This list of famous male ventriloquists is ranked by their level of prominence, with photos when available. This greatest male ventriloquists list contains the most prominent and famous ventriloquist performers from today and throughout history. You might also be interested in the best Jeff Dunham characters and our list of famous female puppeteers. There are many men working as ventriloquists in the world, but this list highlights only the most notable ones. Famous ventriloquists have worked hard to become the best that they can be, so if you're a guy aspiring to be a ventriloquist then the people below should give you inspiration.
No best ventriloquist list would be complete without the likes of Nacho Estrada, Dan Horn, or Alex King. You'll also spot a ventriloquist comedian or two, like Jeff Dunham.
While this isn't a list of all male ventriloquists, it does feature many a popular ventriloquist and many ventriloquist comedians, brining the laughs with their sometimes equally famous ventriloquist puppets. Who are the most famous male ventriloquists? Who are the best male ventriloquists?
Jeffrey Dunham (born April 18, 1962) is an American ventriloquist, stand-up comedian and actor who has also appeared on numerous television shows, including Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents, The Tonight Show and Sonny With a Chance. He has six specials that run on Comedy Central: Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself, Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity, Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special, Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos, Jeff Dunham: Minding the Monsters, and Jeff Dunham: All Over the Map. Dunham also starred in The Jeff Dunham Show, a series on the network in 2009.His style has been described as "a dressed-down, more digestible version of Don Rickles with multiple personality disorder". Time described his characters as "politically incorrect, gratuitously insulting and ill tempered." Dunham has been credited with reviving ventriloquism and doing more to promote the art form than anyone since Edgar Bergen.Dunham has been called "America's favorite comedian" by Slate. According to the concert industry publication Pollstar, he is the top-grossing standup act in North America and among the most successful acts in Europe as well. As of November 2009, he has sold over four million DVDs, an additional $7 million in merchandise sales, and received more than 350 million hits on YouTube as of October 2009; his introduction of Achmed the Dead Terrorist in Spark of Insanity was ranked as the ninth most watched YouTube video at the time. A Very Special Christmas Special was the most-watched telecast in Comedy Central history, with the DVD selling over 400,000 copies in its first two weeks. Forbes ranked Dunham as the third highest-paid comedian in the United States behind Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock and reported that he was one of the highest-earning comics from June 2008 to June 2009, earning approximately $30 million during that period. Dunham also does occasional acting roles. He achieved the Guinness Book of World Records record for "Most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour" for his Spark of Insanity tour, performing in 386 venues worldwide.
Age: 61
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, USA
Profession: Comedian, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Ventriloquist, Actor
Credits: Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity, Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself, Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special, Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos (2011)
Terry Wayne Fator (; born June 10, 1965) is a ventriloquist, impressionist, stand-up comedian, and singer from Dallas, Texas. Fator does ventriloquial impersonations, and uses 15 different puppets in his act. He was the winner of season two of America's Got Talent, and received the million dollar prize. The following year, he was signed on as the headliner at The Mirage hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada with a five-year, $100 million contract.
Edgar John Bergen (born Edgar John Berggren, February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was an American actor, comedian and radio performer, best known for his proficiency in ventriloquism and his characters Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. He was also the father of actress Candice Bergen.
Age: Dec. at 75 (1903-1978)
Birthplace: Michigan, USA, Decatur
Profession: Comic book creator, Comedian, Ventriloquist, Radio personality, Actor
Credits: The Muppet Movie, Fun and Fancy Free, Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood, You Can't Cheat an Honest Man
Paul Winchell (born Paul Wilchinsky; December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005) was an American ventriloquist, comedian, actor, voice artist, humanitarian, and inventor whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1950 to 1954, he hosted The Paul Winchell Show, which also used two other titles during its prime time run on NBC: The Speidel Show, and What's My Name?. From 1965–1968, Winchell hosted the children's television series Winchell-Mahoney Time.
Winchell made guest appearances on Emmy Award-winning television series from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s, such as Perry Mason, The Dick Van Dyke Show, McMillan & Wife, The Donna Reed Show, and two appearances as Homer Winch on The Beverly Hillbillies in 1962. In animation, he was the original voice of Tigger, Dick Dastardly, Gargamel, and other characters.
Winchell, who had medical training, was also an inventor, becoming the first person to build and patent a mechanical artificial heart, implantable in the chest cavity (US Patent #3097366). He has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.
Wayland Parrott Flowers Jr. (November 26, 1939 – October 11, 1988) was an American actor, comedian and puppeteer. Flowers was best known for the comedy act he created with his puppet Madame. His performances as "Wayland Flowers and Madame" were a major national success on stage and on screen in the 1970s and 1980s.
Age: Dec. at 48 (1939-1988)
Birthplace: Georgia, USA, Dawson
Profession: Comedian, Actor, Puppeteer
Credits: Solid Gold, Madame's Place, Norman... Is That You?
