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| Rowlf the Dog | |
|---|---|
| The Muppets character | |
 | |
| First appearance | VariousPurina dog food commercials (1962)[1] |
| Created by | Jim Henson |
| Performed by | Jim Henson(1962–1990) Bill Barretta(1996–present) |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Muppet Dog |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Pianist |
| Nationality | American |
Rowlf the Dog is aMuppet character created and originally performed byJim Henson. Known most notably as the residentpianist on thesketch comedy television seriesThe Muppet Show, Rowlf is ananthropomorphic scruffy browndog ofindeterminate breed with a rounded black nose and long floppy ears. Laid-back and wisecracking, his humor is characterized asdeadpan and as such, he is one of few Muppets who is rarely flustered by the show's prevalent mayhem. Henson's closest collaborators and family members have claimed Rowlf to be the Muppet character most similar to Henson's real-life personality.
Rowlf was created in 1962 being introduced as thespokesman ofPurina Dog Chow television commercials aired in Canada, in which he appeared with Baskerville the Hound. Rowlf was designed and performed by Henson, and was built byDon Sahlin; it was Sahlin's first Muppet construction.[2] In 1966, Ideal Toys produced Rowlf andKermit the Frog puppets.[3]Rowlf subsequently appeared onThe Jimmy Dean Show from 1963 to 1966, becoming the first Muppet to appear regularly onnetwork television. In the 1970s and 1980s, Rowlf appeared as a regular character onThe Muppet Show (1976–1982), as well as inThe Muppet Movie (1979),The Great Muppet Caper (1981), andThe Muppets Take Manhattan (1984). After a brief hiatus following Henson's death, Rowlf returned to the forefront in Muppet films and television series withBill Barretta performing the character sinceMuppets Tonight (1996).
Rowlf rose to popularity asJimmy Dean's sidekick onThe Jimmy Dean Show, performed by Henson withFrank Oz assisting. He was the first Muppet with a regular spot onnetwork television,[4] appearing in 85 of the 86 total episodes from 1963 to the show's end in 1966.[5] Jimmy Dean stated that Rowlf's segments were one of the most popular parts of the show, and that Rowlf drew two thousand fan letters a week.[6] Henson was so grateful for the exposure Dean offered on his show, even proposing that he take a 40% stake inHenson's company. Dean refused, however, later saying in 2005, "I didn't do anything to earn that."[7] Dean and Rowlf appeared together for the last time in an episode ofThe Ed Sullivan Show airing on October 8, 1967, performing "Friendship" while doing the "herd of cows" gag.
In 1968, Rowlf appeared withKermit the Frog on the pitch reel forSesame Street. At the end of the pitch reel, Rowlf is depicted as being eager to join theSesame Street cast, while Kermit seems reluctant to do so; however, it was Kermit who became aSesame star, while Rowlf appeared only in one filmed segment and was never a part of the show's regular cast.
In 1976, Rowlf joined the recurring cast ofThe Muppet Show as the show's pianist. Rowlf also played Dr. Bob, the wisecracking doctor in the recurring medical dramaparody skit "Veterinarian's Hospital", alongside nursesJanice andMiss Piggy. Though considered one of the main characters, he rarely interacted with any of the backstage plots involving the show's weekly guest stars.
Rowlf has a primary role inThe Muppet Movie (1979). In 1984, Baby Rowlf debuted playing a toy piano during a musical number inThe Muppets Take Manhattan. This fantasy sequence with the Muppets as babies was so popular that it resulted in the successful animated cartoon spinoffMuppet Babies. He was voiced on that program byKatie Leigh.
Jim Henson's last public performance as Rowlf before his death was as guest onThe Arsenio Hall Show in 1989. For several years afterward, the character was retired out of deference to Henson's memory (only returning for silent cameos inThe Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson,The Muppet Christmas Carol andMuppet Treasure Island), as he was both the first Muppet to achieve popularity and, according to some sources, the character closest to Jim Henson's personality, with Henson's sonBrian saying in the introduction to episode 117 ofThe Muppet Show: "Kermit was my father's best known character, but a lot of people think he was more like Rowlf in real life except he couldn't play the piano as well."
Since 1996, Rowlf has been portrayed by puppeteerBill Barretta. Barretta has gradually transitioned into the role. Rowlf's first words since Henson's death were in the second episode ofMuppets Tonight. Rowlf also had several lines of dialogue inThe Muppet Show Live (2001) and spoke two lines of dialogue ("Hey, Kermit!" and "Yeah! Heh, heh. Oh!") inIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002). In 2005, Rowlf had a 190-word monologue in the second episode ofStatler and Waldorf: From the Balcony. Rowlf appeared in the "Keep Fishin'" music video for rock bandWeezer. Although he's only briefly seen, Rowlf had a more prominent role in the behind-the-scenes making-of special that accompanied it,Weezer and the Muppets Go Fishin'.
Additionally, Bill Barretta recorded the vocals as Rowlf singing "The Christmas Party Sing-Along" for the 2006The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas album.[citation needed]
Rowlf and Kermit appeared together at the 2011Disney D23 Expo to honor Jim Henson's posthumous induction as aDisney Legend, singing a live duet of "The Rainbow Connection", as they were Henson's first two Muppet characters.[8]
Rowlf appears inThe Muppets (2011), initially saddened he wasn't included in the montage depicting the principal Muppets being reunited (Rowlf was asleep, and was simply woken up by Kermit and easily convinced to join the cause), and helps rebuild the Muppet theater. He also performs "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in a barbershop quartet withSam the Eagle,Beaker, andLink Hogthrob during the Muppet Telethon, as well as an unwilling (and captive)Jack Black.
As of 2014, Rowlf is on long-term display at theCenter for Puppetry Arts inAtlanta,Georgia.[9]
In 2019, Rowlf appeared withDarci Lynne onAmerica's Got Talent: The Champions, singing "Can't Smile Without You".
A solo album titledOl' Brown Ears is Back was released byBMG in 1993 and featured 14 songs recorded by Jim Henson as Rowlf.[4][10] The album had been recorded in 1984 but went unreleased until three years after Henson's death.
