Jeff Dunham is the first to say he wouldn’t be a ventriloquist if it weren’t for Edgar Bergen. At about the age of 8, in fact, he received a replica of Bergen’s puppet Mortimer Snerd, thereby starting on his career path at an early age. Look at Dunham’s Bubba J (left) next to Mortimer and you’ll see an uncanny resemblance!

Here’s a look at some of the big names in ventriloquism and a couple of new ones as well.

Edgar Bergen.

Bergen and his trusty sidekick Charlie Mc- Carthy may be the most well-known ventriloquist and puppet team ever. They appeared in movies, had a radio show that lasted nearly 20 years and even earned an honorary (wooden) Oscar. Look for Charlie Mc- Carthy if you visit the Smithsonian.

Paul Winchell.

This American ventriloquist was also an inventor, humanitarian and the voice of Winnie the Pooh’s friend, Tigger (along with other famous animated characters). He appeared on the popular kids’ TV show “Winchell-Mahoney Time” with wooden puppet Jerry Mahoney.

Jay Johnson.

In the TV sitcom “Soap” (1977- 1981), Johnson played a most unlikely TV character, Chuck, a ventriloquist who believed his puppet Bob was real. In 2007, Johnson won a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for “Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.”

Shari Lewis.

As a child, she surprised her family with the ability to throw her voice. She later took an old sock and turned it into a lovable puppet called Lamb Chop much to the delight of children around the world. The award-winning duo starred in “The Shari Lewis Show” and “Lamb Chop’s Play-Along.”

Carla Rhodes.

Call her a rock ’n’ roll ventriloquist. This young comic and musician, who was mentored by Shari Lewis, bases her act around puppets named Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. In a New York magazine article, she was dubbed one of the “ten new comedians that funny people find funny.

Senor Wences.

Fans couldn’t get enough of this Spanish- born ventriloquist and his two unusual creations, Johnny and Pedro. The childlike Johnny was created by Wences using his hand, a bit of lipstick and a wig. Pedro was, get this, a head in a box. Don’t get creeped out—as Pedro would say, it’s “S’awriiiiight!”

Terry Fator.

Winner of the second season of “America’s Got Talent,” Fator signed a lucrative five-year, $100-million deal with the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas where he brings his “cast of thousands,” including Elvis, Garth Brooks and Cher.

—Toni Ruberto