Jeff Dunham

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1962, Jeff Dunham is a ventriloquist and stand-up comedian who is widely considered one of the greatest contemporary American comedic acts. His shows are always packed to capacity, and in 2009 he was named the highest paid comedian in the United States by Forbes magazine.

Dunham began practicing ventriloquism at age eight and never stopped. He perfected his act throughout high school and college, eventually turning it into a full-time career. Dunham made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1990 and was a big name on the American comedy circuit for many years.

Dunham's really big break, however, came in 2006 when he released his self-produced DVD Arguing with Myself, which eventually aired as a prime time special on Comedy Central and shot Dunham to fame. Since then, Dunham's shows have been selling out in huge venues all over the country. Jeff Dunham performances always feature his quirky cast of characters, including Peanut, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, José Jalapeño on a Stick, and Walter.

Although Dunham’s comedy has garnered some criticism for its racist and sexist undertones, he is still on top of the comedy scene with over 350 million hits on Youtube, quadruple platinum DVD releases, and sold-out shows across America.