Taylor Mason

Mason was raised on a farm in the suburb of Chicago, where his father was a farm news broadcaster on radio and TV.[2][3] Mason graduated from the Ottawa Township Highschool in 1974 and went on to attend the University of Illinois where he majored in agriculture and communication.[4] Mason graduated from the University of Illinois in 1979.[4] He was first introduced to puppets by his parents at the age of 9.[5]

While Mason was attending the University of Illinois, he suffered a knee injury during a football game.[1] During recovery Mason started performing as a disc-jockey and stand-up comedian at his fraternity.[1] He mixed up his act by adding music, piano and ventriloquism to it.[1] He soon started performing at various Chicago piano bars.[1] According to Mason, when he started out as a comedian, he was the only ventriloquist in Chicago.[1]

In 1981, Mason was hired as the musical director of the "The Second City Touring Company", a comedy improv group where Mason worked alongside other comedians such as Dan Castellaneta.[1][6] While working at the "The Second City Touring Company", Mason also met his future wife Marisa.[1]

Mason continued his ventriloquist act and also worked on his Masters in advertising.[4] He graduated with a degree from the Northwestern University in 1983.[4] By the end of his time at Northwestern, Mason was working full time as a comedian and performing at the Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago.[4]

From 1986-1989, Mason performed comedy shows at the New York City's Catch a Rising Star.[7] By 1990, Mason started appearing on comedy television shows.[7] During a period of 11 years starting from 1989, Mason did over 1,500 college shows across the country.[4]

In 1990, Mason auditioned for Star Search and later on he won the competition in 1991.[1][5] Currently, Mason is working on his Dry Bar Comedy Series.[1]

Mason has authored two books on ventriloquism. He wrote his first book, “A Complete Idiot’s Guide to Ventriloquism” while he was working at the Second City Touring Company.[1] His second book titled "Irreversible" was published in 2019.[8]

Mason lives with his wife in Beach Haven, New Jersey. The couple have two grown-up sons.[9]

• Official site.