David Lazer

History

David Lazer started his career with Jim Henson in 1965. As an executive with IBM, he helped develop the Muppet Meeting Films commissioned by IBM. When he later joined Muppets Inc., producing meeting films became standard practice for the company. Lazer served as executive producer for The Muppet Show where he also acted as a liaison for the show's guest stars. He would show the guest star how to walk on the elevated sets, how to speak to a Muppet (as opposed to the performer), and would make sure the star was comfortable with the very different production atmosphere. From May to December of 1990, Lazer came out of semi-retirement to serve as acting CEO of Henson Associates.

Movies

Labyrinth

Executive Producer

When teen Sarah is forced to babysit her half-brother Toby, she summons Jareth the Goblin King to take him away. When he is actually kidnapped, Sarah is given just thirteen hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue him.

The Muppets Take Manhattan

Customer at Sardi's

When the Muppets graduate from Danhurst College, they take their song-filled senior revue to New York City, only to learn that it isn't easy to find a producer who's willing to back a show starring a frog and a pig. Of course, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy won't take no for an answer, launching a search for someone to take them to Broadway.

The Muppets Take Manhattan

Producer

The Dark Crystal

Executive Producer

On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal and restore order to his world, before the grotesque race of Skeksis find and use the crystal for evil.

Of Muppets & Men

Documentary about the work of puppeteer Jim Henson and his team in creating The Muppet Show

Of Muppets & Men

Executive Producer

Documentary about the work of puppeteer Jim Henson and his team in creating The Muppet Show

Muppet Side Splitter

Producer

Jim Henson’s “for hire” work using Muppets to spice up dull corporate meetings

The Muppet Movie

Co-Producer

A Hollywood agent persuades Kermit the Frog to pursue a career in Hollywood. On his way there he meets his future muppet crew while being chased by the desperate owner of a frog-leg restaurant!

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

Executive Producer

A poor otter family risks everything for the chance to win the cash prize of a talent contest for Christmas.

The Paperwork Explosion

Producer

Mankind has devoted too much time, too much money and plenty of space on paperwork and more paperwork. In the 1960's, to remove all those obstacles and all that paper, and in order to make life easier, IBM has created a groundbreaking device - a machine that could improve office relations and operations. IBM, through Jim Henson's picture, presents the 'Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter', a machine that does the work while we do the thinking.

Rowlf the Salesman

Producer

Rowlf the Dog joins IBM as a salescanine, in three parts (and a conclusion).