BIO

Joe Caffey is a Stand-Up Comedian, Comedian Ventriloquist, and Actor. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, one of the four children belonging to Joseph L. Caffey Sr. and Lillie Caffey. He started ventriloquism at the age of six years old. His original thought of wanting a vent figure came to him as a child, when he use to watch a local television show that was aired in Youngstown, Ohio. The television show was hosted by Dave Harris, known as Barney and his vent figure was named "Bean". Joe thought that "Bean" was a robot. He happened to see a "Howdy Doody" puppet in a JC Penny's catalogue and asked his parents to receive it for a Christmas gift. When he received the "Howdy Doody" puppet, he asked his mother if the batteries were included. His mother told him, that he would have to pull a string in the back of the neck and make it talk without moving his lips. That Christmas, he took his mother's advice and the rest is history! He actually didn't know that he was practicing the art of ventriloquism until the second grade, when his classmates told a music teacher that he talks without moving his lips and has a "dummy". The music teacher said, "You're a ventriloquist". That very day, when he arrived home from school, he asked his mother,"What is a ventriloquist"? His mother replied, "A ventriloquist is a person that can talk without moving his lips and has a "dummy". His sister then said, "A dummy with a dummy". Joe was also inspired and mentored by another local ventriloquist, Carl Davis of Youngstown, Ohio. It wasn't until a few years later that he would be inspired by famous ventriloquist performers, such as Edgar Bergen, Paul Winchell, Willie Tyler, Shari Lewis, and Jay Johnson. Later in life he was inspired and mentored by Jeff Dunham, Terry Fator, Willie Brown, and Richard Sanfield. Richard Sandfield made more Lp records than any other ventriloquist and also mentored the Late Great Robin Harris. Joe was also inspired comically eary on in life, by comedian Jimmy Walker, whom he saw in person as a child and received an autograph picture of Jimmy "J.J." Walker. Jimmie Walker was hired to do publicity for a local store's grand opening, the store was named "Dynomite Grocery Store". Later, his stand-up comedy act was inspired by Richard Pryor, Woody Allen, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Rock.

Joe has taken an interest in building his own ventriloquist figures. He is being mentored and encouraged by Steve Hurst. Joe has always wanted to build his own figures. To create a vent figure from imagination and bring it to existence would be a dream come true. He's currently in the learning and practicing stages.

During his elementary, junior high, and highschool years, he performed for numerous parties, banquets, churches, and corporations. His father served as his booking and road manager. In 1982 he won a first place trophy for ventrilquism in the junior competition and an over all manipulation throphy at The International Vent Haven Convention held in Ft.Mitchell Kentucky anually. Since then, he has appeared on numerous local and national television shows, including "Good Morning America", "Last Comic Standing", and "America's Got Talent 2007". He currently lives in Los Angeles, California, where he performs stand-up comedy and comedy ventriloquism at major comedy clubs and comedy venues. His philosophy for the arts of Stand-up comedy, and Comedy Ventriloquism is "Funny is job #1 period, but while their mouths are open from laughter, feed them a little food for thought".

Joe holds a BA Degree in Telecommunications and a Minor in Business Marketing from Youngstown State University.