Austin Phillips

Austin Phillips is an American ventriloquist and dummy and puppet maker. He formerly performed as an active ventriloquist, and is currently one of the few full time dummy makers in the country. His studio in Portland is considered a tourist stop. Biography Phillips was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, but moved to York, Maine at a young age. At 5, he became interested in puppets after viewing a dummy Charlie McCarthy in a store window. He got a dummy for Christmas, and soon began learning to be a ventriloquist. He brought a dummy wherever he went during this time, and appeared with one in most of his yearbook photos.

By age 14, he had begun building his own wooden puppets and tinkering with machines. He has recounted an incident wherein he used a key he received from his father to access the art room at midnight and make molds, and where the police department inquired. At 20, he stopped performing his own acts, which he stated was due to laziness in practicing, but continued making dummies. in 2019. He has stated his dummies are like "kinetic art objects" to him.

He has done work for Sophie Becker, a NBC show, and historical puppets. His business is considered a tourist stop, as he also collects dummies