**Terry Fator’s career was launched by his win of Season 2 of “America’s Got Talent” in 2007.** (Photo by Tory Kooyman/Oregon Coast TODAY)

By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN/Oregon Coast TODAY

Terry Fator, a well-known ventriloquist launched by “America’s Got Talent,” is bringing his retinue of personality-packet puppets to the Chinook Winds Casino Resort on Saturday, March 7.

His “Pure Imagination: Once Upon a Voice” tour includes Winston the Impersonating Turtle, just one of Fator’s alter egos that speak and joke while his lips are frozen in a slightly bemused grin.

Fator said this show, with its range of characters, is different from those he’s taken on the road in the past.

“I found that, throughout my life, my imagination had spawned countless characters, song parodies and comedy skits, and I compiled them all together to give my audience a fun look into my creative psyche,” Fator said.

Besides Winston, the show features other characters Fator has created throughout the years: Country Star Walter T. Airdale; Apollo Theater legend Julius; perpetual slacker and stoner Duggie; Vikki the Cougar and the world’s greatest Elvis impersonator, Maynard Tompkins.

“I have ADD but I honestly believe that’s why I can do about 10 things at the same time,” Fator said. “It drives my poor wife crazy, but it’s one of my superpowers on stage.”

A struggling comedian for years, even once performing in front of a single person in a space with seats for 1,000, Fator got his big break after winning Season 2 of “America’s Got Talent” in 2007. He wowed the judges and audience, and took away $1 million in prize money, despite the initial misgivings of one judge. Prior to his act, the cameras caught celebrity judge David Hasselhoff rolling his eyes and saying, “Oh no, another ventriloquist,”

“It was actually a set up by the other judges,” Fator said. “They knew going in that I was really good, but there are a lot of ventriloquists out there that, bless their hearts, are just not very good, and they put about five of them on before me. It was a pretty fun set up, and now David and I are friends.”

He said his style is unique.

“It’s a surprise for people to see this chubby white guy singing songs made famous by amazing Black artists,” Fator said.

He also appeared on “America’s Got Talent: All-Stars” in 2023 and had his own a headlining show in Las Vegas for about five years.

“At the Vegas residency, I performed hundreds of nights every year,” Fator said. “When I stopped last year, I finally finished a novel I had in my head for 20 years. And it has given me the time to go on the road and experience all these great cities, which both my wife and I love. I’m still going to be performing in Vegas, but just not as often.”

His success has given Fator confidence, but Winston has another word for it.

“He’s got a big ego,” the talkative turtle said. “He thinks he’s the one doing this. He doesn’t realize his entire career lives on the back of a turtle.”

Winston is one of Fator’s first characters and came to him early in his life.

“From the time I was a kid I started doing impressions,” he said. “I really got started because my family had a cleaning business, and we would have to help clean places like bank buildings. I hated it so much. I don’t like physical labor; I like mental labor. So, I would distract myself by writing jokes and practicing my ventriloquism. A ventriloquist is never lonely.”

Besides performing, Fator also runs a charitable organization, the Terry Fator Foundation.

“I sell merchandise to support first responders and military, the children of fallen heroes and kids with cancer,” he said. “One hundred percent of the money I raise from sales on tour and online goes to the foundation.”

Though the Lincoln City stop is close to the end of the tour, Fator is still excited about it.

“This new show is the best rendition of a show I’ve ever put together, and I think it’s from the break I took,” he said. “My creativity is at its peak now. I so look forward to the energy and excitement of the shows. I actually go out into the audience. Even if people that come have seen me before, they’re going to see something totally new.”

Saturday’s show will begin at 7 p.m. at Chinook Winds Casino Resort, located 1777 N.W. 44th St. in Lincoln City. Ticket prices range from $40 to $60. For more information, go to chinookwindscasino.com or call 888-244-6665.