Terry Fator facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Terry Fator |
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| Birth name | Terry Wayne Fator |
| Born | June 10, 1965 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | Liberty University |
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Terry Fator is an American ventriloquist, impressionist, comedian, and singer. He was born in Dallas, Texas. From a young age, he loved ventriloquism and singing. He started by performing in bands. Later, he began solo shows, mixing ventriloquism, singing, and comedy.
He became famous after winning the second season of America's Got Talent. This really helped his career. His success led to a big contract to perform in Las Vegas, Nevada. From 2009 to 2020, he was the main performer at Mirage Las Vegas. Since 2021, he performs regularly at New York-New York Hotel and Casino. Terry Fator also uses his talent to help charities. He is often named among the world's highest-paid comedians.
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Terry Fator's Early Life
Terry Fator was born in Dallas, Texas. He shared that he went to college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Terry's journey into ventriloquism began when he was in fifth grade. He was looking for a book for a school assignment. He found a book about ventriloquism by Paul Winchell.
Fator borrowed the book and started learning. A few weeks later, he bought a "Willie Talk" dummy. He soon won a $25 prize for a show at a church picnic. He got his first ventriloquism dummy when he was ten. Growing up, Fator entertained his family and friends. He did ventriloquism and impersonated singers and actors.
Fator's mother saved money for three years. She bought him his first puppet when he was 18. Fator discovered his ability to impersonate singers by practicing in his car. He said, "One of the reasons I learned how to sing as a ventriloquist was because I like singing in the car. I’d see other people singing in the car, and they looked goofy, so I’d do it without moving my lips."
Terry Fator's Career Journey
Starting Out
Terry Fator started his career as the lead singer of "Freedom Jam." This was in 1987–88. They performed at over 200 schools across the U.S. and Canada. In mid-1988, he became the lead singer for 'Texas the Band'. He brought his puppet, Walter T. Airedale, into the shows. The band planned to sign with a major record label. However, a representative asked Fator to sing in his own voice. They noticed he sang songs by imitating the original singers.
After leaving the band, Fator began solo acts. These combined comedy and ventriloquism. For several years, he struggled to find success. He performed at fairs, sometimes getting heat stroke. One time, only one person showed up to his 1,000-seat theater show. Fator felt discouraged and thought about a different career. But his family encouraged him to keep going.
This led him to expand his shows. He combined singing, ventriloquism, and comedy. He also started impersonating famous singers. These included Garth Brooks, Etta James, and Dean Martin. Even with these changes, he wasn't sure he would succeed. He said, "It wasn't easy trying to keep going all these years, and by the time I was in my late 30s, I wasn't sure it was ever going to happen."
In 2005, he added impersonations to his routines. This happened when he performed "Friends in Low Places". This decision worked very well. The audience loved it, and it gave him hope. Fator then changed his shows to include these popular elements. His success led to performances for big companies like General Motors and AT&T. He also opened for stars like Reba McEntire and Styx.
Winning America's Got Talent
On June 19, 2007, Fator appeared on America's Got Talent. He said he never imagined he would win. He just hoped to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman. After winning, he had to turn down the Letterman show many times. His schedule was too busy.
When Fator first came on stage, judge David Hasselhoff seemed unsure. Fator thought he had "zero percent" chance of winning. But the judges, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Hasselhoff, loved his act. He ended up winning the competition. Morgan told Fator he was a great impersonator, singer, and comedian. Even Simon Cowell praised him. Cowell said Fator was one of the top two entertainers on the planet.
After America's Got Talent
After his win, Fator was set to perform at Bally's Las Vegas. But the shows were only 15 minutes long. So, he and his team decided not to do them. Fator performed at the Las Vegas Hilton in October and December 2007. All his shows were sold out. He then signed a $1.5 million contract with the Hilton. He would do three shows a month from January to May 2008.
In 2007, Fator also became a supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. He joined their celebrity board. On March 17, 2008, Fator appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He was with Simon Cowell. Cowell again called Fator one of the "two most talented people on the planet." Fator performed with three of his puppets. Walter T. Airedale sang a Garth Brooks song. Winston the Impersonating Turtle sang a Bee Gees song. Julius performed a Marvin Gaye song. Oprah loved Julius.
On May 13, 2008, Fator signed a huge five-year, $100 million contract. He would perform nightly at The Mirage in Las Vegas. He took over from Danny Gans, and the theater was renamed the Terry Fator Theatre. This deal was one of the biggest in Las Vegas entertainment history.
In 2009, Fator published his autobiography, Who's the Dummy Now?. He returned to America's Got Talent as a guest on September 10, 2008. He brought a larger Winston the Impersonating Turtle to sing "Let's Get It On". Maynard Thomkins also sang "Viva Las Vegas". Emma Taylor was also reshaped and sang "At Last" in an interview.
Fator has worked hard to be seen as a serious ventriloquist. He noted that there have been few successful ventriloquists. He mentioned Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell. He said, "Over the years, there have been so many bad ventriloquists - and most of them doing corny shows for children - that people began to think of us as a bad joke."
On September 14, 2011, he was a guest performer again on America's Got Talent. He brought Julius to sing "Ain't No Sunshine". In 2013, he voiced a character on the Disney Channel show Mickey Mouse. On May 30, 2013, Fator celebrated his 1,000th show at The Mirage. He returned to America's Got Talent as a guest on September 11, 2013.
On September 16, 2015, Fator appeared on America's Got Talent finals. He performed with the winner, ventriloquist Paul Zerdin. On September 20, 2017, he appeared again during the AGT finale. He performed with the winner, Darci Lynne, another singing ventriloquist. In AGT's 17th season (2022), he performed with Ana-Maria Mărgean.
In July 2020, Fator's long-running show at the Mirage in Las Vegas ended after 11 years. On May 26, 2024, Terry started a new show at The STRAT in Las Vegas. This new show uses modern technology. Many people who have seen it say it is the best show Terry has ever performed.
Terry Fator's Personal Life
Terry Fator's second cousin is Chris Sligh. Chris Sligh was a finalist on American Idol season six.
Charitable Work
Terry Fator uses his talent to help others. In July 2007, he performed in Montana to raise money. The funds went to the Kidsports Sports Complex in Kalispell. He promised to return in 2008, and he did. All money from his show went to the sports field.
In 2007, Fator performed a benefit show for families of miners in Huntington, Utah. In 2008, he performed in Corsicana, Texas. The money helped the Navarro Council of the Arts and the Mildred Drama Club. Corsicana is Fator's hometown.
On September 3, 2007, Fator appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. He thanked the audience for their support. He brought Emma Taylor to sing "At Last" and Winston the Turtle to sing "What a Wonderful World". He returned to the Telethon on September 1, 2008. He brought Julius, who sang "Only You" and "Let's Get It On". Maynard Thomkins also sang "Viva Las Vegas". Fator made his third appearance on September 6, 2009. He performed with puppets and special guests The Commodores. They joined him to perform "Brick House".
In 2010, Fator drew a doodle for a charity auction. The auction raised money for Neurofibromatosis (NF). All profits helped families with NF. Also, all money from Fator's song "Horses in Heaven" goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Terry Fator's DVD
On September 1, 2009, Terry Fator's first DVD was released. It was called Terry Fator: Live from Las Vegas. It was recorded during a show at the Mirage. The DVD includes parts not shown on TV.
