Puppeteer with "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show"

FRANKOZ

This legendary performer voiced iconic characters like Cookie Monster and Grover, and co-created a beloved puppet troupe that debuted in the 1970s. Think of his last name paired with a famous blue detective.

This clue points to Frank Oz, the legendary puppeteer behind iconic characters on both Sesame Street (like Grover and Cookie Monster) and The Muppet Show (such as Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear). The answer is shortened to "FRANKOZ" to fit crossword spacing, dropping the space between his first and last name. If you know his work with Jim Henson’s puppets, the name should click right away.