Jeff Dunham, born in 1960 in Dallas, Texas, is an American ventriloquist and stand-up comedian and has come a long way since breaking into show business at age seven. As an only child, he invented „a menagerie of characters” that helped ease his natural shyness. Dunham began teaching himself ventriloquism with a plastic Mortimer Snerd puppet. His first show was in the third grade. It was for an oral book report on Hansel and Gretel.
It was not until 1975 that Dunham would meet a live ventriloquist, and soon thereafter he would take weekly inspiration from actor/ventriloquist Jay Johnson on „Soap” (1977-81).
Dunham continued to pursue his career while picking up a degree in Communications from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. „While most people were going out on weekends and partying, I was flying off somewhere to do my show,” says Dunham, admitting that, in Waco, he quickly became „somewhat of a big fish in a small pond.”
In 1988 he moved to Los Angeles and discovered a much larger pond, one filled with performers whose proficiency in comedy overshadowed his technical skill as a voice thrower. After sharpening his act at the Improv, the Comedy & Magic Club and other comedy venues, Dunham earned his first „Tonight Show” spot in April of 1990, putting the audience on the floor and himself on the couch next to Johnny. He has also appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tonight Show, where on his 1990 debut he was invited to sit on Johnny Carson’s couch, Late Show with David Letterman, and Comedy Central Presents in 2003.
A Christmas special was taped at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and premiered on Comedy Central as Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special on Sunday, November 16, 2008. It became available on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 18, 2008. The special’s premiere was the highest rated telecast in Comedy Centrals history.
In addition to these specials, Dunham also released his first music album, Don’t Come Home for Christmas, on November 4, 2008. It contains original Christmas songs as well as a parody of „Jingle Bells” by Achmed entitled „Jingle Bombs”. All the songs, with the exception of „Jingle Bombs”, were written and accompanied by Brian Haner, who has recently joined Dunham’s act as „Guitar Guy”.
Jeff Dunham – Achmed The Dead Terrorist – Jingle Bombs
Jeff Dunham – Bubba J „Road Kill Christmas” Pop-Up Video