Otto Petersen
Otto & George were an adult-themed ventriloquist comedy team composed of comedian Otto Petersen (July 29, 1960-April 14, 2014) and his dummy George Dudley.[1] Petersen began performing with George as a street act in Manhattan and Brooklyn in the early 1970s. In the late 70s the act moved into night clubs and began to evolve into the "x-rated" current act.
Background
Otto & George were frequent guests on the Opie and Anthony radio show, and appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Howard Stern Show, Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular & Bullshit! programs, and Showtime's "Full Frontal Comedy". The duo also appeared in the feature films "Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen" with Chris Rock and Tim Allen, and performed a version of the "The Aristocrats" joke in Paul Provenza's & Penn Jilette's film of the same name.
Performing for over 30 years, Otto was well renowned as both a comedian and a ventriloquist.[2][3] One notable aspect of his ventriloquism was that his lips still move while he spoke with the George voice, but the illusion of there being a different speaker was made with the sharp contrast in the George voice with his own. Otto spoke with a low, rather nervous voice whereas George spoke in a loud, harsher voice.
One of the team's last ventures was their internet variety show, The Pig Roast with Otto & George.
Otto & George performed all over the U.S. and Canada. The duo performed several times at the annual Just For Laughs Comedy Festal in Montréal Canada.[4][5]
Otto cited the legendary ventriloquist Paul Winchell as his inspiration after watching him on television in the 1960s.
Otto fell ill in 2013 with Bacterial Meningitis and was placed in a coma for over a week.[6]
His passing was announced on the Opie and Anthony radio show on April 14, 2014.[7]
Filmography
Feature films
- I'm No Dummy (2008)
- The Aristocrats (2005)
- American Dummy (2002)
- White Chicks Incorporated (1998)
- The Force Within (1993)
- Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen (1988)
Television
- Penn & Teller's Bullshit! (2007)
- Late Show with David Letterman (2007)
- Howard Stern (4 Episodes 2002)
- Full Frontal Comedy (1996)
- Playboy Channel's 'The Club (1990)
- The Morton Downey Jr. Show (1988)
- The Joe Franklin Show
References
- ^ George's last name revealed on Opie and Anthony's March 23, 2010 show at the beginning of the third break. Also found in George's old Photo Gallery [1][2]
- ^ From Punchline Magazine, June 2008
- ^ From SunJournal.com, December 2007
- ^ from HOUR Magazine, Montreal Canada: Review of 'Just For Laughs' Comedy Festival 2005: [3]
- ^ From Montreal Mirror: Interview for 'Just For Laughs' Comedy Festaval 1998: [4]
- ^ A Benefit for Otto & George: [5]
- ^ Our friend, Otto Petersen. God bless you. Twitter[6]
![[1]](http://www.ottoandgeorge.com/director/albums/Classics/lg/HappyDays.jpg){kind=link}
![[2]](http://www.ottoandgeorge.com/director/albums/Articles/lg/EntertainerofMonth.jpg){kind=link}