John Landis (b. 1950) is a film director who has helmed such films as The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf in London, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Into the Night, Spies Like Us, Trading Places, and Animal House. In many of these films, he cast Frank Oz in bit roles. An American Werewolf in London even features a scene from The Muppet Show.
His earliest Muppet connection was as a performer in the finale of The Muppet Movie. In a scene filled with hundreds of Muppets and performers, Landis manipulated Grover.[1]
In 1990, Landis directed the Muppets in Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Celebration.
Landis also made several cameo appearances in Muppet productions, including in The Muppets Take Manhattan as Broadway producer Leonard Winesop, and as himself in the "She Drives Me Crazy" music video and the Muppets 2007 Presentation Pilot.
Outside of the Muppets, Landis' other directing credits include Three Amigos, Beverly Hills Cop III, and the Michael Jackson music videos for "Thriller" and "Black or White."
Inside jokes
- In addition to the Oz cameos and An American Werewolf in London clip, Into the Night (1985) features a cameo by Jim Henson (talking to Bernie) and a PA voice calling "Mr. Frank Oznowicz." See article for more details.