Jeff Dunham

Jeff Dunham: Profile

Ever-increasing legions of devoted and highly active fans savor Mr. Dunham’s concert appearances, TV shows, DVDs, CDs and You Tube clips over and over. His widespread fame has led him to sign a multi-platform deal with Comedy Central to encompass all areas of entertainment, including television, DVDs, a stand-up special, consumer products partnership, and a 60-city Comedy Central Live stand-up tour. There is no wonder why Time Magazine calls him “the most popular stand-up comedian in the U.S.”

It’s all because Jeff Dunham is not just one of the funniest humans on the planet but the ringleader of a cast of comedic characters of his own creation like Walter the grumpy retiree; the beer-swilling, NASCAR loving and resolutely redneck Bubba J; the furry and manic Peanut; Jose Jalapeno, the spicy pepper from south of the border; and the bumbling skeletal Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Taking his cues from the stuff of everyday life, people he and we all know, and the world around us, he invests his suitcase posse of sidekicks with such believable and lovable personality as they banter, quip, and interact that audiences frequently forget that the characters are crafted by his own hand and comedic brilliance.

Mr. Dunham’s self-produced Comedy Central program, A Very Special Christmas Special, drew 6.6 million viewers on its premiere airing to become the channel’s most-watched program ever, following in the wake of top ratings for his previous Comedy Central specials Arguing with Myself (April 2006) and A Spark of Insanity (September 2007). When they hit the home market on DVD, all three almost immediately earned multiple platinum sales awards, with his holiday special achieving quadruple-platinum sales of 400,000 in a mere 10 days and in less than six weeks becoming his third DVD to sell more than a million copies. Spark of Insanity was also the most popular DVD in customer reviews on Amazon of 2008.

In 2008 Jeff Dunham sold out headlining major venue shows at the prestigious and star-studded Comedy Festival in Las Vegas and the Just For Laughs festival in Toronto, and in 2009 he made his first performing visit to Europe, selling out arenas in London, Stockholm, Oslo, Norway, and Copenhagen. 2009 also marked his first full tour of Canada.

Mr. Dunham keeps many millions around the globe laughing heartily with his sharp yet always humane and lovable humor, which has resulted on such character catchphrases as Achmed’s “Silence! I will keel you!” and Jose Jalapeno’s “On a steek!” becoming embedded in the contemporary lexicon. And he has done it as an independent business entity that creates, produces, and finances his TV specials/DVDs, merchandise, tours, and more, and through a highly interactive relationship via his website and an email list to rival any in the entertainment industry.

Jeff Dunham’s hometown Dallas Morning News declares him “easily one of the funniest stand-up comics alive” and Slate.com hails him as “the country’s most popular stand-up comedian.” Forbes Magazine named him in their most power celebrity list this year, noting “Dunham has suddenly become a cash machine...making him the third-highest-earning comedian in America behind Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. He had the top-grossing comedy tour in North America in 2008, and has performed 145 shows since last June. His DVDs have sold more than 4 million copies.” And when his fellow comics and friends like Jay Leno says, “Jeff Dunham really is the best there is,” and David Letterman praises, “tremendous talent, great star!,” it’s no understatement indeed.