# Willie Tyler

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{{Short description|American comedian and actor}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Willie Tyler
| image       = Willie Tyler 1969.JPG
| alt         = Willie Tyler and Lester
| caption     = Willie Tyler and Lester, 1969
| birth_name  = 
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1940|9|8|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [Red Level, Alabama](/source/Red_Level%2C_Alabama), U.S.
| death_date  = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place = 
| other_names = 
| known_for   = 
| occupation  = {{hlist|Ventriloquist|comedian|actor}}
| years_active = 1969–present
}}
'''Willie Tyler''' (born September 8, 1940) is an American [ventriloquist](/source/ventriloquism), comedian and actor.<ref name=W>{{cite web|title=Willie Tyler: 'Master of the Puppets'|author=Valcourt, Keith|date=September 28, 2015|work=[The Washington Times](/source/The_Washington_Times)|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/28/willie-tyler-interview-new-wave-ventriloquism-samm/}}</ref> He has been credited as '''Willie Tyler and Lester''' or '''Willie Tyler & Lester'''. Tyler recorded the album ''Hello Dummy'' for [Motown Records](/source/Motown_Records), released in 1965. He also recorded ''Cannibal'' for Motown in 1968, but it was not released. He has appeared in many television commercials, sitcoms and films. Tyler got his first big break in 1972 on ''[Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In](/source/Rowan_%26_Martin's_Laugh-In)''.<ref name=C>{{cite web|url=https://www.cracked.com/article_43387_everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ventriloquist-who-opened-for-adam-sandler-in-his-new-netflix-special.html|publisher=[Cracked.com](/source/Cracked.com)|title=Everything You Need to Know About the Ventriloquist Who Opened for Adam Sandler in His New Netflix Special|date=August 28, 2024|author=Solomon, Matt}}</ref>

==Appearances==
thumb|right|upright|Willie Tyler and Lester in July 2014
The duo made an early appearance at the [Harlem Cultural Festival](/source/Harlem_Cultural_Festival) in the summer of 1969, and can be briefly seen in the 2021 documentary ''[Summer of Soul](/source/Summer_of_Soul)''.<ref name=S>{{cite web|work=[The Student Life](/source/The_Student_Life)|date=April 14, 2022|title=Film files: 'Summer of Soul' is a testament to Black unity and pride|author=Eliot, Hannah|url=https://tsl.news/summer-of-soul/}}</ref>

Tyler has had guest roles in ''[The Parent 'Hood](/source/The_Parent_'Hood)'', ''[Pacific Blue](/source/Pacific_Blue_(TV_series))'', ''[What's Happening Now!!](/source/What's_Happening_Now!!)'', ''[The White Shadow](/source/The_White_Shadow_(TV_series))'' and ''[The Jeffersons](/source/The_Jeffersons)'',<ref name=C/> as well as serving as host of the Saturday morning children's [anthology series](/source/anthology_series) ''[ABC Weekend Special](/source/ABC_Weekend_Special)s'' throughout the early 1980s.  He appeared in the 1978 film ''[Coming Home](/source/Coming_Home_(1978_film))''. Tyler has also appeared in television commercials for [McDonald's](/source/McDonald's), [Toyota](/source/Toyota) and [Maxwell House](/source/Maxwell_House).<ref>{{cite web|title=He's no dummy|author=Iori, Robin|date=January 18, 2005|newspaper=Press & Guide|url=https://www.pressandguide.com/2005/01/18/hes-no-dummy/}}</ref>

He appeared as himself in the 2004 [BET](/source/Black_Entertainment_Television) Comedy Awards, ''[Frank McKlusky, C.I.](/source/Frank_McKlusky%2C_C.I.)'', ''For Da Love of Money'', ''[In the House](/source/In_the_House_(TV_series))'', the 4th Annual Black Gold Awards, The 1st Annual [Soul Train Music Awards](/source/Soul_Train_Music_Awards), ''Motown Returns to the Apollo'', ''Lou Rawls Parade of Stars'', ''[Powerhouse](/source/Powerhouse_(TV_series))'', ''The White Shadow'', ''[American Bandstand](/source/American_Bandstand)'', ''[The Electric Company](/source/The_Electric_Company)'', ''[Vegetable Soup](/source/Vegetable_Soup_(TV_series))'', ''[The Flip Wilson Show](/source/The_Flip_Wilson_Show)'', ''[The Super Dave Osborne Show](/source/The_Super_Dave_Osborne_Show)'', ''[The Statler Brothers Show](/source/The_Statler_Brothers_Show)'', ''[The Hollywood Palace](/source/The_Hollywood_Palace)'', ''[Match Game](/source/Match_Game)'' and ''[Family Feud](/source/Family_Feud)''.<ref>{{YouTube|SGrz9KqKOUs|Family Feud (1989): Funny Men vs Funny Women}}</ref>

On September 18, 2006, Tyler was the first ventriloquist to appear on the ''[Late Show with David Letterman](/source/Late_Show_with_David_Letterman)'''s Ventriloquist Week.<ref>{{YouTube|6Q1JkAa5ksc|Willie Tyler & Lester (Letterman Show)}}</ref> In 2009, Willie Tyler and Lester were featured in the ventriloquist comedy documentary ''[I'm No Dummy](/source/I'm_No_Dummy)'', directed by [Bryan W. Simon](/source/Bryan_W._Simon). On May 21, 2019, Tyler appeared as a 1972 TV version of himself on the  [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) sitcom '' [The Kids are Alright](/source/The_Kids_Are_Alright_(TV_series))''.

In August 2024, Willie Tyler and Lester appeared in the ''[Adam Sandler: Love You](/source/Adam_Sandler%3A_Love_You)'' special on Netflix.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)|url=https://ew.com/adam-sandler-netflix-comedy-special-ventriloquist-willie-tyler-dummy-lester-8701724|title=Who is the ventriloquist in Adam Sandler's Netflix special? Here's how you know Willie Tyler and his dummy Lester|author=Sederholm, Jillian|date=August 27, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://willieandlester.com}}
*{{IMDb name|0878939}}
*[https://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2013/02/an-interview-with-willie-tyler-and.html An Interview with Willie Tyler Part One, February 2012]
*[https://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2013/02/an-interview-with-willie-tyler-and_20.html An Interview with Willie Tyler Part Two, February 2012]
*[http://www.delafont.com/Ventriloquists/Willie-Tyler.htm Willie Tyler] at Richard De La Font Agency
*[http://www.funny-business.com/index.pl/willie_tyler2 Willie Tyler] at Funny Business Agency
*[http://tomgreen.com/ondemand/player.php?video=184 Willie Tyler] on ''Tom Green Live''

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyler, Willie}}
Category:1940 births
Category:Living people
Category:African-American male actors
Category:American male actors
Category:American ventriloquists
Category:People from Covington County, Alabama
Category:ABC Weekend Special
Category:Culture of Detroit

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Willie Tyler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Tyler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Tyler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.