Rowlf the Dog was the first Muppet to reach national stardom as a cast member of The Jimmy Dean Show from 1963 to 1966. He later went on to serve as the resident piano player on The Muppet Show, where he also played the silly surgeon Dr. Bob in the recurring sketch "Veterinarian's Hospital".
Rowlf was prominently featured in The Muppet Movie as a piano player at The Terrace Restaurant, where he first meets Kermit. When Kermit is down, Rowlf shares his motto in life, a motto even he can't follow - "stay away from women." The two sing "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along". An original draft of the script describes the song as "a sad/funny little duet based on the old 'can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em' theme, designed to allow for some good harmony howling from Rowlf."
The song featured a rare pairing of characters, as Jim Henson virtually performed a duet with himself. In order to achieve the effect, the vocals of the two characters were recorded separately by Henson and then combined.
Rowlf soon joined Kermit and the rest of the gang on their way to Hollywood. Before joining the Muppets, Rowlf's life was simple - he lived alone, would "go to work, come home, read a book, have a couple of beers, take [himself] for a walk and go to bed." While in the desert, Rowlf played harmonica as Gonzo sang "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" (while Fozzie played ukulele). Rowlf served as the film's cameraman in the finale, as the Muppets prepare to shoot their movie.
Rowlf is seen playing the piano at the Happiness Hotel welcoming Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo. He also joined with the other Muppets to help clear Miss Piggy's good name and catch the thieves red-handed.
The Muppet Christmas Carol[]
Rowlf makes a brief appearance as a piano player at Fozziwig's Christmas party.
Rowlf appears at the very end of the film, singing along with Dorothy and the other Muppets.
Post-Henson[]
After the death of Jim Henson, Rowlf continued to appear in Muppet productions, silently (and usually briefly). A rumor arose that the character would be permanently silent as a sign of respect to Jim. As Brian Henson commented on in the audio commentary for The Muppet Christmas Carol, Rowlf continued to appear as a tribute to the character and Henson's legacy. Still, he wasn't immediately recast and kept in the forefront like Kermit, because at the time, the Muppeteers didn't feel there was a suitable and appropriate performer for the task.
Rowlf appeared in the "Keep Fishin" music video for rock band Weezer. Although he's only briefly seen (one can hear him muttering "Good job, River" and "Yeah"), Rowlf had a more prominent role in the behind the scenes making-of special that accompanied it, Weezer and the Muppets Go Fishin'.
Rowlf has a speaking cameo in the "Game Day" episode of The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora. Referencing his absence in recent years, he comments "It's a small part, but times are ruff."
Television shows:Muppet Moments • The Muppets • Muppet Babies • Muppets Now • The Muppets Mayhem
Television specials:The Muppets at Walt Disney World • Studio DC: Almost Live • A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa • Good Luck Charlie • Muppets Haunted Mansion Movies:The Muppets Take Manhattan • The Muppet Christmas Carol • Muppet Treasure Island • Muppets from Space • It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie • The Muppets' Wizard of Oz • The Muppets • Muppets Most Wanted • Muppet Man • Jim Henson Idea Man • Untitled Miss Piggy film Video Games:My Muppets Show • Animal Drummer • Tap Tap Muppets • Disney Emoji Blitz • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Disney Magic Kingdoms • Disney Speedstorm Albums:The Muppet Christmas Carol Story Album • The Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack • Muppet Treasure Island soundtrack • Best of the Muppets • A Green and Red Christmas • A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa soundtrack • Muppets: The Green Album • The Muppets soundtrack • Muppets Most Wanted soundtrack • Muppets Most Wanted score • London Music Works Perform Music From The Muppets • Disney Junior Music: Muppet Babies • Muppets Haunted Mansion soundtrack • The Muppets Mayhem soundtrack Cancelled projects:America's Next Muppet • Muppets Live Another Day
Entertainment:Here Come the Muppets • Hollywood's Pretty Woman • Muppet Mobile Lab • Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses • The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History Fireworks:World of Color Happiness Restaurants: PizzeRizzo • The Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor • Regal Eagle Smokehouse Shops:Stage 1 Company Store Parades:Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade Christmas:Disney Holidays in Hollywood
Humans:Dorothy Gale • Santa Claus • Beaker's Girlfriend • Gary • Mary • Tex Richman • Veronica Martin • Hobo Joe • Marge • Dominic Badguy • Nadya • Jean Pierre Napoleon • Becky • Holly and Carl The Muppet Christmas Carol:Ebenezer Scrooge Muppet Treasure Island:Jim Hawkins • Billy Bones • Mrs. Bluveridge • Long John Silver • Polly Lobster The Muppets' Wizard of Oz:Dorothy Gale
Vehicles
Hispaniola • The Electric Mayhem Bus
Locations
The Muppet Theater • Muppet Studios • Smalltown, USA
Songs
The Muppet Movie:The Rainbow Connection • Movin' Right Along • Never Before, Never Again • I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along • Can You Picture That? • I'm Going To Go Back There Someday • America • Finale: The Magic Store
The Great Muppet Caper: Hey A Movie! • Happiness Hotel • Steppin' Out With A Star • Night Life • The First Time It Happens • Couldn't We Ride • Miss Piggy's Fantasy ("Miss Piggy") • The Great Muppet Caper (The Heist/The Muppet Fight Song/Muppets to the Rescue) • Finale: Hey A Movie! • Reprise: The First Time It Happens The Muppets Take Manhattan:Together Again • You Can't Take No For An Answer • Saying Goodbye • Rat Scat (Something Cookin') • I'm Gonna Always Love You • Right Where I Belong • Somebody's Getting Married • Waiting For The Wedding • He'll Make Me Happy • The Ceremony • Closing Medley (Final Credits) The Muppet Christmas Carol:Scrooge • Room in Your Heart • Good King Wenceslas • One More Sleep 'til Christmas • Marley and Marley • Chairman of the Board • Fozziwig's Party • When Love is Gone • It Feels Like Christmas • Christmas Scat • Bless Us All • Thankful Heart • When Love Is Found Muppet Treasure Island:Treasure Island • Shiver My Timbers • Something Better • Sailing for Adventure • Cabin Fever • A Professional Pirate • Boom Shakalaka • Love Led Us Here • Love Power • Love Led Us Here Muppet Treasure Island (Sing-Alongs):There Was an Old Pirate • I'm a Rock • Real Pirate • Let the Good Shine Out The Muppets' Wizard of Oz:Kansas • When I'm With You • Nap Time • The Witch Is in the House • Calling All Munchkins • Good Life A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa:Delivering Christmas • It's All About Heart • I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus • My Best Christmas Yet The Muppets:The Muppet Show Theme • Life's a Happy Song • Pictures in My Head • Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard • We Built This City • Me Party • Let's Talk About Me • Man or Muppet • Smells Like Teen Spirit • Forget You • The Whistling Caruso Muppets Most Wanted:The Muppet Show Theme • We're Doing a Sequel • I'm Number One • The Big House • I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu) • Interrogation Song • Something So Right • Working in the Coal Mine • Together Again • Moves Like Jagger • Macarena Muppet Babies:Muppet Babies Theme Muppets Haunted Mansion:Rest in Peace • Life Hereafter • Tie the Knot Tango
Season One: "Sir Kermit the Brave / Animal Fly Airplane" • "Hatastrophe / Fly South" • "The Great Muppet Sport-A-Thon / You Say Potato, I Say Best Friend" • "Super Fabulous vs. Captain Icecube / Piggy's Time Machine" • "How Kermit Got His Groove / One Small Problem" • "Playground Pirates / The Blanket Fort" • "Summer Penguin, P.I. / You Ought to Be in Pictures" • "Kermit Levels Up / Frogs of a Feather" • "Animal Cleans Up / Best Pals Pizza Parlor Palace" • "The Good, the Bad, and the Froggy / Muppet Rock" • "Upside-Down Day / Tooth and Consequences" • "The Great Gonzo's Desert Grand Prix / Animal Kong" • "Bunsen Knows All / Doctor Fozzie" • "Grandpa Camp / A Backyard Divided" • "Happy Hallowocka! / The Teeth-Chattering Tale of the Haunted Pancakes" • "Kermit's Big Show / The Card Shark" • "A Very Muppet Babies Christmas / Summer's Super Fabulous Holiday Surprise" • "Summer the Great / Planet Gonzo" • "The Best, Best Friend / Counting Kermits" • "Puppy for a Day / No Laughing Matter" Season Two: "The Froginizer / My Fair Animal" • "Starship Piggy / My Buddy" • "Finders Keepers / Monster Next Door" • "The Great Muppet Cook-Off / Animal and the Egg" • "Tagalong Polliwog / Sparkly Star Switcheroo" • "Mystery on the Muppet Express / Mister Manny" • "The Karate Cub / Don't Over Duet" • "Run Fozzie Run / My Brother Vinny" • "Beaker 2.0 / When You Wish Upon a Rizzo" • "Chicken Round-Up / Summer's Snow Cone Stop" • "Wock-a-bye-Fozzie / Gonzo's Clean Sweep" • "Meatball Mayhem / Bunsen Honeydew, Show Stopper" • "Best Friends Fixer Uppers / Gonzo's Coop Dreams" • "Win a Twin / Skeeter and the Super Girls"
Songs
Muppet Babies Theme • Start Up Your Imagination • What's So Scary About the Dark? • Never Have to Say Goodbye (To the Summer) • Get Back in the Game • Me and My Potato • Super Fabulous • Good Things Come to Those Who Wait • You Can Be a Dancer! • Muppet Pirate Shanty • The Rules of the Kingdom • I'm on the Case • The Lily Pad Blues • What This Frog Likes to Do • Car Wash • Dirty Zone • Summer's Square Dance • Hopalong Froggy and the Buckin' Bronco • Do You Wanna Rock? • You Can Be a Star • Upside-Downsy Conga • You're Not Alone • Fozzie's Tooth Fairy Song • I've Been There, Buddy • How to Grow a Rubber Chicken Tree • Laughter is the Best-est Medicine • I Don't Know But I've Been Told • Super Spooky Halloween • Try Something New • Improvise • A Very Muppet Babies Christmas Song • Family • There Are Lots of Ways to Be Great • Just Like Me • Frogs and Dogs • Too Much Me • Puppy Come Home • To Get You Laughing • Meanzo Fabulous • My Fair Animal • Starship Piggy • My Buddy and Me • Must Be a Monster • Steppity Steppity • Slow Down • Penguin with a Plan • All Aboard the Muppet Express • Open Your Mind Up (To Something New) • Kick it Up a Notch • Happy Birthday Miss Nanny • Getting Away from it All • I Gotta Be Me • A Beautiful Friendship • Genie in a Lamp • You'll Get There Soon • Muppet Rocksplosion • We Can Fix It • Two of a Kind • You'll Get Better • Let's Get on the Bus • Follow Me Little Floofle • (So You Wanna) Be a Frog
