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 an American ventriloquist, stand-up comedian, and actor. He is famous for performing with a cast of puppet characters, including the grumpy old man Walter and the hyperactive Peanut. Dunham has appeared on many TV shows like Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show.

He has created many popular comedy specials for Comedy Central and Netflix. Dunham holds a Guinness Book of World Records title for "Most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour." His unique style of comedy, using outspoken and funny puppets, has made him one of the most successful comedians in the world. He even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early Life and First Puppet

Jeff Dunham was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1962. He was adopted as a baby by Howard and Joyce Dunham and grew up as an only child.

His journey into ventriloquism began when he was eight years old. For Christmas, his parents gave him a Mortimer Snerd dummy and a how-to album. Dunham was instantly fascinated. He went to the library the next day and checked out a book about ventriloquism. He decided he wanted to become the best ventriloquist ever.

Dunham practiced for hours in front of a mirror. He studied the routines of famous ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. As a kid, he started going to the Vent Haven ConVENTion, a yearly meeting for ventriloquists. He quickly became so good that he was named a "retired champion" because other performers were nervous to compete against him.

Career

Getting Started

Dunham started performing for audiences as a teenager at school, church, and his job at Six Flags. By middle school, he was performing at banquets for local celebrities. He made his first TV appearance in 1976 when a Dallas news reporter interviewed him.

After high school, Dunham went to Baylor University to study communications. He continued to perform, flying across the country on weekends for private shows. He even opened for famous comedians like Bob Hope and George Burns. After graduating in 1986, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career full-time. It was challenging at first, but he worked hard to improve his act at comedy clubs.

'The Tonight Show' and Rising Fame

A major goal for any comedian at the time was to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. After a lot of hard work, Dunham finally got his chance on April 6, 1990. He performed with his puppet Peanut.

His performance was a huge success. The host, Johnny Carson, invited him to sit on the famous couch, which was a great honor. Dunham then brought out his puppet Walter, who made a joke to Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon. This appearance was a big step in his career, but it took many more years of performing in clubs and on TV before he became a household name.

Comedy Central Stardom

By the early 2000s, Dunham was looking for more TV work. In 2003, he had his first solo special on Comedy Central Presents. The show was a hit, but he wanted to do more.

In 2005, he took a big risk and paid for his own comedy DVD, Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself. He convinced Comedy Central to air it, and it was a huge success, drawing two million viewers. This special introduced many fans to his characters Walter, Peanut, and José Jalapeño on a Stick.

His second special, Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity (2007), made him a superstar. It introduced his famous character, Achmed the Dead Terrorist. A clip of Achmed became one of the most-watched videos on YouTube. His 2008 Very Special Christmas Special was the most-watched show in Comedy Central's history at the time.

Recent Work

Dunham performing in 2014

In 2009, Dunham starred in his own TV series, The Jeff Dunham Show. He also appeared in the movie Dinner for Schmucks (2010) and the TV show 30 Rock.

He has continued to release popular specials, including:

• Controlled Chaos (2011)
• Minding the Monsters (2012)
• All Over the Map (2014)
• Unhinged in Hollywood (2015)

In 2017, he released his first Netflix special, Relative Disaster, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He released a second Netflix special, Beside Himself, in 2019. In 2022, he appeared as "Pi-Rat" on the TV show The Masked Singer. He continues to tour and release new specials.

Books

Dunham has written two books. In 2003, he released Dear Walter..., which was a collection of questions and answers from his live shows. In 2010, he published his autobiography, All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me.

Meet the Characters

Dunham is famous for his cast of puppet characters, each with a unique personality.

Walter

Dunham with Walter in a shot from a 2007 performance

Walter is a grumpy, retired old man who is always crossing his arms. He has a negative and sarcastic view of everything. He is a Vietnam War veteran and often complains about his wife and modern life. Dunham created the Walter puppet himself.

Peanut

Peanut is a hyperactive, purple-skinned creature that Dunham calls a "woozle." He has green hair, white fur, and wears one sneaker. Peanut is known for being wild and making fun of Dunham and the other puppets, especially José Jalapeño.

José Jalapeño on a Stick

José is a talking jalapeño pepper on a stick. He wears a tiny sombrero and speaks with a Spanish accent. He is usually on stage with Peanut, who loves to tease him. José was the first puppet that Dunham ever built by himself.

Bubba J

Bubba J is a character who loves beer and NASCAR. Dunham uses him to make jokes about redneck stereotypes. Bubba J often talks about his simple life and isn't very smart, which leads to funny situations.

Achmed the Dead Terrorist

..... He is known for his catchphrase, "Silence! I keel you!" which he yells at anyone who laughs. He first appeared in Spark of Insanity and quickly became one of Dunham's most popular characters. A video of his first performance became a viral hit on YouTube.

Personal Life

Dunham married his first wife, Paige Brown, in 1994. He adopted her daughter, Bree, and they had two more daughters, Ashlyn and Kenna. The couple divorced in 2008.

In 2012, Dunham married Audrey Murdick. In 2015, they had twin boys, James Jeffrey and Jack Steven.

Dunham has many hobbies. He loves building and flying his own kit helicopters. He also collects and restores classic muscle cars. He even owns the original Batmobile from the 1989 movie Batman.

Tours

Filmography

Documentaries and specials

Acting

See also

In Spanish: Jeff Dunham para niños