 | |
| PERFORMER | various |
| DEBUT | 1974 |
| DESIGN | Bonnie Erickson design |
| Caroly Wilcox builder | |
Design sketches for the character.
The Muppets Valentine Show
Muppet Magazine Spring 1983.
Mildred dances with Charles Aznavour.
Mildred Huxtetter with Marvin Suggs on display at the Jim Henson: Performing Artist exhibit.
Mildred with Clifford in the opening of Muppets Tonight.
Afghan Hound, Scooter, Gonzo, Mildred, Camilla, and Beauregard in Muppets Most Wanted.
Mildred Huxtetter is a purple, beak-nosed woman who carries herself with a haughty, aristocratic air. She is very educated, as evidenced by her many appelations, which include BA, MA, PhD, OBE, and RSVP.
Mildred made her debut on The Muppets Valentine Show, where she was performed by Richard Hunt, and had the largest role of her career. In that special, Mildred serves as the piano accompanist. She also offers tea to Mia Farrow, mourns over the lack of romance in her own life, and is pursued by Brewster, who mistakes her for his old flame Grace.
When Mildred appeared on The Muppet Show, however, she was one of the few main characters whose performer was inconsistent. Although both Mildred's Featured Creature bio at henson.com and the Muppet Morsels on The Muppet Show: Season One DVDs list Eren Ozker as her regular performer, there are no known instances of her vocalizing in the role.
During the first season of The Muppet Show, all of Mildred's appearances were onstage, most frequently with George the Janitor in At the Dance sketches, where she was performed by Frank Oz. She also danced with Charles Aznavour to "The Old Fashioned Way" in episode 109 and appeared in two panel discussions: in episode 109, where she was performed by Richard Hunt, and in episode 115, where she was performed by Dave Goelz. In episode 204, her first appearance on the second season of The Muppet Show, she appeared as a reporter (voiced by Louise Gold, who would also perform Mildred in episode 305).
Although she would appear in the background on The Muppet Show, The Jim Henson Hour, Muppets Tonight and several Muppet movies, Mildred would have no further speaking roles. After a more than 16 year absence from the screen, Mildred returned to the Muppet troupe for some non-speaking appearances throughout Muppets Most Wanted.
Because Mildred was never featured in the first season's backstage plots, no context was given for her appearances on The Muppet Show. Unlike George the Janitor or Hilda (the seamstress), Mildred did not appear to have a position with the Muppet Theater. Nor did she appear to be a performer like Wanda. However when she appeared in the opening theme for Muppets Tonight, she was shown working in the hair and make-up department.
Mildred served as the receptionist for Muppet Magazine in the 1980s. And according to the Spring 1983 issue of the magazine (which also established her as the publication's proofreader), Mildred is said to be from Spokane, Washington and once pursued a career as a soprano in The Metropolitan Opera. In episode 108 of The Muppet Show, it was revealed that Mildred is the mother of a grown son (George is surprised to learn that she had a son that age; to which she replied that she didn't, when she had him he was just a baby).
In 2006, the puppet was on display at the Jim Henson: Performing Artist exhibit at the University of Maryland.
Filmography[]
- The Muppets Valentine Show
- The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence
- Cher
- The Muppet Show
- "The Muppet Show Theme" (Seasons 2 - 5)
- Episode 101: Juliet Prowse (At the Dance)
- Episode 102: Connie Stevens (At the Dance)
- Episode 103: Joel Grey (At the Dance, "Willkommen")
- Episode 104: Ruth Buzzi (At the Dance)
- Episode 105: Rita Moreno (At the Dance)
- Episode 106: Jim Nabors (At the Dance)
- Episode 107: Florence Henderson (At the Dance)
- Episode 108: Paul Williams (At the Dance)
- Episode 109: Charles Aznavour ("The Old Fashioned Way," Panel Discussion)
- Episode 110: Harvey Korman (At the Dance)
- Episode 111: Lena Horne ("I Got a Name," At the Dance)
- Episode 112: Peter Ustinov ("(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song")
- Episode 113: Bruce Forsyth (At the Dance)
- Episode 114: Sandy Duncan
- Episode 115: Candice Bergen (At the Dance, Panel Discussion, "Look at That Face," "Friends")
- Episode 116: Avery Schreiber (At the Dance)
- Episode 117: Ben Vereen
- Episode 118: Phyllis Diller
- Episode 119: Vincent Price (At the Dance)
- Episode 120: Valerie Harper (At the Dance)
- Episode 123: Kaye Ballard
- Episode 124: Mummenschanz (At the Dance)
- Episode 204: Rich Little (Interview)
- Episode 208: Steve Martin (Audience)
- Episode 216: Cleo Laine (Audience, "Muppet Limbo")
- Episode 305: Pearl Bailey
- Episode 308: Loretta Lynn
- Episode 316: Danny Kaye ("Jogging")
- Episode 403: Shields & Yarnell ("It's Lonely at the Top")
- The Muppet Movie ("The Rainbow Connection" Finale)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan (Wedding Finale)
- The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
- The Jim Henson Hour
- Muppets Tonight
- Muppets Most Wanted
Book appearances[]
- The Muppet Show Annual 1977
- The Muppet Show Comic Book
- Muppet Robin Hood
- Issue #2
- Issue #3
- Green and Bear It
- The Muppets Character Encyclopedia
- Muppets Meet the Classics: The Phantom of the Opera
- Muppets Meet the Classics: Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
See also[]
- Henrietta from Sam and Friends was sometimes called Mildred.