are ernie and kermit the same voice?
The puppeteer who has voiced and controlled the Muppets' Kermit the Frog has departed the show after nearly 30 years, according to reports. ... Whitmire had been in control of Kermit since 1990 following the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson. He had also voiced Ernie of the Sesame Street double act Bert and Ernie.