One might think that with finding 1 of the show, Fator went for it, Fator’s story began long before success after 25 years of perform- and in 2007 the then 42-year-old “America’s Got Talent.” His first ing at county fairs and oddball comedian became the “America’s taste of entertainment came at venues, the moral of singer- Got Talent” Season 2 champ, age 8 when he tried his hand comedian-celebrity impressionist taking home the $1 million prize at magic with the help of a hyp- Terry Fator’s story might be the and title of “Best New Act in nosis book. “I unsuccessfully cliché of: Never give up on your America.” “It was the big break I tried to hypnotize my friends, dreams. But when it comes to had worked for my entire life,” he but then in fifth grade I found a Fator’s story of success after 40, says. book on ventriloquism and that that old adage doesn’t quite ring came pretty quickly for me. I was true. It wasn’t long before Sin City always fascinated with all forms would recognize Fator as the of entertainment, but especially “I actually don’t believe in not headlining act he was destined magic and puppets. But other kids giving up,” laughs Fator, 48, to be. In 2007, he signed a $1.5 in school were doing magic, and I who was recently ranked No. 2 million deal to perform at the Las wanted to be original so ventrilo- on Forbes’ list of the top-earning Vegas Hilton. The following year quism became my thing,” says Fa- comics just behind comic legend had Fator signing what has been tor, who rounded out his creative Jerry Seinfeld. “It’s okay to give described as “one of the largest endeavors by taking on the lead up because I did. I worked for entertainment deals in Las Vegas in many school and church plays 25 years playing every fair, small history” to headline his own show, as a kid, and later fronted the club, and kids’ party I could and it “Terry Fator: The VOICE of Enter- band Texas the Band from the late just felt like it wasn’t going to hap- tainment,” at the Mirage Hotel & ‘80s through 2001. He was this pen. I resigned myself to just play- Casino, which now runs through close to signing a record deal with ing kids parties. That was okay 2016. Warner Bros. until they told him for me. But, I didn’t stop working he had to take the ventriloquism doing the thing that I love to do “I’m grateful that I didn’t find out of his band performances. and getting better at it. Once I did success until my 40s,” admits Fa- That was a deal-breaker for the that, something finally happened tor, who hails from Dallas, Texas. entertainer. for me.” “I’m not sure I could’ve handled success at a younger age. It can As a young kid, Fator would That “something” was NBC’s hit screw your brain up. Just look at practice talking without moving competition show, “America’s a lot of today’s young stars. But his lips in the privacy of his closet Got Talent.” After turning down at 42, you have perspective and and while he was working odd a chance to compete on the first you’re more grounded so that jobs, hiding his rehearsals from season of the show, his fans wrote when the time comes that all of a his unsupportive father. At age the show saying they just had to sudden millions of people see and 10, he bought a $20 puppet have Fator on. Producers called like what you do, it doesn’t go to from Sears, but its head and eyes Fator and invited him to audition. your head too much.” didn’t move, making it hard to re- After seeing, and liking, Season ally get his act down. His mother, who, on the contrary, was quite so down. I thought, ‘Why am I do- ances. The industry has certified supportive, took the puppet apart, ing this? It’s never gonna happen. him a bona fide superstar, as well, gave him a whole new body, and I’ll never have millions of people with Simon Cowell declaring Fator slapped a wig on his head, and that enjoy my gift.’ But then I to be “one of the best entertainers Fator was on his way to practicing thought, ‘Wait a second. I’m lucky in the world” and The Best of Las with a real puppet that he named that I get to do what I love and I Vegas Awards honoring “Terry Josh. He soon graduated to a do love this. So what if I always Fator: The VOICE of Entertain- semi-professional puppet, which have to play for first graders or ment” with awards for Best Show, he used until age 18, and onto kids parties or county fairs? I’m Best All-Around Performer, Best his first real professional puppet still doing what I love and I’m Impersonator, and Best Overall that he named Walter T. Airedale, not going to stop. It’s better than Show. a country singer, which is still a going to work at a real job just to part of his act today. Little by little pay the bills,’” says the showbiz “The best thing about all of this Walter was joined by an eclec- journeyman. is that now my creativity is not tic cast of characters, including shackled by my lack of finances Winston the Impersonating Turtle, Today, Fator impersonates more any more. Now, if I have an Julius, the soul singer, Maynard voices than he can count with idea I can actually do it and do Thompkins, the Elvis impersonator, the help of more than a dozen it right,” he says. On his immedi- Monty Carlo, a lounge singer, puppets singing everything from ate creative horizon is a series of Emma Taylor, the little girl with Etta James, Elvis Presley, and forthcoming projects, including a the big voice, Dougie the annoy- the Temptations to Cher, Barbra DVD of his Mirage show, a coun- ing neighbor, Vikki, the Cougar, Streisand, and Michael Jackson try music album titled “It Starts and many others. to Adele, Justin Timberlake, and Tonight”; a novel, which is an Justin Bieber. allegory of life; a memoir; and a After decades of performing, Fa- series of children’s books that tell tor felt at the end of his creative And, he finally has that audience the story of the life of Jesus Christ rope. “it was just so discouraging of millions who enjoy his hard as told through the eyes of his cat. because I felt I had something big work through his sold-out and to offer that millions would want award winning live show, multi- What’s next? “I just always want to see, but I couldn’t find that platinum selling DVDs (his debut to entertain. That’s it. I never had break. Even five months before DVD, “Terry Fator: Live From Las fans before and now that I do I ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I did a Vegas” has recently gone four just want to keep them smiling and show in 1,000-seat theater and times platinum), and numerous laughing,” he adds. only one person showed up. I was memorable television appear- One Paragraph Boiler Bio Terry Fator became a household name in 2007 when he won Season 2 of “America’s Got Talent” with his unique brand of entertainment that combines singing, comedy, and unparalleled celebrity impressions. After 25 years of honing his skills at county fairs and venues across the country, the Dallas-bred entertainer’s big “AGT” win at age 42 catapulted him into the upper echelon of entertainers, landing him at No. 2 on Forbes’ list of the top-earning comics behind Jerry Seinfeld in 2013. The feat is due largely to his multi-mil- lion dollar deal with the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas where his award-winning show, “Terry Fator: The VOICE of Entertainment,” has been running since 2009. With a cast of characters including Winston, the Impersonating Turtle, Emma Taylor, the little girl with the big voice, Maynard Tompkins, the Elvis Imper- sonator, Monty Carly, the lounge singer, and many others, Fator has been raking in awards, accolades, and industry admiration ever since. Recent projects include a DVD, a memoir, a novel, a children’s book entitled “Lamu” and a country music CD titled “It Starts Tonight”. Upcoming projects still to come include an updated biography and the second installment of “Lamu”. PUPPET DESCRIPTIONS Duggie THE ANNOYING NEIGHBOR Whoa, dude! Like, welcome to ev- eryone’s favorite annoying neigh- bor, a heavy metal head trip who’s been there, done that and… can’t remember any of it. From his unre- pentant mullet to his unbridled pas- sion for both kinds of music (rock and roll), Duggie is one supremely cool party animal, the kind you’d love to hang with – but hate to have living next door. Emma THE LITTLE GIRL WITH THE BIG VOICE Big things coming in small packages. Emma may be tiny, but she has the voice of a giant. In fact, it was her rendition of the Etta James classic Berry Fabulous “At Last” that blew the judges away during Terry’s America’s Got Talent HIP HOP DIVA debut. Sweet and shy, Emma may Berry Fabulous has a secret that not say much, but when she sings – he’s ashamed of – he is a recov- it’s magic! ering lawyer.