Willie Tyler and Lester

Can you tell a good joke? Sure! How about can you make a puppet tell a good joke? Yes, indeed. OK, so can you tell a good joke and make the puppet banter with you -- all without moving your lips? And that's what separates Willie Tyler (and his dummy Lester) from the rest of us! A ventriloquist since his school days, Willie Tyler brings top notch skills to his act which he has been performing since the 1960s. From early work in Detroit clubs, to recurring spots on Motown tours in the 1960s, to joining the cast of Laugh-In, Willie worked his way to becoming the most successful African-American ventriloquist act in history. A frequent opener for top Vegas headliners, as well as a reliable guest on tv variety and game shows, Willie also managed to branch out into guest roles on tv and he was the first act to take the stage when David Letterman held his Late Night "Ventriloquist Week" in the early 2000's. Now in his mid-80s Willie and Lester keep trucking along, recently appearing in Adam Sandler's 2024 Netflix special. Not too bad for a dummy from Detroit! As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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Willie Tyler and Lester weren't a musical act, but that didn't stop them from appearing on Dick Clark's American Bandstand back in 1976. https://youtu.be/L0rnH99cNVA?si=Cfo_lVgZ-f3E4_Px

When Willie and Lester were added to the Laugh-In cast in 1972 it introduced the duo to a whole new audience. https://fb.watch/Fb6NonKmKn/

When David Letterman held a "Ventriloquist Week" on his late night show back in 2006 the first act to appear was Willie and Lester -- and, as usual, they killed. https://youtu.be/6Q1JkAa5ksc?si=KeyaLwQxzJ4MhoHi