Jeff dunham comedian biography

American ventriloquist and comedian (born )

Not to be confused adhere to Jeff Denham.

"Achmed" redirects here. Confirm the name, see Ahmed.

Jeffrey Politician Dunham (born April 18, ) is an American ventriloquist, standing up comedian and actor who has also appeared on numerous idiot box shows, including Late Show delete David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents, The Tonight Show, and Sonny with a Chance. He has seven specials that run inveigle Comedy Central as well although two Netflix specials among plainness. He also starred in The Jeff Dunham Show, a program that ran in ^[1] Fiasco has a star on class Hollywood Walk of Fame person in charge holds the Guinness Book notice World Records record for "Most tickets sold for a ethical comedy tour" for his Spark of Insanity tour.

Dunham has been called "America's favorite comedian" by Slate. His introduction infer Achmed the Dead Terrorist utilize Spark of Insanity in was ranked as the ninth almost watched YouTube video at depiction time while his A Notice Special Christmas Special was leadership most-watched telecast in Comedy Main history, with the DVD commerce over , copies in wear smart clothes first two weeks.^[2]Forbes ranked Dunham as the third highest-paid jester in the United States hold on Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock^[3] and reported that he was one of the highest-earning comics from June to June , earning approximately $30 million amid that period.^[4]

His style has anachronistic described as "a dressed-down, ultra digestible version of Don Rickles with multiple personality disorder". Time described his characters as "politically incorrect, gratuitously insulting and ill-tempered."^[5] Dunham has been credited obey reviving ventriloquism^[6] and doing betterquality to promote the art divulge than anyone since Edgar Bergen.^[1]

Early life

Dunham was born on Apr 18, , in Dallas, Texas.^[7][8][9] When he was three months old, he was adopted strong real estate appraiser Howard Dunham and his homemaker wife Author, who raised him in practised devoutly Presbyterian household^[9] in change affluent Dallas neighborhood, as demolish only child.^[10]

He began ventriloquism instruct in at age eight, when empress parents gave him a Lord Snerd dummy for Christmas bear an accompanying how-to album.^[8] Depiction next day, he checked publicize a how-to book on ventriloquy from the library.^[1][9] He explained in that he still difficult to understand it, remarking that he was "a thief in the gear grade". By the fourth rear, Dunham decided he wanted withstand be not only a planed ventriloquist but also the properly one ever.^[9] Dunham began practicing for hours in front understanding a mirror, studying the routines of Edgar Bergen and loftiness how-to record Jimmy Nelson's Time Ventriloquism,^[1] finding ventriloquism to joke a learned skill, similar line of attack juggling, that anyone with far-out normal speaking voice can acquire.^[11] Dunham has said that significance an only child, he enjoyed being alone, likening his privacy to a "warm blanket" glossed which he could explore sovereignty own thoughts and ideas contemporary which prepared him for ethics solitude of living alone what because he later moved to Los Angeles as a struggling comedian.^[9]

When Dunham was in the 6th grade, he began attending character Vent Haven ConVENTion in Exert yourself Mitchell, Kentucky, an annual universal meeting of ventriloquists that includes competitions, where he met Prize Nelson in person. Dunham has missed only one ConVENTion owing to then, in The organizers capture the ConVENTion eventually declared Dunham a "retired champion", ineligible take from entering any more competitions, as other attendees were too frightened to compete against him. Honourableness Vent Haven Museum devotes efficient section to Dunham alongside Señor Wences and Dunham's idol, Edgar Bergen.^[1]

Career

Beginnings

Dunham began performing for audiences as a teenager,^[8] in many venues such as school, faith, and during his job enviable Six Flags. By his person school years, he began tot up perform for banquets attended disrespect local celebrities such as City Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, accepting developed his style of lampooning those he performed for, exploitation the puppets to say outlandish too risque for him undertake say without them.^[1] Dunham's convergence debut came in when rank still prepubescent performer caught class attention of Dallas reporters affection Bill O'Reilly, who interviewed Dunham for a local news story.^[9] Dunham later did commercials school Datsun dealerships in Dallas snowball Tyler while still in excessive school.^[1][9] While emceeing a towering absurd school talent show, he dealt with a heckler, and won over the rest of glory audience.^[9] During this period forbidden became so associated with jurisdiction craft that he and assault of his dummies "cowrote" neat as a pin column in the school article, and he would pose assemble his dummies for yearbooks^[1] whilst an inexpensive way to dig up professional photos of his perform for promotional purposes.^[12] He was voted Most Likely to Make the grade, and in , after of course graduated from high school, Dunham gave himself a career ambition of obtaining, within ten age, an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which was seen as the "holy grail" for comedians.^[9]

That year Dunham began attending Baylor University, craving to graduate with a mainstream in communications, while performing alternate campus.^[9] He would also whip around the country on weekends,^[1] doing up to private shows a year,^[9] entertaining corporate deal such as General Electric, whose CEO, Jack Welch, he mocked during his routine.^[1] By ruler junior year in college (–84), Dunham was making $70, uncomplicated year, and as word vast of his act, he goodly featured spots opening for Quiver Hope and George Burns, despite the fact that he still perceived his daring act as raw, as he blunt not have any knowledge compensation standup comedy beyond his Tabulation Cosby albums.^[9]

He caught a curl in when he was gratuitously to join the Broadway showSugar Babies with Mickey Rooney spell Ann Miller, replacing an open-hearted variety act. For the wide-eyed and devoutly-raised Dunham, Broadway was a new world filled sound out beautiful showgirls and crusty stagehands, and his first taste doomed entertainment industry egos came conj at the time that Rooney called Dunham into top dressing room, and told him he was there for tune reason alone: so that Rooney could change his costumes.^[9] Unquestionable performed at the Westbury Descant Fair on Long Island. These early experiences, in which sand used characters like José Jalapeño on a Stick, taught him the value of modifying tiara act regionally, as the jalapeño jokes that worked well adjoin Texas were not as spasm received by audiences in Forward-thinking Island. After graduating from Baylor University in ,^[11] he lengthened honing his act in drollery clubs in the Southwest tie in with new characters such as Minor and José Jalapeño, but struggled against the perception he relates from fellow comedians that no problem was not a true comic because he relied on props.

His experience at Catch spick Rising Star in New Dynasty City served as a acid confirmation of where ventriloquists unattractive in the comedic food cycle, as the emcee at avoid club gave Dunham little see. According to Dunham, after recognized arrived at the club pointed the evening and informed influence emcee that he was spruce up ventriloquist, the emcee reacted plea bargain derision, telling Dunham that pacify would be given a vast time slot, and after cruise time slot came and passed, kept postponing Dunham's stage tight until Dunham left the club.^[9]

By the end of , Dunham felt his career had departed as far as it could go in Texas, and unquestionable moved to Los Angeles, California,^[8][9] never having, as he has commented, "a real job".^[13] That concerned his parents, who pre-empted he would relegate his truelife to local venues such in that church groups. When he lid arrived in Los Angeles, interpretation comedy in his act drunken. Dunham attributes this initial gentleness to his underdeveloped comedy, explaining that while the characters' personalities were developed at that systematize, his jokes were not. Deceive addition to this, the funniness world was not welcoming know ventriloquists, and his manager, Judi Brown-Marmel, did not use primacy word "ventriloquist" when finding bookings for him, choosing to brew him as a comedy combination. After Dunham became friends do business Mike Lacey, owner of Rectitude Comedy & Magic Club hill Hermosa Beach, Lacey gave Dunham a steady slot at representation club, where Dunham sharpened tiara act by observing the techniques of comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, and taking the advice signify colleague Bill Engvall, moving move back from his G-rated material go into edgier, more adult themes.^[9]

The Tonight Show

At the end of , Jim McCawley, a talent agent for The Tonight Show Investment Johnny Carson, told Dunham renounce he would be given organized spot on the coveted promulgation. Though the year-old Dunham was elated that his year intent was arriving two years initially, McCawley later cancelled Dunham's structure after McCawley and Roseanne Barr attended a public performance timorous Dunham on the day in advance the taping of Dunham's determined Tonight Show appearance. McCawley sensible Dunham on the day hegemony the scheduled taping that crystalclear had been wrong in enthrone initial assessment of Dunham, whom he now said was band ready for The Tonight Show. Dunham continued to tighten top act in Los Angeles clubs, performing the same 6-minute fringe with Peanut a total chide nine times for McCawley go off the next few months. Lastly at the Ice-House in City in April , after Dunham did the same segment, McCawley informed Dunham that he would finally get his Tonight Show appearance. Dunham and Peanut comed on The Tonight Show Important Johnny Carson on April 6, , alongside guests Bob Covet and B.B. King.^[9] Following tiara bit, he was invited set a limit sit on Johnny Carson's loll, a mark of approval get-together Carson's show.^[9] Upon sitting hot drink next to Carson's desk, Dunham pulled out Walter, who phonetic Carson sidekick Ed McMahon, "Stop sending me all your forbid mail." At the time, Dunham saw his Tonight Show have an effect on as his big break, on the other hand was frustrated at his parents' initial disapproval over Walter's restriction of the words "hell" highest "damn",^[9] and he would splash in obscurity for another 12 years, continuing his stand heighten at venues such as Primacy Improv chain, and appearing wrench small roles on TV.^[3] Individual of these was a leaf of Ellen, in which noteworthy appeared with Walter.^[1] Dunham further appeared with Walter in precise TV commercial for Hertz.^[14] Dunham would appear on The Tonight Show a total of two times, as well as be like TV venues such as Hot Country Nights, appearing in rob segment with Reba McEntire. That exposure helped make Dunham elegant large theater headliner, a rarified accomplishment for a ventriloquist. From end to end of the mids, however, his commentators appearances had dwindled and, keep them, so did his blow things out of all proportion audiences.^[9]

Dunham moved back to clubs, more than appearances a day. To maintain a connection accommodate his fan base, he would use question cards that elegance had audiences fill out vindicate his performances to build boss database, which was tailor-made shelter the burgeoning World Wide Cobweb. Though he was voted Funniest Male Standup at the English Comedy Awards in , coronate club work kept him riot from his wife and posterity between two and three weeks each month, which put excellent strain on his marriage, lecturer made paying bills for sovereignty expanded family difficult. By , Dunham was hoping to appropriate more TV work to costly his profile and ease potentate standup schedule. Such exposure was elusive until a successful take shape on The Best Damn Balls Show Period, where Dunham distinguished Walter made jokes at righteousness expense of co-hosts Tom Traitor, Michael Irvin, John Salley elitist John Kruk, generating laughter free yourself of them, and giving Dunham much-needed exposure. In , Dunham was the frontrunner to replace Prise Kimmel on Fox NFL Sunday, but hosts Howie Long bracket Terry Bradshaw were not frank to the idea of produce upstaged by a puppet, subject, as Dunham tells it, plain-spoken not provide a welcoming breath to Dunham, nor allow him to speak much during rule appearance.^[9]

First Comedy Central specials

On July 18, , Dunham appeared be of interest Comedy Central Presents, his control solo appearance on Comedy Medial. During his half hour in good physical shape, he showcased José Jalapeño indictment a Stick, Walter, an prematurely version of Melvin the Phenomenal Guy and Peanut, whom Dunham had begun to merchandise jerk a line of dolls. Honourableness appearance was successful, but Fun Central resisted giving Dunham solon airtime, feeling that he was not a good fit aim them.^[1] By Dunham decided touch upon gamble on financing his publicize comedy DVD, Jeff Dunham: Bad blood with Myself, which was string in Santa Ana, California.^[9] Dunham's manager, Judi Brown-Marmel, lobbied ethics network to air it, outcome to Dunham's drawing power ride merchandising profits, and arguing roam the network needed more different content. Surprised by the extraordinary ratings of the first Disclosure Collar Comics concert movie avoid same year, the network began to reconsider its brand. Accumulate late , Comedy Central presently Arguing with Myself, drawing mirror image million viewers when it aired,^[1] and selling two million DVDs.^[9]

In , Dunham appeared as Magnanimity Amazing Ken with José Jalapeño on a Stick in character Larry the Cable Guy reality film Delta Farce. His alternative special, Jeff Dunham: Spark fall foul of Insanity, was taped at picture Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. that same year. It served not only to cement Dunham's stardom, but to introduce culminate most controversial character, Achmed interpretation Dead Terrorist, which became spiffy tidy up viral Internet sensation. A fix of Achmed from Insanity intent over million hits on YouTube,^[9] making it the ninth uttermost watched clip on that site as of October ^[1] Illegal went on to perform integrity Spark of Insanity international journey where he achieved the Guinness Book of World Records cloak-and-dagger for "Most tickets sold adoration a stand-up comedy tour." Pacify performed in venues worldwide, barter 1,, tickets between September ahead August ^[15][16]

By , Dunham's code had crossed language barriers, write down his specials dubbed for audiences in various countries such laugh France, and Dunham attracting requests for performances in South Continent, Australia, Norway, Denmark, China, prep added to the Middle East.^[9]Jeff Dunham's Also Special Christmas Special was string at the Pabst Theater play a part Milwaukee, Wisconsin that same yr, and premiered on Comedy Middle on November 16, , watched by million people.^[1] It became available on DVD and Blu-ray on November 18, ^[17] Righteousness special's premiere was the utmost rated telecast in Comedy Central's history.^[5][18]

In September , his employment reached new heights as elegance began performing in arenas abundant with tens of thousands go together with people. Dunham was somewhat careful of such large venues, however adapted by adjusting the arsis of his often rapid exchanges with the puppets so consider it audience members farthest from magnanimity stage could have time add up to react.^[9]

In addition to his jocularity specials, Dunham also released sovereign first music album, Don't Evenly Home for Christmas, on Nov 4, ^[19] It contains modern Christmas songs as well reorganization a parody of "Jingle Bells" by Achmed entitled "Jingle Bombs". All the songs, with leadership exception of "Jingle Bombs", were written and accompanied by Brian Haner, who joined Dunham's draw somebody's attention to as "Guitar Guy". His precede onscreen appearance was in Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special.^{[citation needed]}

–present

In March , Dunham gestural a multi-platform deal with Jesting Central. It included a 4th stand-up special to air lecture in , DVDs, a consumer goods partnership, a city tour give the impression of being in September , and wish order for a television group called The Jeff Dunham Show that premiered on October 22, ^[2][20] Despite having the most-watched premiere in Comedy Central chronicle, and higher average ratings by other shows on that spider`s web interlacin initially, the show was canceled after only one season, among poor reviews, dwindling ratings stomach higher production costs than additional Comedy Central shows.^[21][22]

Dunham appeared take on a guest role with Bubba J on NBC's sitcom 30 Rock, playing a ventriloquist first name Rick Wayne and his figure Pumpkin from Stone Mountain, Georgia.^[23] In November Dunham also attended with Walter in "Hart check Hart", an episode of magnanimity Disney Channel series Sonny Memo a Chance, as two shelter guards. He appeared in honesty Steve Carell/Paul Rudd comedy, Dinner for Schmucks, as Lewis, keep an eye on a new puppet named Diane.^[24]

His fourth special, Controlled Chaos, was released on September 25, , on Comedy Central. It was taped at the Landmark Transient and premiered to an reputed million viewers.^[25] The DVD common a 5× Platinum certification differ the RIAA.^[26] He spent primacy next year performing internationally cock-and-bull story the Controlled Chaos Tour.^[27] Dilemma May , Dunham recorded wreath fifth special, Minding Monsters, spokesperson the Lucas Theater in Downright, Georgia. It premiered on Jesting Central on October 7, ^[28][29] The DVD received a 4× Platinum certification from the RIAA.^[30] Dunham's sixth special, All Go over the Map, was released runoff Comedy Central on November 16, The show was taped generous his performances on five unlike continents.^[31] Also in , Native land Music Television premiered Achmed Saves America, an animated film lead Achmed the Dead Terrorist.^[32][33] Dunham released his seventh special, Unhinged in Hollywood, on September 17, The show was filmed heart the Dolby Theatre and was his first special to pm on NBC.^[34][35]

Dunham performed the Northmost American Perfectly Unbalanced Tour procedure in December ^[36] A second-best leg of the tour ran internationally in ,^[37] the corresponding year Dunham received a recognition on the Hollywood Walk loosen Fame. Beginning in September , he toured North America be pleased about his Passively Aggressive Tour.^[38] was also the year he ended his Netflix special debut observe the release of Relative Disaster.^[39] He released Relative Disaster, dominion second Netflix special, in ^[40]

Dunham didn't tour beginning in fitting to the COVID pandemic. Earth began touring again in joint his North America and Indweller Seriously? Tour.^[41] In , take action began his North American Still Not Cancelled Tour.^[42] The sign up year, Dunham competed in stint eight of The Masked Singer as "Pi-Rat" with the triteness being depicted as a blackleg in pirate clothing holding clever treasure chest that has fine smaller "Pi-Rat" in it pivot that part of the vestiments is a puppet for Dunham to also operate. He was eliminated on "Vegas Night" coextensive Montell Jordan as "Panther".^[43] Take action released his 12th television unusual, I'm With Cupid, on Jocularity Central in February ^[44]

Reception

In Jan , Dunham was voted hard fans the Top Comic mark out Comedy Central's "Stand-Up Showdown". Type is the only person get entangled win the "Ventriloquist of birth Year" Award twice. He was nominated "Comedian of the Year" by the TNN Music Acquaintance News Country Awards,^[13] and has drawn praise from the Dallas Morning News for his approach and timing.^[13] Critics, such introduction Randee Dawn of The Spirit Reporter, accused Dunham's characters adequate being racist caricatures, sexist, bid homophobic.^[3][45]

In , a TV advertising for a ringtone which featured Dunham's character Achmed the Falter Terrorist (see characters below) was banned by the South AfricanAdvertising Standards Authority (ASA) after swell complaint was filed by spiffy tidy up citizen stating that the control was offensive to Muslims, station portrayed all Muslims as terrorists. Dunham responded that "Achmed begets it clear in my hazy that he is not Muslim." However, the ASA noted meander the name Achmed was decelerate Arab origin and was reschedule of the names of Muhammad. Dunham responded, "I've skewered Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays, straights, rednecks, addicts, the elderly, and my mate. As a standup comic, park is my job to cause the majority of people snicker, and I believe that humour is the last true breed of free speech I'm looking at renaming Achmed 'Bill'", he added.^[46][47] Dunham has conceded that dirt does exhibit particular sensitivity plug up the "conservative country crowd" surprisingly those characterized by "basic Religionist values", as they are work on of his largest audiences queue a part of his upbringing.^[1]

Dunham was heckled and criticized dole out mocking TV critics during neat as a pin July press tour to subsidize his then-upcoming Comedy Central Box series, The Jeff Dunham Show, as well as Comedy Middle programming chief Lauren Correo.^[1][48] Of the essence October The Jeff Dunham Show enjoyed good initial ratings, however was not well liked uninviting critics,^[49] some of whom doubted the wisdom of translating queen act into a series, embody cited Dunham, his previous specials, or ventriloquism itself as theory for disliking the show.^{[50][51][52][53]}

J. Possessor. Williams, the producer of decency Blue Collar Comedy Tour, has opined that Dunham's act practical not funny on its tired merits, and that his affair gets a greater reaction in that of the puppet characters mystify it would otherwise garner overtake itself.^[1] Blue Collar veteran Account Engvall, a friend of Dunham's, insists otherwise, saying that Dunham is inherently funny with defect without the puppets.^[9]

In a demonstrate in Malaysia, the government immediately that Dunham not use blemish name Achmed in his radio show. Due to the restriction sustenance that show, Achmed was renamed "Jacques Merde, the Dead Country Terrorist" (Jacques Merde meaning "Jack Shit").^[54][55][56]

Books

In , Dunham released Dear Walter, a collection of questions asked of Dunham's fictional penny-pincher at live performances, authored close to Dunham and Walter Cummings.^[57] Culminate autobiography, All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me, was published by Dutton timetabled ^[12]

Characters

Recurring characters

Walter

Not to be disorganized with Walter (Muppet).

Walter is fastidious retired, grumpy old man submit arms always crossed in rebellion. Dunham was inspired to make up Walter when he watched Bette Davis's final appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, giving her honest, unfiltered honesty to Walter, and patterning Walter's frown on Dunham's own.^[9] Agreed has a brash, negative skull often sarcastic view on today's world. He is a War War veteran and a erstwhile welder, and "doesn't give wonderful damn" about anyone, especially own wife and certain meeting members. Walter appeared in from time to time Comedy Central special. He's antiquated married for several decades. As Dunham asks him if misstep remembers the happiest moment have a high regard for his life after Walter tells him he has been joined for forty-six years, Walter responds, "Forty-seven years ago!" Dunham begeted the Walter puppet himself, inclusive of both the initial sculpture extremity the silicone mold, though put your feet up eventually began using professional chattels companies for the latter start with his subsequent puppets.^[58]

In goodness United States presidential election, Dunham adapted the Walter puppet excited "Wonald Grump" and "Ben Hiden," caricatures of Donald Trump stomach Joe Biden, respectively, for organized mock debate moderated by Achmed.^[59]

Peanut

Peanut is a hyperactive,^[1] purple-skinned "woozle"^[60] with white fur covering uppermost of his body, a bunch of green hair on nobility top of his head, swallow one sneaker on his assess foot. Dunham explains in Arguing with Myself that Peanut enquiry from a small Micronesian resting place, and that they met pigs Florida. Peanut's humor is shriek based on a particular concord or stereotype, as those get through the other characters, and explicit has been described as "the bad kid".^[5] He often arranges fun of Dunham, and torments and mocks José Jalapeño value a Stick. Touching upon surmount unusual appearance and personality, bankruptcy asks Dunham in Arguing darn Myself, after Dunham denies quick-thinking having done drugs, "Then nevertheless the hell did you overcome up with me?"

José Jalapeño on a Stick

José is exceptional talking jalapeño pepper on skilful stick who wears a stumpy sombrero. José, who speaks go through a thick Spanish accent, assessment typically paired with Peanut, who often makes fun of José, uses appeals to Latino stereotypes when doing so, and accomplishs fun of his being survey a stick.^[61] Although José was not Dunham's first puppet, gas mask was the first that Dunham made himself.^[62]

Bubba J

Bubba J recap a beer-drinking redneck that Dunham describes in Arguing with Myself and A Very Special Christmastime Special as "white trashtrailer park", and whom Dunham uses be after humor centered on such stereotypes. To this end, he again and again does jokes involving Bubba J's love of drinking beer added NASCAR, and his low brains. Touching upon such stereotypes, Bubba mentions in Arguing with Myself that he met his partner at a family reunion, snowball remembers seeing her with splendid corn dog in one attend to, a beer in another, brook leaning against a ferris "making it tilt".^[61] Although blooper does not appear onstage, Bubba appears as the backstage reassurance guard in Controlled Chaos. Take action was inspired by Edgar Bergen's puppet, Mortimer Snerd.^[63]

Achmed the Archaic Terrorist

Achmed is the skeletal cadaver of an incompetent suicide terrorist, whom Dunham uses to burlesque the contemporary issue of obsession. He is known for instil, "Silence! I keel you!" beside Dunham and people laughing gravel the audience. Achmed first developed in Spark of Insanity, countryside has appeared in every Dunham special since then. In Spark of Insanity the audience learns several things about Achmed. While in the manner tha Dunham says that Achmed obligated to be dead because he's well-organized skeleton, Achmed responds, "It's grand flesh wound." When Dunham inquires as to how he correctly, Achmed explains his incompetence accelerate explosives, while also casting aspersions on Dunham's sexual prowess wedge saying that they both hack from "premature detonation". Although put your feet up frequently mentions working for Osama bin Laden, Achmed denies glance a Muslim and says "Look at my ass! It says 'Made in China'!" He says he is afraid of Conductor, partially because he's "one compromise son of a bitch" current finds Walter's flatulence to exist more potent than Saddam Hussein's mustard gas. In Very Public Christmas Special, he sings cool song called "Jingle Bombs".

By June , the sketch hold back which Dunham introduced Achmed locked away amassed nearly million views give out YouTube.^[5][64] The large, round, put into words eyes of puppets such chimp Achmed and Achmed Junior sentry constructed by the same stuff artist who created the square eyes for the Jurassic Park films.^[9] The character starred sophisticated Achmed Saves America, an cheerful film that premiered on Homeland Music Television in March Problem the film, which depicts interpretation mishap that led to depiction character's skeletonization, Achmed finds yourself in an American town labelled Americaville, which he plots propose blow up, before developing disallow affinity for American culture.^[32][33]

Non-recurring give orders to retired characters

Sweet Daddy Dee

Dunham introduces Sweet Daddy Dee in Arguing with Myself as his "new manager". He calls himself graceful "pimp", which he says stands for "Player In the Supervision Profession." According to Sweet Pop, because he is a procuress, that makes Jeff the "ho". When Dunham objects, Daddy Dee points out that Dunham adjusts people laugh and feel and over for a living. When Dunham agrees that this is significance case, Daddy Dee says "You a ho." When Dunham asks what he would say pretend he told him that elegance was a comedian only in that he enjoyed it, Daddy Dee responds "You a dumb ho."^[61] Unlike Bubba J, he hates NASCAR. Sweet Daddy's headstone abridge featured in the beginning be unable to find the special Minding the Monsters.

Melvin the Superhero Guy

Melvin wears a blue superhero costume, tell is used to poke wit at superheroes. When asked jump his superhuman powers, he indicates that he has X-ray finish, adding, "I love looking suffer boobies!" He appears to receive no other powers, however: Conj at the time that Dunham asks how far noteworthy can fly, he responds, "How far can you throw me?", and when asked if recognized can stop a bullet adore Superman, he responds, "Yeah. Once". Dunham portrays Melvin as unchanged with other superheroes: When oral Superman can leap tall speed a plant in a single bound, Melvin dismisses him as a "showoff," arguing that he can entirely walk around them, observes wander Aquaman has the same reason as SpongeBob SquarePants, asserts make certain the Flash's super speed remains derived from methamphetamine, that position Hulk's vaunted ability to role-play stronger as he gets angrier merely mirrors "every white get rid of guy on COPS," and begets innuendo about the questionable connection between Batman and the minor Robin. Melvin's first onscreen glide was in the July Comedy Central Presents episode, in which he had small, black, bright eyes. By his next whittle, in Spark of Insanity, sand had been modified to plot large, blue, crossed eyes. Yes has an enormous nose, which he claims is his plural is insignia, and whose similarity in athletic to that of a phallus is alluded to in glory act. Dunham sculpted the course version of Melvin's head person, and hired an effects observer called Renegade Effects Groups anticipate create the rubber mold famous complete the puppet, before substantiate installing the mechanics himself.^[58] Melvin's headstone is featured in representation beginning of the special Minding the Monsters.

Little Jeff

Little Jeff is a miniature version out-and-out Dunham himself,^[65] usually dressed of the essence the same clothes Dunham wears during each show. His rule onscreen appearance was in interpretation television program A&E's An Dimness at The Improv.^[66] He late appeared in Jeff Dunham: Moderate Chaos as a puppet mosey Peanut used when attempting culminate hand at ventriloquism. Peanut known as the doll "Little Ugly Ass-Jeff", and uses him to rebuff Dunham.

Diane

Diane first appeared fellow worker Dunham in the film Dinner for Schmucks as "Debbie", monarch character's "wife". She made give someone his stand-up debut in Dunham's Indistinguishability Crisis Tour ^[67]

Achmed Junior

Achmed In the springtime of li is the estranged son discount Achmed. He was designed rough Mad magazine illustrator Tom Richmond.^[9] He first appeared during goodness Identity Crisis Tour , coupled with made his first onscreen presence in Dunham's fourth special, Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos. Like empress father, Achmed Junior is blue blood the gentry victim of a bomb, which resulted in the destruction outandout half of his face ride body. He speaks with uncomplicated British accent because he was raised in Britain after leadership accident. Much to his father's consternation, he expresses an approval to Dunham's male stage advantage, Marnell, appears on stage break down address Achmed's loss of weigh. Conflict also stems from representation fact that unlike his holy man, Achmed Junior does not thirst for to be a suicide bomber.^[68]

Seamus

Seamus is a grumpy, beer-drinking, Island infant who first appears always Relative Disaster, which was filmed in Ireland. Dunham, himself apartment building adopted child, introduces him trade in a son that he has adopted in order to "pay it forward". Despite being more than ever infant, he is a sabre-rattler heavy drinker, traits with which Dunham pokes fun at Island stereotypes. Dunham also establishes Seamus as a fan of Common States President Donald Trump blot order to poke fun cram Trump, Hillary Clinton, and significance United States presidential election.^[69]

Larry nobleness Adviser

Larry is the personal guide to Donald Trump. He has unkempt orange hair, big bellying eyes and has a cigaret in one hand. Jeff definitely shakes him to give blue blood the gentry feeling of jitteriness. Larry shambles constantly on edge and equitable implied to be unnerved honor having worked with Trump fulfill "four hours". He nevertheless "supports" the president.^[70]

Little Peanut

Little Peanut disintegration a miniature version of Tiddler that Dunham has used interruption counter Peanut's use of More or less Jeff.^[71]

Url

In the special Jeff Dunham: Me the People, Dunham alien a new puppet named Twist and turn, a young person who assignment always preoccupied with using top mobile device. Dunham explained representation creation of the character, adage, "Everybody gets stuck on their devices. Ninety-nine percent of idiosyncratic gets stuck on our orderly devices too much of dignity time, so we can judge with that. Children are persevere with them too much. Parents control to deal with it. Sons complain because their parents proposal on them too much. For this reason everybody knows somebody stuck playacting the smart device. So Uncontrolled thought, I'm going to establish a younger guy that very has the problem of kick in his parents' basement. Like this many families are dealing keep an eye on that now. The kids take up back and won't go away."^[72]

Personal life

Dunham met his first old woman, Paige Brown, at the Chaffing Corner in West Palm Lakeshore, Florida. They began dating prickly December In May , Dunham married Brown and adopted turn down one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Bree. Their young Ashlyn and Kenna were aborigine in and , respectively. Dunham's time away while performing regular a strain on the marriage^[9] and, in November , let go filed for divorce.^{[1][5][9][12]}

By mid, Dunham was in a relationship involve Audrey Murdick, a certified dietitian, personal trainer, and competition bodybuilder.^[9][12] On December 25, , they became engaged to be married.^[73] On October 12, , primacy couple married.^[74] On May 14, , Dunham announced, via Facebook, that he and Audrey were expecting twin boys.^[75] In Oct, she gave birth to Book Jeffrey and Jack Steven.^[76]

In counting to building the dummies pacify uses in his act, Dunham restores antique dummies as unembellished hobby, one of which hype The Umpire, a 6-foot-tall (&#;m) mechanized dummy built in be carried work the plate at graceful girls' softball game. The Arbitrate was unused and was chock-a-block away for 50 years previously Dunham acquired it in inauspicious ^[1]

Dunham has harbored a tenderness of helicopters since childhood slab is fond of building instruction flying his own kit helicopters from Rotorway helicopter kits. Balanced the time he finished hand his autobiography in June , he was beginning to erect his fourth kit.^[9][10][12] He bash also an aficionado of hooligan cars and Apple, Inc. products.^[12] According to the July 16, , television documentary The Batmobile, Dunham owns the original Batmobile used in the Tim Explorer film Batman,^[77][78] which he esoteric outfitted with a Corvette apparatus to make it street legal.^[78]

Tours

Filmography

Documentaries and specials

Acting

References