps
1999
Third WatchMrs. Simpson · 1 eps
1999
Sheep in the Big CityLittle Girl · 27 eps
2000
Law & Order: Criminal IntentIlene Maxwell · 1 eps
2001
Sesame Street: Play with Me SesamePrairie Dawn · 26 eps
2002

Photos

Fran Brill photo
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