Medical Support for Actor/Ventriloquist Alan Semok

Our dear friend, actor & ventriloquist Alan Semok, suffered a major stroke on October 19, 2019 and is currently in the hospital. Those who know Alan and his wife, theatre director and professor Mary McGinley, know that they have dedicated their lives to the arts and artists. Additionally, Alan has spent most his life ensuring that the art of ventriloquism and dummy preservation is kept alive. Together, they have done so at the expense of their own livelihood and it is now time for us to give back. A typical hospital stay for a stroke averages $25,000, so we would like to make sure they have the funds necessary to cover Alan’s hospital stay, medical care and Mary's transportation to and from the hospital.

Alan has been working as a professional actor, musician, historian, puppeteer, ventriloquist, teacher, and figuremaker. In addition to appearances in film, television, and live theatre, he has also been teaching the art of ventriloquism and  serving as a consultant to the entertainment industry providing perspective and coaching for various projects which feature or in some way portray ventriloquism. He provided personal instruction and coaching to Academy Award winner Adrien Brody for the film DUMMY  and appeared as Tex Boy in the PBS series SHINING TIME STATION  with Ringo Starr and Didi Conn. He has a recurring role as Ebenezer Scrooge in Chatham Players  annual A CHRISTMAS CAROL which he has done for 11 seasons over the past 20 years.

Alan (who is known as “The Dummy Doctor,” a monicker bestowed on him by the international ventriloquial community) is on the Advisory Board of the Vent Haven Museum (VHM)  which is the world’s only museum dedicated to ventriloquism.  He is the recipient of the 1987 Ventriloquist of the Year award and in 2007 was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in Fine Arts from Buena Vista University. In addition to his hand built creations, Alan is regarded as one of the recognized experts in the repair/restoration of ventriloquial figures and puppets of every type. He has done repair and restorations on everything from original Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell figures (including Charlie McCarthy) to the original Howdy Doody marionette.

Please join us in giving whatever you can to help this incredibly kind and generous man. If you would, please share this campaign with all those who know Alan, as well as others in the ventriloquist, theatre, film and television communities. Together we can make a tremendous difference!