You’ve heard the voice. It’s that unmistakable, slightly nasal, warm-hearted rasp that sounds like a friend who has just finished a long day of work but still has time to sing you a song. It belongs to a frog. Specifically, a frog made of an old green coat and two halves of a ping-pong ball.
But if you’ve watched a Muppet clip lately, something might have felt… off. Maybe the pitch was a little lower. Maybe the pacing was just a hair slower. You aren't imagining things. The voice for Kermit the Frog has been a subject of intense debate among fans for years, especially after a dramatic behind-the-scenes firing that shook the foundations of Jim Henson’s legacy.
Honestly, the history of this voice is a lot more complicated than just "who's the actor?" It's a story of legacy, massive corporate egos, and the literal physics of a human throat.
The Three Men Behind the Green Felt
Kermit isn't just a puppet. He’s a mantle. Since 1955, only three men have officially held the role as the primary performer. Each one brought something different to the character, even if they were all trying to sound like the same frog.
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Jim Henson: The Creator (1955–1990)
Jim Henson was the original. When he started, Kermit wasn't even fully a frog yet; he was more of a "lizard-like creature." Jim’s voice for Kermit was deeply personal. It wasn’t a "character voice" in the traditional sense. It was basically Jim, just pushed up into the front of his face.
Jim’s Kermit had a brightness to it. When he got excited, his voice would crack and soar into that iconic "Yaaaay!" It was organic. It felt like it was coming from a place of genuine joy.
Steve Whitmire: The Protégé (1990–2016)
When Jim passed away suddenly in 1990, the world was devastated. For a while, people wondered if Kermit would just… retire. Instead, the role went to Steve Whitmire. Steve had been with the Muppets since the late 70s. He was the guy behind Rizzo the Rat and Wembley Fraggle.
Taking over the voice for Kermit the Frog was a heavy lift. Steve famously hid the Kermit puppet in his house for weeks before he felt "ready" to even put it on his hand. His version was remarkably close to Jim’s. He captured the "soul" of the frog. For 27 years, Steve was Kermit for an entire generation of kids who grew up with The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island.
Matt Vogel: The Current Voice (2017–Present)
Then everything changed in 2017. Disney (which now owns the Muppets) fired Steve Whitmire. It was a mess. There were blog posts, public statements from the Henson family, and a lot of hurt feelings.
Matt Vogel stepped in. Matt is a powerhouse—he’s the guy who does Big Bird and The Count on Sesame Street. But his Kermit? It’s different. It’s a bit deeper. A bit more "measured." Some fans love it; others find it distracting. It’s the current reality of the character, whether people are ready for it or not.
Why the Voice Changed (and the Drama Behind It)
The shift from Steve Whitmire to Matt Vogel wasn't a peaceful retirement. It was a corporate explosion.
Disney’s Muppets Studio claimed Whitmire was fired for "unacceptable business conduct." They said he was difficult to work with and played "brinkmanship" in negotiations. Even Jim Henson’s children, Brian and Lisa Henson, came out and supported the decision. They mentioned that Steve refused to train an understudy and was allegedly "outspoken" in ways that stalled productions.
Steve had a different story. He claimed he was let go because he was trying to protect Kermit’s character. He felt the writers on the 2015 ABC Muppets show were making Kermit too mean, too "Hollywood." He saw himself as the gatekeeper of Jim's vision.
The result? A voice change that felt like a jolt. Vogel’s Kermit made its debut in a "Muppet Thought of the Week" video on YouTube. The comments section was a battlefield. Some people didn't even notice. Others felt like their childhood had been rewritten.
The Mechanics: How Do You Actually Do the Voice?
If you want to understand why the voice for Kermit the Frog is so hard to get right, you have to look at how it’s made. It’s not just a "funny voice." It’s an anatomical trick.
According to voice coaches and performers, the "Kermit sound" relies on a few specific things:
- The Larynx: You have to drop the larynx slightly.
- The Tongue: This is the big one. You need to clench the back of your tongue against the back of your throat. It creates that "swallowed" quality.
- The Soft Palate: You lower it to let some air travel through the nose. This gives it that "nasal brightness."
- The "Thee": Kermit almost always says "thee" instead of "the." Example: "Kermit thee Frog."
Jim Henson’s voice was naturally more tenor. Steve Whitmire had a similar range. Matt Vogel, however, has a naturally deeper, more baritone voice. This is why his Kermit sounds "heavier." He’s hitting the right notes, but the resonance in his chest is different.
Basically, you can't fight biology. Even the best impressionist in the world has a different throat than Jim Henson had.
Is the Current Voice for Kermit the Frog "Wrong"?
"Wrong" is a tough word.
If you go on Reddit or Muppet fan forums today, you’ll find endless threads analyzing Matt Vogel’s performance. The biggest complaint isn't the pitch—it’s the "vibe."
Critics say Vogel’s Kermit is too calm. Jim’s Kermit was a frantic ball of stress who was one bad joke away from a nervous breakdown. He was the "straight man" in a world of lunatics. Vogel plays him a bit more like a wise elder. It’s a subtle shift, but for die-hard fans, it changes the chemistry of the whole group.
But let’s be real. It’s been nearly a decade since Vogel took over. For kids watching Muppet Babies or the newer Disney+ specials today, Matt Vogel is the voice for Kermit the Frog. They don’t have the 1970s nostalgia to compare it to.
Legacy is a weird thing. It evolves.
Actionable Steps for Muppet Fans and Voice Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan trying to wrap your head around the change, or maybe an aspiring voice actor looking to nail the impression, here is what you should actually do:
- Listen to the "Transition" Points: Go watch a clip from The Muppets Take Manhattan (Jim), then The Muppets (2011) (Steve), then Muppets Haunted Mansion (Matt). If you listen to them back-to-back, you’ll hear exactly where the resonance shifts from the nose to the throat to the chest.
- Study the "Kermitisms": It’s not just the sound; it’s the words. Kermit uses soft fillers. "Uhm," "Well," "Gee." He repeats himself when he's flustered. "Now, what I’m gonna do—what I’m going to do—is..."
- Practice the "Tongue Pinch": If you're trying the voice yourself, try to talk while keeping the very back of your tongue touching your top back molars. It’s uncomfortable at first, but that’s the "in."
- Support the Current Work: The Muppets are in a weird spot right now. Whether you love the new voice or hate it, the characters only survive if people watch the shows. Matt Vogel is a veteran puppeteer who deeply respects the craft, even if his vocal cords aren't a 1:1 match for Jim's.
The voice for Kermit the Frog will likely change again one day. That’s the nature of a character that lives for 70+ years. It’s less about a perfect imitation and more about keeping the heart of that little green guy beating.
Next time you see him on screen, try to look past the pitch of the "Hi-ho!" and look at the performance. The soul of the frog is still there, even if the throat behind it has changed.