Jeff Dunham Mourns The Death Of His Mother, Joyce
Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham shared the sad news that his beloved mother, Joyce Patterson Dunham, died on May 6.
Jeff was only three months old when he was adopted by his parents, Howard and Joyce Dunham. He was their only child, and they raised him in Dallas, Texas.
Howard passed away in 2017. He and Joyce were married for 63 years at the time of his death.
Joyce was two months shy of turning 95 years old when she passed away on May 6, 2024. Jeff said his mother was “Healthy and happy until the end” and that “she died peacefully in her sleep.”
Her survivors include Jeff, his wife Audrey, Jeff’s five children, and many nieces and nephews.
Jeff Gives His Mom Credit For Helping Him Learn Ventriloquy
In his tribute to his mom, Jeff shared how she played a pivotal role in placing him on the road to his future career. He said:
“My parents adopted me as an infant, and I won the orphan lottery; I couldn’t have been more loved. When I was 8, she helped me tell Santa I wanted a ventriloquist dummy for Christmas, and… Well, thank you for my life.“
Today, Jeff is known for his hilarious bits with fan-favorite puppets such as Bubba J and Peanut. He has his mother to thank for all of that.
A heartbroken Jeff ended his post by writing:
“Mom. I love you and I miss you terribly. Say hi to dad for me, and tell him the Cowboys are still trying.”
You can see Jeff’s tribute to his mother below. His post also includes several photos of Joyce through the years. She was clearly a kind and beautiful soul.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jeff and his family during this difficult time. May Joyce rest in peace…