Jeff Dunham is a celebrated American ventriloquist, comedian, and actor who has delighted millions of fans with his amusing and original characters.
He is best known for his puppets, such as Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Walter, Peanut, and Bubba J, who often mock issues such as politics, religion, culture, and celebrities.
He has appeared in many TV shows, specials, and tours and has been called “America’s favourite comedian” by Slate magazine.
Jeff Dunham, now 62, was born in Dallas, Texas, on April 18, 1962. He was adopted by Howard and Joyce Dunham, who raised him in a Presbyterian household.
He has no biological siblings. He started ventriloquism when he was eight, after receiving a Mortimer Snerd dummy as a Christmas gift.
He soon taught himself how to throw his voice and create different voices for his characters. He practised his skills by performing in front of his family, friends, and classmates.
He also participated in various talent shows and competitions, winning the Vent Haven ConVENTion Junior Award when he was 14. He later attended Baylor University, where he graduated with a degree in communication in 1986.
Jeff Dunham has been married twice. His first wife was Paige Brown, whom he met in 1992 at a comedy club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
They married in 1994 and divorced in 2008. They have three daughters: Bree, Ashlyn, and Kenna.
His second wife is Audrey Murdick, a certified nutritionist and personal trainer. They met in 2009 and married in 2012.
They have twin sons, Jack and James. Dunham and his family currently live in Los Angeles, California.
Jeff Dunham began his career as a ventriloquist and comedian in the late 1980s, performing at various clubs, colleges, and corporate events.
He also appeared on several TV shows, such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Arsenio Hall Show, and Star Search.
He gained more exposure and popularity in the 1990s when he was featured on Comedy Central Presents, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Show with David Letterman. He also released his first comedy album, Jeff Dunham: Don’t Come Home for Christmas 1996.
In the 2000s, Dunham reached new heights of fame and success with his specials, such as Arguing with Myself, Spark of Insanity, and A Very Special Christmas Special, which broke ratings records for Comedy Central.
He also released his autobiography, All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me, in 2010, which became a New York Times bestseller.
He also starred in his TV series, The Jeff Dunham Show, in 2009 and his movie, Minding the Monsters, in 2012.
In the 2010s, Dunham continued to perform and produce new specials, such as Controlled Chaos, All Over the Map, Unhinged in Hollywood, and Relative Disaster.
He also launched his own YouTube channel, Jeff Dunham, in 2014, with over 2.5 billion views and 11 million subscribers as of 2021.
He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017 and was inducted into the Vent Haven Museum Hall of Fame in 2018.
Jeff Dunham has won several awards and honours for his ventriloquism and comedy, such as:
Jeff Dunham has an estimated net worth of $140 million. He earns most of his income from comedy specials, tours, merchandise, and endorsements.
He is one of the highest-paid comedians in the world, earning an average of $15 million per year.
Jeff Dunham has faced controversy for using stereotypes, insults, and political incorrectness in his comedy.
Some critics have accused him of racism, Islamophobia, misogyny, and homophobia. He has defended his humour as satire and said he does not intend to offend anyone.
Some of his former colleagues sued him for breach of contract and plagiarism.
Jeff Dunham has written one book, which is:
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