List Of Ventriloquists
This is a list of notable ventriloquists and their best known characters. It is ordered by nationality or country in which they were notable in an alphabetical order, and then by alphabetical order of surname. It does not include voice-over artists who did not perform with a figure, or "dummy" as it is usually called. Australia * Showko Showfukutei – "Ninja Ken", "Sushi Master", "Herro Kitty" France * Jeff Panacloc – "Jean-Marc" India * Y. K. Padhye (192? - 1967) * Indushree Raveendra- "Dinku" ,"Grandpa" ,"Nerd" * Mimicry Srinivos – "Old Man", "Little Boy", "Caesar Chimp"″micey″ Italy *Pietro Ghislandi – "Sergio" Spain *Señor Wences (1896 - 1999) – "Johnny", "Pedro", "Cecilia Chicken" Sweden * Zillah & Totte United Kingdom *Ray Alan (1930 - 2010) – "Mickey the Martian", "Lord Charles", "Tich and Quackers" *Peter Brough (1916 - 1999) – "Archie Andrews" *Nina Conti – "Monkey", "Granny", "Nina", "Killer", "Great Uncle John" * Roger De Courcey – "Nookie Be ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ventriloquist
Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is a performance act of stagecraft in which a person (a ventriloquist) creates the illusion that their voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered prop known as a "dummy". The act of ventriloquism is ventriloquizing, and the ability to do so is commonly called in English the ability to "throw" one's voice. History Origins Originally, ventriloquism was a religious practice. The name comes from the Latin for 'to speak from the stomach: (belly) and (speak). The Greeks called this gastromancy ( grc-gre, εγγαστριμυθία). The noises produced by the stomach were thought to be the voices of the unliving, who took up residence in the stomach of the ventriloquist. The ventriloquist would then interpret the sounds, as they were thought to be able to speak to the dead, as well as foretell the future. One of the earliest recorded group of prophets to use this technique was the Pythia, the priestess at the temple of Apollo in Delphi, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Cuddles The Monkey
Cuddles the Orangutan was one half of Keith Harris's puppet act, the sidekick and nemesis of Orville the Duck. The ape Apes (collectively Hominoidea ) are a clade of Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (though they were more widespread in Africa, most of Asia, and as well as Europe in prehistory), which together with its sister g ... was orange, with a blue face. He wore a white shirt collar and blue tie, and his catchphrase was "I hate that duck." In the TV show actress Ruth Verrall played the part of Cuddles when movement was needed. External links Harris' accolades with Orville and Cuddles, and new show Television characters introduced in 1982 Ventriloquists' dummies Fictional apes British comedy puppets {{Puppet-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Victorious
''Victorious'' (stylized as ''VICTORiOUS'') is an American sitcom created by Dan Schneider (TV producer), Dan Schneider that originally aired on Nickelodeon, debuting on March 27, 2010, and concluding on February 2, 2013 after four seasons. The series revolves around aspiring singer Tori Vega (portrayed by Victoria Justice), a teenager who attends a performing arts high school called Hollywood Arts High School, after taking her older sister Trina's (Daniella Monet) place in a showcase while getting into screwball comedy, screwball situations on a daily basis. On her first day at Hollywood Arts, she meets Andre Harris (Leon Thomas III), Robbie Shapiro (Matt Bennett), Rex Powers (Robbie's puppet), Jade West (Elizabeth Gillies), Cat Valentine (Ariana Grande), and Beck Oliver (Avan Jogia). The series premiered after the 2010 Kids' Choice Awards. The series won Favorite TV Show award at the 2012 Kids' Choice Awards and 2013 Kids' Choice Awards, beating out ''iCarly''. ''Victorious'' ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Matt Bennett
Matt Bennett (born November 13, 1991) is an American actor. He is known for playing the role of Robbie Shapiro in the Nickelodeon sitcom ''Victorious'' and for starring in the Will Ferrell-produced film ''The Virginity Hit''. Early life Bennett grew up in Massapequa Park, New York. After appearing in numerous commercials, Bennett began his official acting career at the age of 18 as Jamie, in the 2009 TV movie '' Totally for Teens''. He also appeared as Greg the Intern in the pilot episode of the Comedy Central sketch comedy series ''Michael & Michael Have Issues''. According to several YouTube videos, Bennett is fluent in English and Japanese. Career 2010–2013: ''The Virginity Hit'', ''Victorious'', and music career Bennett starred in ''The Virginity Hit'', released in October 2010. Described as a "documentary style comedy," Bennett stated in an interview that the film's "directors gave us cameras in our spare time, and he said do pranks, talk amongst yourselves, do things an ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jim Barber (ventriloquist)
Jim Barber is an American ventriloquist, comedian and singer who performs Internationally. Unique comedy act Barber is best known for his unusual performance in which "Seville," his dummy, actually appears to be holding Barber, contrary to the more orthodox way used by his peers. One of Barber's more popular routines involves "Diva," a female dummy which appears to be operated by Seville (with Barber on the other side), with all three engaged in an operatic song from ''The Barber of Seville'' — part of the pun from which the name of Barber's act, "Jim Barber and Seville," is taken. Awards & television appearances Barber has been named "Ventriloquist of the Year" in 2006 by the International Magicians Society, "Ventriloquist of the Year" in 1984 by the Vent Haven International Ventriloquist ConVENTion, "Comedy Entertainer of the Year" by the National Association of Campus Activities, and one of the "Funniest People in America" by Showtime/The Movie Channel for his technical vocal ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Paul Zerdin
Paul Zerdin (born 21 August 1972) is a British comedian and ventriloquist from London. He was the winner of the 10th season of ''America's Got Talent''. Early life When Zerdin was 10, a family friend made him a puppet theatre which he used to put on shows. Having failed his GCSEs, Zerdin got a job in a magic shop, developing his magic skills along the way. Simultaneously, he was also developing a sideline as a children's entertainer. Career Zerdin made his TV debut as a magician on the BBC's '' Tricky Business''. Shortly afterwards, at the age of 20, Zerdin landed a two-year contract presenting the Disney-produced children's programme ''Rise and Shine'' for GMTV. In 1996, Zerdin was the first outright winner – by over 100,000 votes – of LWT's ''The Big Big Talent Show'', hosted by Jonathan Ross. The experience introduced him to Nigel Lythgoe, who took Zerdin under his wing, paving the way for appearances on shows including ''Tonight at the London Palladium'' and ''The G ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Arthur Worsley
Arthur Wilkinson Worsley (16 October 1920 – 19 July 2001) was a British ventriloquist who appeared regularly on British television from the 1950s to the 1970s. His act with dummy Charlie Brown had Charlie do all the talking, while Worsley himself remained "silent". Early years He was born in Failsworth, near Manchester, Lancashire. At the age of eight he saw a ventriloquist for the first time which gave him the ambition to become a ventriloquist himself. Career Worsley made his first stage appearance at age 11 at the Casino, Rusholme, Manchester, billed as the ''"World's Youngest Ventriloquist"''. His London debut took place four years later. He was soon playing at principal theatres around the country and later around the world. In the days of live variety, he was a regular at the UK's top venue, the London Palladium. He became well known in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the US. He appeared on most of the variety shows on British TV and was one of the few B ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Frank Travis
Francis Henry Thackeray (January 18, 1854 - 28 June 1931) known professionally as Lieutenant Frank Travis was an English ventriloquist and music hall artist. With a career spanning over forty years, he dedicated his life to furthering the art of ventriloquism, becoming world renowned and touring globally. Background Frank Travis was born 18 January 1854 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The eldest of four children, he began working for his father Jeremiah Thackeray as a tailor. Members of the Primitive Methodist Church, his mother Mary Thackeray (née Knaggs) was a preacher. As a teenager he left home to join a travelling show, beginning his career barnstorming and acting in melodramas, before developing his solo ventriloquist act. Early in his barnstorming days he went solo using ''‘The Talking Hand’'' in which he painted his hand to resemble that of an old lady. Speaking in his memoirs he writes:''I flattered myself that I could do it to perfection for it did not matt ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dennis Spicer
Dennis George Spicer (13 January 1935–16 November 1964) was a British ventriloquist who appeared on British television, and in variety in its twilight years. He was born at Hillingdon County Hospital in Middlesex but he grew up mainly in Coventry. He started ventriloquism at the age of eight and had his first booking aged ten. He worked the clubs and cabaret circuit with his dummies: mainly James Green and Maxwell Monkey, but also Sexy Rexy the Wolf, Puppy Doll the Poodle, Rikki Tikki the Tiger, the Ugly Duckling and Russian Bear. Eventually he began appearing on British television, the first time in 1955. He was also well known in America, with five performances on the Ed Sullivan Show between 1962 and 1964. He appeared on the Royal Variety Performance on 2 November 1964 with a corgi as a dummy and Kenny Baker as a vent dummy which comes to life. He died in his Reliant Sabre 6 sports car on the A1, near RAF Wittering, near Stamford, Lincolnshire, on 16 November 1964. Al ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ian Saville
Ian Saville (born 30 April 1953) is a British magician whose act incorporates ventriloquism and comedy. His performance is distinctive primarily for the fact that it is geared towards a comic form of socialist propaganda. He says of his act, "whereas David Copperfield is content with little tricks like making the Statue of Liberty disappear, I aim at the much more ambitious goal of making International Capitalism and exploitation disappear".Ian Saville - Short BiographyMagic For Socialism Retrieved 2007-6-18 Life and career Saville was born in the East End of London, England, to Jewish parents. He began conjuring at the age of 11. He reached the semi-finals of the Butlins national talent contest. Becoming interested in theatre, he studied drama at the University of Exeter. He toured with the political theatre group Broadside, as well as working in community theatre. In 1979, Saville started developing what he calls his "socialist magic" act. He cites Bertolt Brecht as a maj ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Saveen
Albert Saveen (born Albert Edward Langford; 27 May 1914 – 14 April 1994), usually credited mononymously as Saveen, was a British ventriloquist who, with his puppet character Daisy May, was the first to have a national radio series on the BBC Light Programme. Biography Born in Southwark, London, he worked for a printing company before being injured in a bomb explosion in the Second World War. While recuperating, and exercising using only one lung at a time, he developed a ventriloquism technique that produced a girlish voice, with which he entertained his fellow troops. He made a tiny wooden schoolgirl dummy, Daisy May, and was discovered by impresario Val Parnell. He made his first BBC radio appearance in 1945, and in 1950 had his own regular show, ''Midday with Daisy May''. He also made frequent appearances on television in the 1950s and 1960s. He used 14 different puppet characters in all, including a cockney boy dummy "Andy the Spiv", and incorporated into his act t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Fred Russell (ventriloquist)
Thomas Frederick Parnell OBE (29 September 1862 – 14 October 1957), known professionally as Fred Russell, was an English ventriloquist. Usually credited as being the first to use a knee-sitting figure, he is known as "The Father of Modern Ventriloquism". Biography Russell was born in London, and began his career as a journalist, but from 1882 began performing his hobby of ventriloquism in public. In 1896, when he was editor of the '' Hackney and Kingsland Gazette'', he was offered a professional engagement at London's Palace Theatre and took up his stage career permanently. His act, based on the cheeky-boy dummy "Coster Joe", broke from the prevailing format of a family of dummies, establishing a precedent for performers such as Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell. According to ''The Times'' obituary, he changed his name because of the political flavour of " Parnell". In 1910, Russell published a book on his craft entitled ''Ventriloquism and Kindred Arts''. His act remained ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |