Fozzie is an orange-brown bear who often wears a brown pork pie hat and a pink and white polka dot necktie.

[4][5] However, Oz confirmed on Twitter in 2018 that Fozzie was named after Franz Fazakas, a Muppet workshop person, who was nicknamed "Faz".

The concept for the "Play-Along Video" came from Jim Henson's idea that television could be used as an interactive medium and encourage children's creativity.

[8] During the 1990s, his roles became much smaller, due to the fact that Oz had turned his focus to directing non-Muppet films and reduced his time with the Muppets.

However, he returned to prominence when Eric Jacobson took over in 2002, beginning with It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, in which Fozzie was the focus of a number of scenes.

Victor Yerrid performed Fozzie for a 2006 Disney Cruise Line stage show, Muppets Ahoy!.

Frank Oz has described Fozzie as "desperately insecure" and cites the character's close friendship with Kermit the Frog to be essential to his core.

Fozzie's mother, Emily Bear (performed by Jerry Nelson), appeared in A Muppet Family Christmas special.

Fozzie also has a cousin who appeared in the first season of The Muppet Show as an audience member, also performed by Frank Oz.

In one episode of The Muppet Show, he begged the other audience members not to insult his cousin Fozzie, and has a friend named Jasmine the tortoise.

Fozzie was often featured in a sketch where he did a comedy monologue, in which Statler and Waldorf would heckle him (he was their favorite victim).

In the second season, Fozzie's comedy routines often had gimmicks such as ventriloquism or performing on roller skates.

For example, "The Telephone Pole Bit" included a reference to Frank Oz's Polish Jewish father, and in Fozzie's magic act, he pulls a rabbi out of his hat.

During the latter number, Rowlf attempts to help Fozzie with his singing but is finally reduced to changing the hapless bear's lyrics to "I Don't Got Rhythm".