Dunham was born in Dallas, Texas in 1962, He is an only child. He began ventriloquism at age 8. He considers it a learned skill, similar to juggling, that anyone with a normal speaking voice can acquire. Although he graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas in 1986, according to Dunham, he never had a "real job."

Dunham appeared in the Broadway show Sugar Babies with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller in 1985, and at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island. These early experiences, in which he used characters like José Jalapeño on a Stick, taught him the value of modifying his act regionally, as the jalapeño jokes that worked well in Texas were not as well received by audiences in Long Island.

Dunham made his debut on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1990. At the end of his act, he was invited to sit on Johnny Carson’s couch, considered a mark of approval.

Dunham appeared with Walter in a 1996 episode of Ellen, playing a ventriloquist attending a convention in a hotel meeting room that was also booked for the wedding of Ellen's friend. Dunham also appeared with Walter in a TV commercial for Hertz. His other appearances include 60 Minutes II, Fox Sports Net's The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Hollywood Squares, Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America and the WB's Blue Collar TV.

On July 18, 2003, Dunham's appeared on Comedy Central Presents, his first solo appearance on Comedy Central. During his half hour piece, he showcased an early version of Melvin the Superhero Guy, Peanut, José Jalapeño on a Stick, and Walter. Dunham's first Comedy Central special, Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself, was taped in Santa Ana, California in 2006. His second special Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity was taped at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. in 2007. It was available at Redbox stands on September 4, 2007, and was released on DVD on September 18, 2007. Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special was taped at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2008, and premiered on Comedy Central on November 16, 2008. It became available on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 18, 2008. The special's premiere was the highest rated telecast in Comedy Central's history.

In addition to these specials, Dunham also released his first music album, Don't Come Home for Christmas, on November 4, 2008. It contains original Christmas songs as well as a parody of "Jingle Bells" by Achmed entitled "Jingle Bombs". All the songs, with the exception of "Jingle Bombs", were written and accompanied by Brian Haner, who has joined Dunham's act as "Guitar Guy". His first onscreen appearance was in Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special.

In March 2009, Dunham signed a multi-platform deal with Comedy Central which includes an order for a television series, a fourth stand-up special to air in 2010, DVDs, a consumer products partnership and a tour sponsored by the network that will cover 60 different cities.

via [Wikipedia]