Willie Tyler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willie Tyler
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Willie Tyler and Lester, 1969
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| Born | September 8, 1940 Red Level, Alabama, U.S.
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| Years active | 1969–present |
Willie Tyler, born on September 8, 1940, is a famous American ventriloquist, comedian, and actor. A ventriloquist is someone who can make their voice seem to come from somewhere else, often from a puppet. Willie Tyler is best known for performing with his puppet, Lester. They are often called "Willie Tyler and Lester." He has been in many TV shows, movies, and commercials. Willie Tyler and Lester first became widely known in 1972 on the TV show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
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Willie Tyler and Lester's TV Shows and Movies
Willie Tyler and Lester have appeared in many different TV shows and movies. One of their first big appearances was at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969. You can even see them briefly in the 2021 documentary called Summer of Soul.
Guest Appearances on Popular Shows
Willie Tyler has had guest roles on several well-known TV shows. These include The Parent 'Hood, Pacific Blue, What's Happening Now!!, The White Shadow, and The Jeffersons. He also hosted the Saturday morning children's show ABC Weekend Specials in the early 1980s.
Film Roles and Commercials
Willie Tyler also appeared in the 1978 movie Coming Home. In the 1980s, he and Lester were in many TV commercials. You might have seen them in ads for popular brands like McDonald's, Toyota, Hires Root Beer, and Rent-A-Center.
More TV and Special Appearances
Willie Tyler has appeared as himself in many other shows and events. He was on the BET Comedy Awards in 2004. He also appeared in movies like Frank McKlusky, C.I. and For Da Love of Money.
He was a guest on shows like In the House, American Bandstand, and The Electric Company. He also appeared on classic variety shows such as The Flip Wilson Show and The Hollywood Palace.
In 2006, Willie Tyler made history. He was the first ventriloquist to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman's special Ventriloquist Week. In 2009, Willie Tyler and Lester were part of a comedy documentary about ventriloquism called I'm No Dummy.
More recently, in 2019, Willie Tyler played a younger version of himself on the ABC sitcom The Kids are Alright. In August 2024, Willie Tyler and Lester were featured in Adam Sandler's "Love You" special on Netflix.
