Terry Fator is an American ventriloquist, impressionist, stand-up comedian, and singer. He developed an interest in ventriloquism from a young age, developing both this and a talent for singing. After initially performing with two bands, Fator eventually conducted solo performances, combining ventriloquism and singing with comedy. He gained national recognition for his talent when he won the second season of America’s Got Talent, which helped to boost his career. His success led to him receiving a five-year multi-million dollar contract to headline shows in Las Vegas, Nevada. From 2009 to 2020, he was the headliner at Mirage Las Vegas. Since 2021, he performs regularly at New York-New York Hotel and Casino. He has used his performances and talent to help contribute to charitable causes. Fator is consistently ranked among the world’s highest-paid comedians.
Birth Name
Terry Wayne Fator
Nickname
Terry
Profession
Ventriloquist, Impressionist, Stand-up comedian, and Singer
Genres
Ventriloquism, Impressionist, Character Comedy, Musical Comedy
Nationality
American
Personal Life
Birthday / Date of Birth
Terry Fator was born on the 10th of June 1965, in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Age
He’s currently 58 years old.
Sun Sign
Gemini
Ethnicity
White
Religion
Christianity
Education
Terry completed his education at a local high school in his hometown. He also completed his higher education at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
Family Details
- Father – Jephtha Wesley
- Mother – Edith Marie
- Siblings – Jephtha Jr, Deborah (Brother)
Marital Status
Married
Girlfriend / Spouse
Terry Fator has dated –
- Melinda – In 1991, Terry first married Melinda Fator. The relationship remained for around 19 years and ultimately in 2010, they separated.
- Taylor Dew (1991-2015) – Fator married Taylor Dew in the same year. The relationship with Taylor Dew also remained for around 5 years and in 2015, they separated.
- Angie Fiore – Terry proposed to Angie Fiore in front of his ex-wife; on September 4, 2015, they married shortly thereafter.
Physical Statistics
Height
- In feet – 5 feet 10 inches
- In centimeters – 178 cm
- In meters – 1.78 m
Weight
- In Kilograms – 78 kg
- In Pounds – 172 lbs
Body Build
Slim
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Hair Color
Black
Shoe Size
He wears a size 11 (US) shoe.
Sexuality
Straight
Professional Statistics
Famous For
Terry became known as a Famous ventriloquist who won the second season of America’s Got Talent and performed at The Mirage in Las Vegas. He mastered over 100 ventriloquial impersonations and had 16 different puppet characters.
Professional Career
In 1987–88, Fator got his start touring as the lead singer of the band “Freedom Jam” produced by Young American Showcase, taking part in performances at over 200 high schools and middle schools across the United States and Canada, and averaging around three performances per school day. n mid-1988, he became the lead singer for the showband ‘Texas the Band’, ncorporating his puppet Walter T. Airedale into his shows.
Terry began doing solo acts that combined comedy and ventriloquism but struggled for several years to achieve success. Alongside having to conduct events at fairs, sometimes suffering heat stroke when assigned to performing routines during hot afternoons, he suffered a setback in one performance when his show in a 1,000-seat theater was attended by only a single person.
In 2005, Fator eventually included impersonations into his routines, when performing on “Friends in Low Places”. On June 19, 2007, Fator made his first national appearance on America’s Got Talent. fter winning the show, Fator actually had to turn the Letterman gig down fourteen times before his schedule was clear so he could appear. On March 17, 2008, Fator appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show along with American Idol judge and AGT creator & executive producer Simon Cowell.
In 2009, Terry published the autobiography Who’s the Dummy Now?. On September 10, 2008, Fator reappeared as a guest on America’s Got Talent for their Top Twenty Results Show. In 2013, he voiced a character on the Disney Channel show Mickey Mouse. On September 20, 2017, he made another guest appearance during AGT’s twelfth-season finale, performing alongside eventual winner Darci Lynne, another singing ventriloquist. In AGT’s 17th season he entered the competition, and although he was eliminated before the finals, he performed with Ana-Maria Mărgean another singing ventiloquist on September 27, 2022. In July 2020, Fator’s residency at the Mirage in Las Vegas ended after 11 years.
Terry Fator Net worth
Terry Fator has an estimated net worth of $160 million dollars as of 2023.
Social Media Profiles
- Facebook – Terry Fator
- Instagram – terryfator
- Twitter – Terry Fator
- YouTube Channel – Terry Fator
Some Lesser Known Facts About Terry Fator
- Terry was born and brought up in Dallas, Texas.
- The beginning of Fator’s ventriloquism career dates back to when he was in fifth grade.
- Fator got his first ventriloquism dummy when he was ten years old. Throughout his childhood, Fator entertained family and friends with his ventriloquism and did impersonations of singers and actors.
- Terry’s mother saved up her money for three years and bought him his first puppet when he was 18 years old.
- In July 2007, Terry appeared in Montana to raise funds for the Kidsports Sports Complex in Kalispell and said he wanted to come back in 2008 to do another show.
- In 2008, Fator performed at the Palace Theatre in Corsicana, Texas. Proceeds benefited the Navarro Council of the Arts and the Mildred Drama Club. Fator is a native of Corsicana.
- On September 3, 2007, Terry made a special appearance in the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, thanking the crowd for the support.
- On September 1, 2009, Fator’s first DVD, Terry Fator: Live from Las Vegas (recorded during a performance at the Mirage), was released shortly after its August 28, 2009 debut airing on CMT. The DVD includes footage not shown on the CMT broadcast.
- In 2010, Terry did a doodle for a charity celebrity doodle auction for Neurofibromatosis, more commonly known as NF. 100% of the profit from all the doodles went to help families with NF.
- On September 27, 2022, In AGT’s 17th season he entered the competition, and although he was eliminated before the finals, he performed with Ana-Maria Mărgean another singing ventiloquist.
