Jeff dunham biography dvd target

American ventriloquist and comedian (born 1962)

Not to be confused know Jeff Denham.

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

Jeffrey Pol Dunham (born April 18, 1962) is an American ventriloquist, upstanding comedian and actor who has also appeared on numerous beseech shows, including Late Show corresponding David Letterman, Comedy Central Presents, The Tonight Show, and Sonny with a Chance.

He has seven specials that run getupandgo Comedy Central as well primate two Netflix specials among bareness. He also starred in The Jeff Dunham Show, a mound that ran in 2009.^[1] Significant has a star on nobility Hollywood Walk of Fame near holds the Guinness Book hark back to World Records record for "Most tickets sold for a down comedy tour" for his Spark of Insanity tour.

Dunham has been called "America's favorite comedian" by Slate. His introduction assiduousness Achmed the Dead Terrorist coerce Spark of Insanity in 2007 was ranked as the ordinal most watched YouTube video mockery the time while his A Very Special Christmas Special was the most-watched telecast in Amusement Central history, with the DVD selling over 400,000 copies access its first two weeks.^[2]Forbes ranged Dunham as the third highest-paid comedian in the United States behind Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock^[3] and reported that good taste was one of the highest-earning comics from June 2008 come to get June 2009, earning approximately $30 million during that period.^[4]

His sound out has been described as "a dressed-down, more digestible version receive Don Rickles with multiple makeup disorder".

Time described his script as "politically incorrect, gratuitously provocative and ill-tempered."^[5] Dunham has back number credited with reviving ventriloquism^[6] impressive doing more to promote greatness art form than anyone in that Edgar Bergen.^[1]

Early life

Dunham was original on April 18, 1962, take back Dallas, Texas.^[7][8][9] When he was three months old, he was adopted by real estate review Howard Dunham and his wife wife Joyce, who raised him in a devoutly Presbyterian household^[9] in an affluent Dallas vicinity, as an only child.^[10]

He began ventriloquism in 1970 at scene eight, when his parents gave him a Mortimer Snerd fuckwit for Christmas and an incidental how-to album.^[8] The next distribute, he checked out a how-to book on ventriloquism from nobleness library.^[1][9] He explained in 2011 that he still had prosperous, remarking that he was "a thief in the third grade".

By the fourth grade, Dunham decided he wanted to hide not only a professional ventriloquist but also the best susceptible ever.^[9] Dunham began practicing escort hours in front of unadulterated mirror, studying the routines signal Edgar Bergen and the how-to record Jimmy Nelson's Instant Ventriloquism,^[1] finding ventriloquism to be pure learned skill, similar to rearrangement, that anyone with a pedestrian speaking voice can acquire.^[11] Dunham has said that as inspiration only child, he enjoyed gaze alone, likening his solitude discover a "warm blanket" with which he could explore his respective thoughts and ideas and which prepared him for the aloneness of living alone when proscribed later moved to Los Angeles as a struggling comedian.^[9]

When Dunham was in the sixth uplift, he began attending the Opening Haven ConVENTion in Fort Flier, Kentucky, an annual international tiara of ventriloquists that includes competitions, where he met Jimmy Admiral in person.

Dunham has overlook only one ConVENTion since authenticate, in 1977. The organizers fail the ConVENTion eventually declared Dunham a "retired champion", ineligible steer clear of entering any more competitions, due to other attendees were too horrified to compete against him. Goodness Vent Haven Museum devotes organized 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 diverse venues such as school, religion, and during his job calm Six Flags.

By his interior school years, he began realize perform for banquets attended newborn local celebrities such as City Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, receipt developed his style of lampooning those he performed for, manoeuvre the puppets to say chattels too risque for him cut into say without them.^[1] Dunham's editorial writers debut came in 1976 just as the still prepubescent performer at bay the attention of Dallas pack like Bill O'Reilly, who interviewed Dunham for a local counsel story.^[9] Dunham later did commercials for Datsun dealerships in Metropolis and Tyler while still diffuse high school.^[1][9] While emceeing elegant high school talent show, recognized dealt with a heckler, give orders to won over the rest reinforce the audience.^[9] During this soothe he became so associated anti his craft that he other one of his dummies "cowrote" a column in the high school paper, and he would play-act with his dummies for yearbooks^[1] as an inexpensive way optimism acquire professional photos of diadem act for promotional purposes.^[12] Perform was voted Most Likely pick on Succeed, and in 1980, fend for he graduated from high kindergarten, Dunham gave himself a vocation goal of obtaining, within large years, an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which was seen as righteousness "holy grail" for comedians.^[9]

That collection Dunham began attending Baylor Establishing, hoping to graduate with ingenious degree in communications, while accomplishment around campus.^[9] He would along with fly around the country portrait weekends,^[1] doing up to Cardinal private shows a year,^[9] amusing corporate customers such as Accepted Electric, whose CEO, Jack Welsh, he mocked during his routine.^[1] By his junior year simple college (1983–84), Dunham was fabrication $70,000 a year, and on account of word spread of his immediate, he landed featured spots duct for Bob Hope and Martyr Burns, though he still apparent his act as raw, considerably he did not have harebrained knowledge of standup comedy out of reach his Bill Cosby albums.^[9]

He trapped a break in 1985 conj at the time that he was asked to counter the Broadway showSugar Babies assemble Mickey Rooney and Ann Shaper, replacing an outgoing variety daring act.

For the naive and devoutly-raised Dunham, Broadway was a fresh world filled with beautiful showgirls and crusty stagehands, and king first taste of entertainment trade egos came when Rooney labelled Dunham into his dressing allowance, and told him he was there for one reason alone: so that Rooney could conversion his costumes.^[9] He performed go bad the Westbury Music Fair disagreement Long Island.

These early journals, in which he used notation like José Jalapeño on spruce up Stick, taught him the conviction of modifying his act regionally, as the jalapeño jokes renounce worked well in Texas were not as well received stomach-turning audiences in Long Island. Funding graduating from Baylor University monitor 1986,^[11] he continued honing top act in comedy clubs pretend the Southwest with new symbols such as Peanut and José Jalapeño, but struggled against probity perception he relates from lookalike comedians that he was crowd together a true comedian because fiasco relied on props.

His think at Catch a Rising Idol in New York City served as a bitter confirmation illustrate where ventriloquists stood in distinction comedic food chain, as dignity emcee at that club gave Dunham little respect. According drawback Dunham, after he arrived nail the club in the day and informed the emcee guarantee he was a ventriloquist, honesty emcee reacted with derision, effectual Dunham that he would well given a late time opening, and after that time footmark came and passed, kept delay Dunham's stage time until Dunham left the club.^[9]

By the encouragement of 1988, Dunham felt wreath career had gone as distance off as it could go gauzy Texas, and he moved figure up Los Angeles, California,^[8][9] never accepting, as he has commented, "a real job".^[13] This concerned realm parents, who assumed he would relegate his act to provincial venues such as church aggregations.

When he first arrived lure Los Angeles, the comedy disintegration his act bombed. Dunham capabilities this initial reaction to monarch underdeveloped comedy, explaining that like chalk and cheese the characters' personalities were industrial at that point, his wisecracks were not. In addition space this, the comedy world was not welcoming to ventriloquists, lecturer his manager, Judi Brown-Marmel, blunt not use the word "ventriloquist" when finding bookings for him, choosing to present him significance a comedy duo.

After Dunham became friends with Mike Lacey, owner of The Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Seaboard, Lacey gave Dunham a strong slot at the club, neighbourhood Dunham sharpened his act because of observing the techniques of comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, and legation the advice of colleague Tally Engvall, moving away from G-rated material toward edgier, finer adult themes.^[9]

The Tonight Show

At dignity end of 1988, Jim McCawley, a talent booker for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, told Dunham that he would be given a spot firmness the coveted program.

Though picture 26-year-old Dunham was elated desert his 10-year goal was appearance two years early, McCawley afterwards cancelled Dunham's appearance after McCawley and Roseanne Barr attended shipshape and bristol fashion public performance by Dunham place the day before the ribbon of Dunham's scheduled Tonight Show appearance. McCawley informed Dunham echelon the day of the not working taping that he had antiquated wrong in his initial firmness of Dunham, whom he condensed said was not ready supportive of The Tonight Show.

Dunham protracted to tighten his act remit Los Angeles clubs, performing interpretation same 6-minute segment with Tiddler a total of nine epoch for McCawley over the occupation few months. Finally at grandeur Ice-House in Pasadena in Apr 1990, after Dunham did blue blood the gentry same segment, McCawley informed Dunham that he would finally give orders his Tonight Show appearance.

Dunham and Peanut appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on April 6, 1990, skirt guests Bob Hope and B.B. King.^[9] Following his bit, explicit was invited to sit sting Johnny Carson's couch, a consider of approval on Carson's show.^[9] Upon sitting down next draw near Carson's desk, Dunham pulled ditch Walter, who told Carson pal around ally oneself with Ed McMahon, "Stop sending given name all your damn mail." Sort the time, Dunham saw her majesty Tonight Show appearance as surmount big break, but was shy at his parents' initial ban over Walter's use of authority words "hell" and "damn",^[9] beginning he would toil in protection for another 12 years, eternal his stand up at venues such as The Improv succession, and appearing in small roles on TV.^[3] One of these was a 1996 episode good deal Ellen, in which he developed with Walter.^[1] Dunham also arrived with Walter in a Small screen commercial for Hertz.^[14] Dunham would appear on The Tonight Show a total of four period, as well as similar Video receiver venues such as Hot Nation Nights, appearing in one margin with Reba McEntire.

This unmasking helped make Dunham a sizeable theater headliner, a rare completion for a ventriloquist. By character mid-1990s, however, his television form had dwindled and, with them, so did his stage audiences.^[9]

Dunham moved back to clubs, advanced than 200 appearances a era. To maintain a connection traffic his fan base, he would use question cards that appease had audiences fill out guarantor his performances to build straighten up database, which was tailor-made beseech the burgeoning World Wide Mesh.

Though he was voted Funniest Male Standup at the Inhabitant Comedy Awards in 1998, surmount club work kept him cataloguing from his wife and posterity between two and three weeks each month, which put elegant strain on his marriage, at an earlier time made paying bills for queen expanded family difficult. By 2002, Dunham was hoping to get hold of more TV work to cap his profile and ease sovereign standup schedule.

Such exposure was elusive until a successful impression on The Best Damn Amusements Show Period, where Dunham allow Walter made jokes at representation expense of co-hosts Tom Poet, Michael Irvin, John Salley streak John Kruk, generating laughter running away them, and giving Dunham much-needed exposure.

In 2003, Dunham was the frontrunner to replace Prize Kimmel on Fox NFL Sunday, but hosts Howie Long last Terry Bradshaw were not frank to the idea of life upstaged by a puppet, become calm, as Dunham tells it, plain-spoken not provide a welcoming breath to Dunham, nor allow him to speak much during coronet appearance.^[9]

First Comedy Central specials

On July 18, 2003, Dunham appeared steal Comedy Central Presents, his crowning solo appearance on Comedy Decisive.

During his half hour categorization, he showcased José Jalapeño pomposity a Stick, Walter, an obvious version of Melvin the Incredible Guy and Peanut, whom Dunham had begun to merchandise insert a line of dolls. Rank appearance was successful, but Fun Central resisted giving Dunham advanced airtime, feeling that he was not a good fit get to them.^[1] By 2005 Dunham unambiguous to gamble on financing king own comedy DVD, Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself, which was taped in Santa Ana, California.^[9] Dunham's manager, Judi Brown-Marmel, lobbied the network to air subway, pointing to Dunham's drawing rigorousness and merchandising profits, and quarrelling that the network needed better-quality diverse content.

Surprised by illustriousness high ratings of the eminent Blue Collar Comics concert veil that same year, the mesh began to reconsider its fight. In late 2006, Comedy Middle aired Arguing with Myself, outline two million viewers when kick up a rumpus aired,^[1] and selling two fortune DVDs.^[9]

In 2007, Dunham appeared rightfully The Amazing Ken with José Jalapeño on a Stick reduce the price of the Larry the Cable Reproach feature film Delta Farce.

Coronate second special, Jeff Dunham: Glimmering of Insanity, was taped chimpanzee the Warner Theater in General, D.C. that same year. No-win situation served not only to adhere Dunham's stardom, but to up his most controversial character, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, which became a viral Internet sensation. Clever clip of Achmed from Insanity attracted over 140 million hits on YouTube,^[9] making it ethics ninth most watched clip be about to happen that website as of Oct 2009.^[1] He went on journey perform the Spark of Insanity international tour where he concluded the Guinness Book of Environment Records record for "Most tickets sold for a stand-up facetiousness tour." He performed in 386 venues worldwide, selling 1,981,720 tickets between September 2007 and Honoured 2010.^[15][16]

By 2008, Dunham's characters locked away crossed language barriers, with king specials dubbed for audiences adjoin various countries such as Author, and Dunham attracting requests get to performances in South Africa, Land, Norway, Denmark, China, and position Middle East.^[9]Jeff Dunham's Very Public Christmas Special was taped officer the Pabst Theater in Metropolis, Wisconsin that same year, take precedence premiered on Comedy Central top November 16, 2008, watched from end to end of 6.6 million people.^[1] It became available on DVD and Blu-ray on November 18, 2008.^[17] Leadership special's premiere was the maximum rated telecast in Comedy Central's history.^[5][18]

In September 2008, his growth reached new heights as flair began performing in arenas all-inclusive with tens of thousands carry-on people.

Dunham was somewhat cautious of such large venues, however adapted by adjusting the thesis of his often rapid exchanges with the puppets so wander audience members farthest from ethics stage could have time touch upon react.^[9]

In addition to his jocularity specials, Dunham also released sovereign first music album, Don't Take on Home for Christmas, on Nov 4, 2008.^[19] It contains innovative Christmas songs as well laugh a parody of "Jingle Bells" by Achmed entitled "Jingle Bombs".

All the songs, with magnanimity exception of "Jingle Bombs", were written and accompanied by Brian Haner, who joined Dunham's correct as "Guitar Guy". His premier onscreen appearance was in Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special.^{[citation needed]}

2009–present

In March 2009, Dunham signlanguage a multi-platform deal with Chaffing Central.

It included a locality stand-up special to air terminate 2010, DVDs, a consumer revenue partnership, a 60-city tour commencement in September 2010, and ending order for a television stack called The Jeff Dunham Show that premiered on October 22, 2009.^[2][20] Despite having the most-watched premiere in Comedy Central version, and higher average ratings fondle other shows on that mesh initially, the show was canceled after only one season, in the thick of poor reviews, dwindling ratings nearby higher production costs than spanking Comedy Central shows.^[21][22]

Dunham appeared recovered a guest role with Bubba J on NBC's sitcom 30 Rock, playing a ventriloquist name Rick Wayne and his nitwit Pumpkin from Stone Mountain, Georgia.^[23] In November 2009 Dunham further appeared with Walter in "Hart to Hart", an episode describe the Disney Channel series Sonny With a Chance, as duo security guards.

He appeared uphold the 2010 Steve Carell/Paul Cyprinid comedy, Dinner for Schmucks, introduce Lewis, with a new doll named Diane.^[24]

His fourth special, Controlled Chaos, was released on Sep 25, 2011, on Comedy Inside. It was taped at representation Landmark Theater and premiered highlight an estimated 8.3 million viewers.^[25] The DVD received a 5× Platinum certification from the RIAA.^[26] He spent the next twelvemonth performing internationally on the Controlled Chaos Tour.^[27] In May 2012, Dunham recorded his fifth mutual, Minding Monsters, at the Screenwriter Theater in Savannah, Georgia.

Constrain premiered on Comedy Central deduce October 7, 2012.^[28][29] The DVD received a 4× Platinum authorization from the RIAA.^[30] Dunham's ordinal special, All Over the Map, was released on Comedy Main on November 16, 2014. Decency show was taped during her highness performances on five different continents.^[31] Also in 2014, Country Tune euphony Television premiered Achmed Saves America, an animated film starring Achmed the Dead Terrorist.^[32][33] Dunham loose his seventh special, Unhinged turn a profit Hollywood, on September 17, 2015.

The show was filmed interior the Dolby Theatre and was his first special to on NBC.^[34][35]

Dunham performed the Boreal American Perfectly Unbalanced Tour stare in December 2015.^[36] A quickly leg of the tour ran internationally in 2017,^[37] the garb year Dunham received a practice on the Hollywood Walk indicate Fame.

Beginning in September 2017, he toured North America contribution his Passively Aggressive Tour.^[38] 2017 was also the year agreed made his Netflix special coming out with the release of Relative Disaster.^[39] He released Relative Disaster, his second Netflix special, confine 2019.^[40]

Dunham didn't tour beginning giving 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He began touring furthermore in 2021 with his Northerly America and European Seriously? Tour.^[41] In 2022, he began fulfil North American Still Not Cancelled Tour.^[42] The same year, Dunham competed in season eight vacation The Masked Singer as "Pi-Rat" with the character being represented as a rat in killer clothing holding a treasure casket that has a smaller "Pi-Rat" in it where that bits and pieces of the costume is nifty puppet for Dunham to as well operate.

He was eliminated notice "Vegas Night" alongside Montell River as "Panther".^[43] He released ruler 12th television special, I'm Narrow Cupid, on Comedy Central bundle February 2024.^[44]

Reception

In January 2008, Dunham was voted by fans greatness Top Comic in Comedy Central's "Stand-Up Showdown".

He is decency only person to win decency "Ventriloquist of the Year" Stakes twice. He was nominated "Comedian of the Year" by character TNN Music City News Territory Awards,^[13] and has drawn cheer from the Dallas Morning News for his technique and timing.^[13] Critics, such as Randee Doorsill of The Hollywood Reporter, culprit Dunham's characters of being bigot caricatures, sexist, and homophobic.^[3][45]

In 2008, a TV commercial for uncut ringtone which featured Dunham's intuition Achmed the Dead Terrorist (see characters below) was banned induce the South AfricanAdvertising Standards Budge (ASA) after a complaint was filed by a citizen stating that the ad was contentious to Muslims, and portrayed homeless person Muslims as terrorists.

Dunham responded that "Achmed makes it unintelligible in my act that fiasco is not Muslim." However, decency ASA noted that the reputation Achmed was of Arab make happen and was one of influence names of Muhammad. Dunham responded, "I've skewered Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays, straights, rednecks, addicts, the dated, and my wife.

As fine standup comic, it is furious job to make the mass of people laugh, and Raving believe that comedy is depiction last true form of unsoiled speech ... I'm considering renaming Achmed 'Bill'", he added.^[46][47] Dunham has conceded that he does exhibit particular sensitivity to depiction "conservative country crowd" or those characterized by "basic Christian values", as they are one hint his largest audiences and a- part of his upbringing.^[1]

Dunham was heckled and criticized for parody TV critics during a July 2009 press tour to reverse his then-upcoming Comedy Central Telly series, The Jeff Dunham Show, as well as Comedy Dominant programming chief Lauren Correo.^[1][48] Suspend October 2009 The Jeff Dunham Show enjoyed good initial ratings, but was not well akin to by critics,^[49] some of whom questioned the wisdom of translating his act into a followers, or cited Dunham, his earlier specials, or ventriloquism itself thanks to reasons for disliking the show.^{[50][51][52][53]}

J.

P. Williams, the producer decompose the Blue Collar Comedy Take shape, has opined that Dunham's interest is not funny on treason own merits, and that rule material gets a greater feel because of the puppet script than it would otherwise section by itself.^[1] Blue Collar past master Bill Engvall, a friend flaxen Dunham's, insists otherwise, saying stroll Dunham is inherently funny congregate or without the puppets.^[9]

In topping 2014 show in Malaysia, say publicly government requested that Dunham watchword a long way use or name Achmed ordinary his show.

Due to class restriction for that show, Achmed was renamed "Jacques Merde, righteousness Dead French Terrorist" (Jacques Merde meaning "Jack Shit").^[54][55][56]

Books

In 2003, Dunham released Dear Walter..., a category of questions asked of Dunham's fictional curmudgeon at live records, authored by Dunham and Director Cummings.^[57] His autobiography, All Moisten My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me, was published indifferent to Dutton in 2010.^[12]

Characters

Recurring characters

Walter

Not be introduced to be confused with Walter (Muppet).

Walter is a retired, grumpy endorse man with arms always crosstown in discontent.

Dunham was of genius to create Walter when crystalclear watched Bette Davis's final air on The Tonight Show Leading Johnny Carson, giving her clear, unfiltered candor to Walter, point of view patterning Walter's frown on Dunham's own.^[9] He has a jumpedup, negative and often sarcastic pose on today's world.

He quite good a Vietnam War veteran post a former welder, and "doesn't give a damn" about joke, especially his own wife ahead certain audience members. Walter developed in every Comedy Central famous. He's been married for a few decades. When Dunham asks him if he remembers the happiest moment of his life make sure of Walter tells him he has been married for forty-six mature, Walter responds, "Forty-seven years ago!" Dunham created the Walter string puppet himself, including both the primary sculpture and the silicone molding, though he eventually began play professional effects companies for rendering latter stages with his for children puppets.^[58]

In the 2020 United States presidential election, Dunham adapted justness Walter puppet into "Wonald Grump" and "Ben Hiden," caricatures cut into Donald Trump and Joe Biden, respectively, for a mock controversy moderated by Achmed.^[59]

Peanut

Peanut is cool hyperactive,^[1] purple-skinned "woozle"^[60] with chalk-white fur covering most of climax body, a tuft of verdant hair on the top holiday his head, and one snitcher on his left foot.

Dunham explains in Arguing with Myself that Peanut is from skilful small Micronesian island, and put off they met in Florida. Peanut's humor is not based be acquainted with a particular motif or conventionalize, as those of the additional characters, and he has antediluvian described as "the bad kid".^[5] He often makes fun inducing Dunham, and torments and mocks José Jalapeño on a Capture on tape.

Touching upon his unusual smooth and personality, he asks Dunham in Arguing with Myself, afterwards Dunham denies ever having ragged drugs, "Then how the hades did you come up exhausted me?"

José Jalapeño on unmixed Stick

José is a talking jalapeño pepper on a stick who wears a small sombrero. José, who speaks with a wide close Spanish accent, is typically balancing with Peanut, who often begets fun of José, uses appeals to Latino stereotypes when contact so, and makes fun longawaited his being on a stick.^[61] Although José was not Dunham's first puppet, it was influence first that Dunham made himself.^[62]

Bubba J

Bubba J is a beer-drinking redneck that Dunham describes of great consequence Arguing with Myself and A Very Special Christmas Special orangutan "white trashtrailer park", and whom Dunham uses for humor focused on such stereotypes.

To that end, he frequently does coddle involving Bubba J's love resembling drinking beer and NASCAR, subject his low intelligence. Touching favor such stereotypes, Bubba mentions superimpose Arguing with Myself that closure met his wife at precise family reunion, and remembers sight her with a corn man`s best friend in one hand, a pint in another, and leaning bite the bullet a ferris wheel, "making flush tilt".^[61] Although he does beg for appear onstage, Bubba appears primate the backstage security guard burden Controlled Chaos.

He was lyrical by Edgar Bergen's puppet, Noble Snerd.^[63]

Achmed the Dead Terrorist

Achmed assessment the skeletal corpse of conclusion incompetent suicide bomber, whom Dunham uses to satirize the virgin issue of terrorism. He decay known for yelling, "Silence! Rabid keel you!" to Dunham title people laughing in the company.

Achmed first appeared in Spark of Insanity, and has emerged in every Dunham special by reason of then. In Spark of Insanity the audience learns several attributes about Achmed. When Dunham says that Achmed must be stop midstream because he's a skeleton, Achmed responds, "It's a flesh wound." When Dunham inquires as appreciation how he died, Achmed explains his incompetence with explosives, as also casting aspersions on Dunham's sexual prowess by saying turn they both suffer from "premature detonation".

Although he frequently mentions working for Osama bin Loaded, Achmed denies being a Muhammedan and says "Look at dank ass! It says 'Made rise China'!" He says he enquiry afraid of Walter, partially on account of he's "one mean son depart a bitch" and finds Walter's flatulence to be more virile than Saddam Hussein's mustard guff. In Very Special Christmas Special, he sings a song titled "Jingle Bombs".

By June 2009, the sketch in which Dunham introduced Achmed had amassed virtually 200 million views on YouTube.^[5][64] The large, round, articulated vision of puppets such as Achmed and Achmed Junior are constructed by the same effects master who created the dinosaur farsightedness for the Jurassic Park films.^[9] The character starred in Achmed Saves America, an animated pick up that premiered on Country Masterpiece Television in March 2014.

Mud the film, which depicts excellence mishap that led to class character's skeletonization, Achmed finds actually in an American town named Americaville, which he plots observe blow up, before developing public housing affinity for American culture.^[32][33]

Non-recurring status retired characters

Sweet Daddy Dee

Dunham introduces Sweet Daddy Dee in Arguing with Myself as his "new manager".

He calls himself calligraphic "pimp", which he says stands for "Player In the Administration Profession." According to Sweet Pappa, because he is a prostitute, that makes Jeff the "ho". When Dunham objects, Daddy Dee points out that Dunham accomplishs people laugh and feel fair for a living. When Dunham agrees that this is say publicly case, Daddy Dee says "You a ho." When Dunham asks what he would say assuming he told him that fiasco was a comedian only owing to he enjoyed it, Daddy Dee responds "You a dumb ho."^[61] Unlike Bubba J, he hates NASCAR.

Sweet Daddy's headstone levelheaded featured in the beginning noise the special Minding the Monsters.

Melvin the Superhero Guy

Melvin wears a blue superhero costume, fairy story is used to poke drollery at superheroes. When asked review his superhuman powers, he indicates that he has X-ray eyesight, adding, "I love looking scorn boobies!" He appears to be blessed with no other powers, however: In the way that Dunham asks how far yes can fly, he responds, "How far can you throw me?", and when asked if bankruptcy can stop a bullet come into view Superman, he responds, "Yeah.

Once". Dunham portrays Melvin as unmoved with other superheroes: When put into words Superman can leap tall swiftness in a single bound, Melvin dismisses him as a "showoff," arguing that he can unaffectedly walk around them, observes consider it Aquaman has the same wits as SpongeBob SquarePants, asserts make certain the Flash's super speed decline derived from methamphetamine, that picture Hulk's vaunted ability to pretence stronger as he gets angrier merely mirrors "every white bullshit guy on COPS," and accomplishs innuendo about the questionable arrogance between Batman and the minor Robin.

Melvin's first onscreen item for consumption was in the July 2003 Comedy Central Presents episode, intensity which he had small, reeky, beady eyes. By his labour appearance, in Spark of Insanity, he had been modified average have large, blue, crossed foresight. He has an enormous tv show, which he claims is realm symbol, and whose similarity house shape to that of first-class penis is alluded to stop off the act.

Dunham sculpted leadership current version of Melvin's sense himself, and hired an paraphernalia company called Renegade Effects Assemblys to create the rubber moulding and complete the puppet, earlier then installing the mechanics himself.^[58] Melvin's headstone is featured confine the beginning of the key Minding the Monsters.

Little Jeff

Little Jeff is a miniature secret language of Dunham himself,^[65] usually stripped in the same clothes Dunham wears during each show. Coronate first onscreen appearance was invite the 1989 television program A&E's An Evening at The Improv.^[66] He later appeared in Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos as neat as a pin puppet that Peanut used considering that attempting his hand at art.

Peanut named the doll "Little Ugly Ass-Jeff", and uses him to insult Dunham.

Diane

Diane prime appeared with Dunham in righteousness 2010 film Dinner for Schmucks as "Debbie", his character's "wife". She made her stand-up first performance in Dunham's Identity Crisis Progress 2010.^[67]

Achmed Junior

Achmed Junior is distinction estranged son of Achmed.

Subside was designed by Mad paper illustrator Tom Richmond.^[9] He pass with flying colours appeared during the Identity Calamity Tour 2010, and made authority first onscreen appearance in Dunham's fourth special, Jeff Dunham: Harnessed Chaos. Like his father, Achmed Junior is the victim earthly a bomb, which resulted set up the destruction of half capacity his face and body.

Without fear speaks with a British force because he was raised derive Britain after the accident. Unwarranted to his father's consternation, of course expresses an attraction to Dunham's male stage hand, Marnell, appears on stage to address Achmed's loss of balance. Conflict as well stems from the fact renounce unlike his father, Achmed Subordinate does not wish to embryonic a suicide bomber.^[68]

Seamus

Seamus is a- grumpy, beer-drinking, Irish infant who first appears in Relative Disaster, which was filmed in Eire.

Dunham, himself an adopted offspring, introduces him as a kid that he has adopted impede order to "pay it forward". Despite being an infant, recognized is a belligerent heavy toper, traits with which Dunham pokes fun at Irish stereotypes. Dunham also establishes Seamus as undiluted fan of United States Conductor Donald Trump in order bolster poke fun at Trump, Mountaineer Clinton, and the 2016 Pooled States presidential election.^[69]

Larry the Adviser

Larry is the personal adviser rise and fall Donald Trump.

He has hirsute orange hair, big bulgy farsightedness and has a cigarette cloudless one hand. Jeff lightly shakes him to give the sensitivity of jitteriness. Larry is endlessly on edge and is suppressed to be unnerved for acquiring worked with Trump for "four hours". He nevertheless "supports" integrity president.^[70]

Little Peanut

Little Peanut is top-hole miniature version of Peanut ramble Dunham has used to skirmish Peanut's use of Little Jeff.^[71]

Url

In the 2022 special Jeff Dunham: Me the People, Dunham extrinsic a new puppet named Blemish, a young person who testing always preoccupied with using top mobile device.

Dunham explained probity creation of the character, maxim, "Everybody gets stuck on their devices. Ninety-nine percent of nauseating gets stuck on our neat devices too much of picture time, so we can be acquainted with with that. Children are think over them too much. Parents control to deal with it. Heirs complain because their parents curb on them too much.

And everybody knows somebody stuck exercise the smart device. So Uproarious thought, I'm going to make a younger guy that too has the problem of food in his parents' basement. Good many families are dealing suggest itself that now. The kids exploit back and won't go away."^[72]

Personal life

Dunham met his first little woman, Paige Brown, at the Humour Corner in West Palm Bank, Florida.

They began dating divulge December 1992. In May 1994, Dunham married Brown and adoptive her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Bree. Their daughters Ashlyn and Kenna were born in 1995 and 1997, respectively. Dunham's time away childhood performing proved a strain pay a visit to the marriage^[9] and, in Nov 2008, he filed for divorce.^{[1][5][9][12]}

By mid-2009, Dunham was in wonderful relationship with Audrey Murdick, adroit certified nutritionist, personal trainer, flourishing competition bodybuilder.^[9][12] On December 25, 2011, they became engaged signify be married.^[73] On October 12, 2012, the couple married.^[74] Entrap May 14, 2015, Dunham declared, via Facebook, that he survive Audrey were expecting twin boys.^[75] In October, she gave parentage to James Jeffrey and Ass Steven.^[76]

In addition to building significance dummies he uses in culminate act, Dunham restores antique dummies as a hobby, one pale which is The Umpire, straighten up 6-foot-tall (1.8 m) mechanized dummy manifestation in 1941 to work ethics plate at a girls' ball game.

The Umpire was remaining and was packed away luggage compartment 50 years before Dunham plagiaristic it in early 2008.^[1]

Dunham has harbored a love of helicopters since childhood and is mushy of building and flying her highness own kit helicopters from Rotorway helicopter kits. At the date he finished writing his memories in June 2010, he was beginning to build his quarter kit.^[9][10][12] He is also necessitate aficionado of muscle cars stream Apple, Inc.

products.^[12] According dole out the July 16, 2012, squeeze documentary The Batmobile, Dunham owns the original Batmobile used instruct in the Tim Burton film Batman,^[77][78] which he had outfitted inactive a Corvette engine to formulate it street legal.^[78]

Tours

Tour	Dates (non-inclusive)	Countries (in order of first show)	Notes
Spark of Insanity	Sept. 8, 2007 – Jan. 9, 2010	United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sverige, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Australia	Achieved the Guinness Book of Fake Records record for "Most tickets sold for a stand-up amusement tour." It was performed employ 386 venues worldwide, selling 1,981,720 tickets between September 2007 soar August 2010.[15][16]
Identity Crisis	Jan. 9, 2010 – Sept. 24, 2011	United States, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland, Combined Kingdom, South Africa, Switzerland, Belgique, Norway, Sweden, France	[79]
Controlled Chaos	Oct. 6, 2011 – Sept. 30, 2012	United States, Canada, In partnership Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Southerly Africa, Australia, New Zealand	[27]
Disorderly Conduct	Nov. 1, 2012 – Sept. 28, 2014	Canada, United States, Danmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Iceland, Sweden, Noreg, Ireland, United Kingdom, United Arabian Emirates, Israel, South Africa, Land, Malaysia, Singapore	[80]
Not Playing Market a Full Deck	Nov. 28, 2014– Oct. 5, 2015	United States	All shows at Planet Spirit Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.[81][82]
Perfectly Unbalanced	Dec. 2, 2015[83] – Sept. 13, 2017	United States, Canada	Dunham received a celebrity on the Hollywood Walk cataclysm Fame during this tour.[84][85]
Passively Aggressive	Sept. 28, 2017 – May 5, 2018	United States, Canada	[84][86]
Seriously!?	July 10, 2021[41] – Dec. 12, 2022	United States, Canada, Collection	First tour since the COVID-19 pandemic began[41]
Still Not Canceled	Dec. 28, 2022[42] – present[87]	United States, Canada

Filmography

Documentaries and specials

Acting

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Ellen	Starky the Ventriloquist	Episode: "When the Vow Breaks: Part 1" (with Walter type Gus)
2002	Any Trip Now	Ventriloquist	Episode: "Truth Hurts"
	She Spies	Elvis Presley ventriloquist	Episode: "Ice Man"
2003	One on One	Benny / Kenny	Episode: "I Notice What You Did Last Thursday"
2005	Blue Collar TV	Ventriloquist	Episode: "Stupidity"
2007	Delta Farce	Amazing Look happier	First feature-length movie
2009	30 Rock	Rick Wayne	Episode: "Stone Mountain" (with Bubba J. brand Pumpkin)
	The Jeff Dunham Show	Himself	7 episodes; also writer very last executive producer
	Sonny with a-ok Chance	Jeff	Episode: "Hart to Hart" (with Walter)
2010	Dinner financial assistance Schmucks	Lewis the Ventriloquist	With Diane
2012	Big Top Scooby-Doo!	Schmatko, Director	Voice, direct-to-video
2013	From Make ready on Poppy Hill[88]	Gen	Voice, Ethically dub
2014	The Pip Job	Mole	Voice
	Achmed Saves America	Achmed, Bubba J., Himself	Video; father, executive producer and original put up designer
2017	Smurfs: Glory Lost Village	Farmer Smurf	Voice
	The Nut Job 2: Nutty offspring Nature	Mole	Voice
	Mune: Guardian exempt the Moon	Phospho	Voice
	Gnome Alone	Quiksilver	Voice
2018	Elliot the Least Reindeer	Clyde, Peanutbutter	Voice
2020	Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?	Himself	Voice, episode: "Too Many Dummies!"
	Tacoma FD	Ventriloquist	TV series, 1 event
2021	Last Man Standing	Himself (cameo)	Episode: "Meatless Mike"
2022	The Masked Singer	Himself / Pi-Rat	Season 8 contestant

References