Terry Fator

Overview

Terry Fator is a singer, impressionist, comedian, author, philanthropist and ventriloquist whose career helped bring ventriloquism back into the mainstream and ultimately onto the Las Vegas Strip. His official biography, supplied by Terry on 15 September 2026 and edited by his publicist, runs through the sections below. Where the archive adds to it, the archive is named.

A book, a ten dollar figure, and eighteen years to Walter

His journey began at age 10, when Terry discovered a book about ventriloquism and became fascinated by the idea that a performer could make a character appear to speak without moving his lips. He soon purchased his first figure, a Willie Talk dummy from Sears, for $10, and began teaching himself the art. On his 18th birthday, Walter T. Airdale joined the act. More than four decades later, Walter remains one of Terry's signature characters.

Twenty-five years before anyone knew his name

Long before millions of television viewers knew his name, Terry spent approximately 25 years performing wherever he could find an audience, at fairs, churches, corporate events, school assemblies and comedy venues, while also working as an opening act. Those years on the road became his real education. Along the way he developed a style that expanded the possibilities of ventriloquism by combining character comedy with his ability to sing and to perform impressions of some of the world's most recognizable voices.

2007

At age 42, Terry stepped onto the stage of NBC's America's Got Talent and changed the course of his career, and helped change the perception of ventriloquism along with it. After winning Season 2, he launched a Las Vegas career spanning two decades and more than 3,500 performances, headlining at three major casinos and selling out shows across North America. He became the first ventriloquist in modern Las Vegas history to have a theater named for him. Forbes has repeatedly recognized him among the highest-paid comedians in the United States, and America's Got Talent creator and judge Simon Cowell has called him the most successful contestant the series has ever produced. His cast today runs to twenty-one named characters, listed below, eight of them impression characters that sing as the stars they are named for.

The door he opened, and the man who walked through it

The win demonstrated to producers, audiences and the entertainment industry that ventriloquism could be far more than a novelty act. It could be a starring vehicle. It could sell out theaters. It could anchor a Las Vegas residency. That impact can be seen in the generation of ventriloquists who followed. As fellow ventriloquist Paul Zerdin has noted, producers initially had no plan for what to do with a winning ventriloquist. Terry's determination to pursue a Las Vegas headline show, and his groundbreaking success there and across the country, opened a door that has given countless opportunities to the ventriloquists who came after him. The archive holds Zerdin's own account, on the Talk for Two podcast recorded in late March 2016 at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut, and it records what followed: Zerdin won the show in 2015 as the second ventriloquist to do so, was booked for three nights at Planet Hollywood as his prize, and that became a three-year contract.

The scholarship, and why it exists

Terry has presented the Clinton Detweiler Scholarship, which has sent winners to the ventriloquists' convention with tickets and course materials. The reason is his own, and he has given it plainly: "Throughout my career, there were times when I wanted to go to the Vent Haven ConVENTion, but couldn't simply because I couldn't afford to." He has also given a two-hour comedy-writing workshop and a free theatre show to the 2013 convention.

Beyond the stage

Terry has continued to expand his creative career beyond the stage. He is the author of the memoir Who's the Dummy Now?, has toured nationally with his Pure Imagination show, and has added novelist to his resume with Marley, his original companion story to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Through the Terry Fator Foundation he supports charitable causes and organizations serving children and families. After more than four decades in the business, he remains a performer who refuses to put ventriloquism in a box. For him the figure is not the entire act, it is the doorway to an entire world of characters, music, comedy and storytelling.

I'm so proud to have been a pioneer in our craft.Terry Fator, To Jimmy Vee, 16 September 2026, on accepting a seat on the Ventriloquism Institute's founding Advisory Council.

I wasn't born throwing my voice. It's an ability I developed, but it took a long time. Luckily I had a master to learn from and a book he had written, it was Paul Winchell's Ventriloquism.Terry Fator, On learning the craft.

Throughout my career, there were times when I wanted to go to the Vent Haven ConVENTion, but couldn't simply because I couldn't afford to.Terry Fator, Explaining why he presents the Clinton Detweiler Scholarship.

use what you have, make it part of what you doTerry Fator, Advice given to ventriloquists at a convention.

Figures

• Winston the Impersonating Turtle—Winston is the turtle who helped Terry win America’s Got Talent by showing the world that he (and Terry) can impersonate any singer and any style of music. He joined Terry’s team after his AGT performance. Winston’s innocence and inability to understand Las Vegas or life outside the boundaries of his pond reminds everyone of the child inside all of us.
• Maynard Thompkinsimpression of Elvis PresleyMaynard is the world’s greatest Elvis impersonator…who never had the patience to actually learn any Elvis songs. He has toured with Terry on the road for decades and never fails to fail at doing what Terry asks. As neurotic as the actual Elvis, he doesn’t like his personal space to be violated, and will go to great lengths to keep people from touching him. His laziness and ability to fall asleep anywhere at any time should be a hinderance to his career, but as long as people are laughing he makes up for that with his charm.
• Walter T. Airdale—Walter T. Airdale is a country music superstar who has known Terry longer than any other performer in his show. He can sing classic country, Grand Ole Opry, modern Nashville singers like Garth Brooks and Toby Keith, he can even yodel…anything that will impress the ladies. Walter has been married at least 8 times, thinks divorce was invented just for him, and he actually brought dates to several of his weddings, because in his words, “just in case”.
• Vikki the Cougar—Vikki the Cougar is that special combination of cougar and gold-digger—meaning she will date 21 year old pool boy hunks and 90 year old billionaire cardiac patients. She truly believes diamonds are a girl’s best friend and she sees herself as a mentor to young women who want to follow in her very round heeled footsteps. She is sultry, sexy and slutty, and unashamed to be all of those three things.
• Wrex the Crash Test Dummy—Wrex is Terry’s psychiatrist, a former crash test dummy who helps Terry put things in perspective because of his philosophy of positive pessimism. He is a firm believer that life is meant to be nothing but trouble, which makes sense if you are a former crash test dummy, and his complete acceptance of his fate gives him the ability to rise above the suffering in a strange comedic way.
• Fernando V. Francisco—Fernando is the Vegas stage version of the movie’s Latin Lover, with a sexy confidence that comes from knowing that women love him because he is Fernando. Fernando is the man every guy dreams of being, who oozes self-confidence and sensual passion. He is the man women want to be with and the man Terry wishes he could be.
• Deanimpression of Dean MartinTerry’s new Dean Martin sounds great and looks fantastic, proving that alcohol is a preservative. Just like the days at the Sands, Dean teams up with Frank and Sammy to deliver classics from the Great American Songbook.
• Willieimpression of Willie NelsonWillie Nelson is one of Terry’s five new cast members. He not only joins Fernando in a classic duet, but he reminds people the best way to handle the IRS.
• Stevieimpression of Stevie WonderLegendary soul, pop and R and B legend Stevie Wonder takes the stage dedicating a song to the love of his life, then invited Paul McCartney to join him on Ebony and Ivory.
• David Bowieimpression of David BowieThe unforgettable David Bowie joins Terry for a set that includes a never before seen duet with another legendary British rocker, Sir Elton John.
• Eltonimpression of Elton JohnA new superstar is joining the cast. Oscar winner and Grammy winner Elton John! if you love Elton’s Tiny Dancer, Benny and the Jets, Honky Cat and so many more, stop by the show to check him out.
• Paulimpression of Paul McCartney“Paul McCartney” will do his special take on some Beatles classics.
• Justinimpression of Justin BieberJustin Bieber has joined the show and comes with a double surprise. Make sure on your next trip to Las Vegas come see me and them.
• Hyphen—Hyphen was in the Beatles until he got kicked out for taking their songs and rewriting the lyrics to comment on current events and modern life. You never know listening to him whether his stories about his past are true or not but to him, once he says them they become the truth.
• Julius—Julius is a legendary African American singer whose performances at The Apollo Theater have earned him a place in Apollo history. Along the way Julius performed with the greats of the Doo Wop and Motown eras, working with everyone from Quincy Jones to Ray Charles to doppelganger Nat King Cole. Julius has been a big influence on the soul musicians of today and is someone who will tell it to Terry like it is.
• Monty Carlo—Monty is a Rat Pack singer who like Terry has had a number of ups and downs in his career and is now thrilled, like Terry, to be on stage in New York New York. If there is a song that defines him (and in many ways Terry) it’s Sinatra’s That’s Life.
• Emma Taylor—Emma Taylor is the forever 12 year old who is obsessed with her phone, selfies and social media. Like a lot of tweens, she falls in love with the latest boy singer heartthrob. Her goal in life is to marry Justin Bieber, or someone from BTS, and have her own YouTube channel that makes millions of dollars so she never has to do anything except post videos all the time. Emma knows the songs of the Taylor Swifts and Billie Eilish’s of today, as well as the songs of Karen Carpenter, Aretha Franklin and Etta James.
• Duggie Scott Walker—Duggie Scott Walker is everyone’s nightmare, a truly annoying neighbor. Duggie is in his late 30s, early 40s, lives in his Mom’s basement and considers himself a Ganjapreneur. The only job he’s ever had is with Terry as a roadie. In his own weird way, Duggie’s nonsensical comments to Terry are brilliant, like Yogi Berra (if he partook of the sacred herb), as somewhere in his rambling there is a nugget of common sense, accompanied by the strong smell of herbal enhancement. From dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn, his spirit party animal is a wise old owl that smells like stale smoke.
• Berry Fabulous—Berry Fabulous is a Broadway wannabe who knows every lyric of every Broadway showtune—to the point where he expresses himself constantly with songs from his favorite musicals. He never reached his dream of being an international star, but has worked as the director of his community theater for the last 20 years. While Berry doesn’t speak about his personal life, he is unashamed of his flamboyance and his passion for all things theater and is an example of how you have to be true to yourself.
• Kani Kapila—Kani is from the islands. Specifically, the 39th Island of Hawaii, also known as Wisconsin. Originally created to be a unique character for Terry’s Hawaiian performances, he has a thick Midwest accent but loves Island life. He sings traditional Hawaiian songs in their original language, is eager to learn and use island phrases, and makes jokes about his Hawaiian appetite. Come join his ohana and say aloha to this talented singer – he’ll certainly tell you mahalo for coming by.
• Rusty the Robot—With a robotic voice and a superior attitude, Rusty is excited to show off just how intelligent and sophisticated his technology is. He’s a prototype who plans to make the NYNY casino fully automated by replacing all employees with himself, and Terry’s show won’t be an exception. Rusty does impressions of all Terry’s puppets, and he happens to think the show is better that way. Perhaps the plan has a few bugs in it, but with a few software updates, Rusty is sure the glitches will be smoothed over for maximum audience enjoyment levels. .kb-row-layout-idblock-31_fbd637-7d > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idblock-31_fbd637-7d > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idblock-31_fbd637-7d > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xl, 4rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xl, 4rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idblock-31_fbd637-7d > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idblock-31_fbd637-7d > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idblock-31_fbd637-7d > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}} .kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columned782b-55{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columned782b-55 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}} .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading175532-71"]{margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-family:'Indie Flower';text-transform:capitalize;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading175532-71"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading175532-71"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading175532-71"]{text-align:center!important;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading175532-71[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading175532-71"]{text-align:center!important;}}

Timeline

• 2007 — Won Season 2 of America's Got Talent at age 42.
• 2013 — Gave a two-hour comedy-writing workshop and a free theatre show to the ventriloquists' convention.
• 2026 — Accepted a seat on the founding Advisory Council of the Ventriloquism Institute.

On video

• Terry Fator Songs Impersonated In Order
• Terry Fator With Julius On Mda Telethon 2008
• Terry Fator Finale Show On Americas Got Talent 2007
• Terry Fator And Hyphen Perform The Girl Is Mine
• Terry Fator On Americas Got Talent Season 2 Top 8
• Terry Fator With Kermit On Americas Got Talent
• Terry Fator Live Show Mat Franco Appearance
• Terry Fator With Winston Sing What A Wonderful World On Atg
• Terry Fator In Vegas Mashup 2013
• Terry Fator On Atg Finale Act 1
• Terry Fator On Fox And Friends 2014
• Terry Fator With Emma Taylor On David Letterman
• Terry Fator Walter Pass That Bottle
• Terry Fator Bringing His Ventriloquism To The Erie County Fair
• Terry Fator And Texas The Band From Their Fair Gigs In The 90s With Ernie
• Terry Fator Perform On The Mda Telethon 2009
• Terry Fator And Walter T Airedale
• Terry Fator Show Featuring Steve

• Terry Fator Texas The Band From Their Fair Gigs In The 90s With Walter
• Terry Fator Donald Trump On Hanity
• Terry Fator And Wrex On Cbs News