Nearly four decades after captivating audiences as the infant at the heart of a fantastical quest, the baby from Labyrinth has shared a rare reflection on his iconic role. Toby Froud, now 41, was just one year old when he starred opposite David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly in Jim Henson's beloved 1986 film.
From Goblin King's Captive to Puppetry Prodigy
The film, which has achieved enduring cult status, followed teenager Sarah (Connelly) as she ventured through a maze to rescue her baby brother Toby from Bowie's Goblin King. Froud admits he has few direct memories of the shoot due to his age, but certain impressions have lasted a lifetime. "I do have visions of goblins surrounding me and being a part of my life," he told People magazine.
His casting was a natural fit. His parents, who met working on Henson's The Dark Crystal, were deep in pre-production on Labyrinth when he was born. Growing up surrounded by puppets and artists meant he was perfectly calm on set. "I loved the puppets, I squished their noses. It was very natural," he recalled. The only exception was the famous "Dance Magic" scene with Bowie, which he says was "loud and it made me cry."
A Career Forged in Fantasy
Despite his early acting debut, Froud ultimately followed his parents into the world of practical effects and puppetry. His impressive career includes:
- Working at the legendary Muppet Workshop.
- Contributing to major films like The Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong.
- Spending years as a stop-motion animator at Laika on films such as ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls.
- Serving as design supervisor for Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Now a father of one living in Portland, Oregon, Froud is the puppet art director for Shadowmachine and runs his own production company, Stripey Pajama Productions—a nod to his iconic infant costume. He confirms he is "working on several projects in development at this time."
Froud still gets recognised by devoted fans, a testament to the film's lasting power. "People will come up to me and go, 'are you baby Toby?'" he shared. "It's a wonderful thing because it shows that [Labyrinth] stood the test of time." For Froud, the magical world of Henson wasn't just a film set—it was simply home. "Labyrinth feels normal to me," he joked. "The rest of the world is weird."
