Biography
Willie Tyler (born 8 September 1940) is an American ventriloquist, comedian and actor. He performs with his dummy Lester, often credited as Willie Tyler and Lester or Willie Tyler & Lester.
Tyler appeared in the 1978 film Coming Home as Virgil. He had guest roles in series including The Jeffersons (1978) and Pacific Blue (1996), and hosted ABC Weekend Specials in the early 1980s. His early television work included appearances on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1972. He is seen in archive footage in the 2021 documentary Summer of Soul and appeared in Adam Sandler: Love You (2024).
