Sophie Becker (actor and ventriloquist)

For the Irish sprinter, see Sophie Becker.

Sophie Becker (born 1993 or 1994) is an American actor and ventriloquist who is known for "reviving a vaudevillian art form".[1]

Early life and education

Becker grew up in Berkeley, California and studied performance art at Wesleyan University.[1]

Career

Becker's 2020 Off Off Broadway lead-role performance in "Really Really Gorgeous"[2] was reviewed favorably by Jose Solis of the New York Times.[3] Becker was given a Jerry Mahoney dummy by a man she met while line dancing.[4] As the pandemic diminished her acting opportunities, she worked on her ventriloquism skills via YouTube. Becker performed at MOMA's PS 21, Jean's, Roxy Cinema, the Rockaway Film Festival,[4] Night Club 101 and other venues.[1] Her act involved singing together with her Jerry Mahoney dummy and "often lamenting about Jerry’s former fame".[5] Becker noted that ventriloquism eased her fear of having her jokes bomb on stage because she could blame bad writing on the dummy.[6]

As her career progressed, Becker commissioned a second, original dummy she named Ronnie to represent "the New York girl who is my id".[1]

Reception

When Becker began performing ventriloquism, her roommates found her dummy creepy and did not let her keep it in their common space.[6] Candice Bergen, whose father was ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, said she approved of Becker's endeavor to revive the old art.[1] Becker's show The Jerry Mahoney Success Seminar, co-written by Henry Gunderson, was noted for its postmodern aspects in its setting at the Bonaventure Hotel.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Vadukul, Alex; Litovsky, Dina (2025-09-05). "The Downtown Ventriloquist". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  2. ^ Dundas Wood, Mark (2020-01-31). "Really Really Gorgeous". TheaterScene.net. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  3. ^ Solís, Jose (2020-02-03). "Review: Poets Vie for the Golden Ticket in 'Really Really Gorgeous'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  4. ^ a b Gardner, Ralph Jr. (2024-08-03). "Hanging out with dummies". WAMC. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  5. ^ Christ, Emma (2024-03-06). "ART FOR DUMMIES". Artillery Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  6. ^ a b Schneider, Clare (2024-05-03). "Ventriloquist and actor Sophie Becker on getting comfortable with the interests that freak you out". The Creative Independent. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  7. ^ Christ, Emma (2025-07-14). "THE JERRY MAHONEY SUCCESS SEMINAR". Artillery Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
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