Jeff Dunham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Dunham
Dunham and Achmed the Dead Terrorist, 2009
Birth name	Jeffrey Douglas Dunham
Born	(1962-04-18) April 18, 1962 (age 63) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up television film
Alma mater	Baylor University
Years active	1976–present
Genres	Observational comedy black comedy prop comedy insult comedy satire
Spouse	Paige Brown ​ ​ (m. 1994; div. 2008)​ Audrey Murdick ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	5

Jeffrey Douglas Dunham (born April 18, 1962) is a famous American ventriloquist, stand-up comedian, and actor. He is known for his funny shows where he talks to and makes his puppet characters come to life. He has appeared on many TV shows like Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show.

Jeff Dunham has created several popular comedy specials for Comedy Central and Netflix. He even had his own TV series called The Jeff Dunham Show in 2009. He has a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also holds a Guinness Book of World Records title for selling the most tickets for a stand-up comedy tour, called Spark of Insanity.

Many people love Jeff Dunham's comedy. His character, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, became super popular online. His Christmas special was also one of the most-watched shows ever on Comedy Central. Forbes magazine once said he was one of the highest-paid comedians! People say he helped bring ventriloquism back into the spotlight.

Early Life and First Steps

Jeff Dunham was born in Dallas, Texas, on April 18, 1962. When he was just three months old, he was adopted by Howard and Joyce Dunham. They raised him in Dallas.

He started learning ventriloquism when he was eight years old. His parents gave him a puppet for Christmas, along with a how-to record. The very next day, he got a book from the library to learn even more. By fourth grade, Jeff knew he wanted to be a professional ventriloquist. He practiced for hours in front of a mirror.

When he was in sixth grade, Jeff started going to the Vent Haven ConVENTion in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. This is a big yearly meeting for ventriloquists from all over the world. He even met a famous ventriloquist named Jimmy Nelson there. Jeff has only missed one of these conventions since then! He became so good that the convention organizers eventually said he was a "retired champion" because no one wanted to compete against him anymore.

Becoming a Star

Early Performances

Jeff began performing for audiences as a teenager. He did shows at school, church, and even at his job at Six Flags. By middle school, he was performing for special events, even for famous people like Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach. He learned to use his puppets to say funny things that he might not say himself.

His first time on TV was in 1976. He was still young, but reporters like Bill O'Reilly noticed him. Jeff even made commercials for car dealerships while he was in high school. In 1980, after high school, he set a big goal: to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson within ten years. This show was a huge deal for comedians.

College and Comedy Clubs

Jeff went to Baylor University to study communications. He performed around campus and flew around the country on weekends for private shows. By his junior year, he was earning a lot of money from his act. He even opened shows for famous comedians like Bob Hope and George Burns.

In 1985, he got a big chance to join a Broadway show called Sugar Babies. This was a new experience for him. He learned that he needed to change his jokes depending on where he was performing. For example, jokes about his character José Jalapeño on a Stick worked better in Texas than in New York.

After college in 1986, he kept working on his act in comedy clubs. He created new characters like Peanut and José Jalapeño. But it was tough because some other comedians didn't think he was a "real" comedian since he used puppets.

The Tonight Show and Beyond

In 1990, Jeff Dunham finally got his big break: an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. This was his dream come true, two years earlier than his goal! He performed with his puppet Peanut. After his act, he was invited to sit on Johnny Carson's couch, which was a huge honor.

Even after this big TV appearance, Jeff continued to work hard. He performed in clubs and had small roles on TV shows like Ellen. This helped him become a headliner in large theaters, which is rare for a ventriloquist. However, by the mid-1990s, his TV appearances slowed down, and so did his audience numbers.

To stay connected with his fans, he started collecting their contact information at shows. This was perfect for the new World Wide Web. In 1998, he was even voted Funniest Male Standup at the American Comedy Awards. But his constant touring was hard on his family.

Comedy Central Success

In 2003, Jeff Dunham had his first solo special on Comedy Central called Comedy Central Presents. He showed off characters like José Jalapeño on a Stick, Walter, and Peanut. It was a success, but Comedy Central wasn't sure about giving him more shows.

So, in 2005, Jeff decided to pay for his own comedy DVD, Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself. His manager convinced Comedy Central to air it. When it aired in late 2006, it was a huge hit, with two million viewers! It also sold two million DVDs.

In 2007, his second special, Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity, made him a huge star. It also introduced his most famous character, Achmed the Dead Terrorist. A video clip of Achmed from this special got over 140 million views on YouTube! Jeff then went on a worldwide tour called Spark of Insanity. He performed in 386 places and sold almost 2 million tickets, earning him a Guinness Book of World Records title.

By 2008, Jeff's characters were known around the world. His specials were even translated into other languages. His special, Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special, was watched by 6.6 million people and became the most-watched show in Comedy Central's history.

Later Career and Tours

Dunham performing in 2014

In 2009, Jeff signed a big deal with Comedy Central. This included more specials, DVDs, and his own TV show, The Jeff Dunham Show. Even though the show started with high ratings, it was canceled after one season.

Jeff continued to appear on other TV shows. He was on 30 Rock with Bubba J and on Sonny With a Chance with Walter. He also appeared in the movie Dinner for Schmucks with a new puppet named Diane.

He released more successful specials, including Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos (2011), Jeff Dunham: Minding the Monsters (2012), and Jeff Dunham: All Over the Map (2014), which was filmed on five different continents! In 2014, an animated movie called Achmed Saves America starring Achmed the Dead Terrorist was released.

In 2017, Jeff Dunham received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also released his first Netflix special, Relative Disaster, followed by another, Beside Himself, in 2019.

After a break from touring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff started touring again in 2021 with his Seriously? Tour. In 2022, he competed on The Masked Singer as "Pi-Rat." He continues to tour and release new specials, like I'm With Cupid in 2024.

Meet the Characters!

Jeff Dunham is famous for his hilarious puppet characters. Here are some of his most well-known friends:

Walter

Dunham with Walter in a shot from a 2007 performance

Walter is a grumpy, retired old man who always has his arms crossed. He is a Vietnam War veteran and a former welder. Walter is known for his honest, sometimes rude, and sarcastic comments. He often says he "doesn't care" about anyone, especially his wife! Jeff Dunham actually made the first Walter puppet himself.

Peanut

Peanut is a super active, purple-skinned "woozle" with white fur and green hair. He wears only one sneaker! Peanut is from a small island. He is known for making fun of Jeff Dunham and teasing José Jalapeño on a Stick. His humor is very energetic and unpredictable.

José Jalapeño on a Stick

José is a talking jalapeño pepper who sits on a stick and wears a tiny sombrero. He speaks with a strong Spanish accent. José is usually paired with Peanut, who often makes jokes about him being on a stick. José was the first puppet Jeff Dunham made himself.

Bubba J

Bubba J is a redneck character. Jeff describes him as someone who loves NASCAR and isn't very smart. Bubba J often makes jokes about meeting his wife at a family reunion. He sometimes appears as a security guard in Jeff's shows.

Achmed the Dead Terrorist

Achmed is a skeleton who used to be a bomber. Jeff uses him to make jokes about serious topics like terrorism. Achmed is famous for yelling, "Silence! I keel you!" to Jeff and the audience. He first appeared in Spark of Insanity and quickly became a huge internet sensation. Achmed even starred in his own animated movie, Achmed Saves America.

Other Characters You Might Know

• Melvin the Superhero Guy: Melvin wears a blue superhero costume. He jokes about having X-ray vision. He doesn't seem to have many other powers, though!
• Little Jeff: This is a tiny version of Jeff Dunham himself, often dressed in the same clothes.
• Diane: Diane first appeared with Jeff in the movie Dinner for Schmucks.
• Achmed Junior: He is Achmed's son. Achmed Junior has a British accent and half of his face is missing from a bomb accident.
• Seamus: Seamus is a grumpy Irish baby. Jeff introduces him as an adopted son.
• Larry the Adviser: Larry is a character who acts as a personal adviser to a president. He has messy orange hair and is always a bit nervous.
• Url: Url is a younger character who is always busy on his mobile device. He also lives in his parents' basement.

Off Stage: Jeff's Life and Hobbies

Jeff Dunham met his first wife, Paige Brown, in Florida. They married in 1994, and he adopted her daughter, Bree. They later had two more daughters, Ashlyn and Kenna. His busy touring schedule put a strain on their marriage, and they divorced in 2008.

In 2012, Jeff married Audrey Murdick, who is a nutritionist and personal trainer. In 2015, they welcomed twin boys, James Jeffrey and Jack Steven.

Besides creating his own puppets, Jeff enjoys restoring old, antique puppets as a hobby. He also loves helicopters and builds his own from kits! He has been building and flying them since he was a child. Jeff is also a fan of muscle cars and Apple, Inc. products. He even owns the original Batmobile from the 1989 Batman movie!

Tours and Shows

Jeff Dunham has traveled all over the world with his comedy tours. Here are some of his most famous tours:

Movies and TV Appearances

Jeff Dunham has appeared in many TV specials, documentaries, and even movies!

Documentaries and specials

Acting

Books

In 2003, Jeff Dunham released a book called Dear Walter.... It was a collection of funny questions asked to his grumpy character, Walter, during live shows.

His autobiography, which is a book about his own life, is called All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me. It was published in 2010.

Images for kids

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  Dunham and Achmed the Dead Terrorist, 2009

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  Dunham performing in 2014

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  Dunham with Walter in a shot from a 2007 performance

See also

In Spanish: Jeff Dunham para niños