Edgar Bergen taught himself ventriloquism at the age of 11, from instructional pamphlets. He practiced this skill and perfected it for several years. At the age of 16, he purchased a wooden hand puppet from a local Chicago wood-carver. In the early part of his career, on the Stages of Vaudeville, he perfected his ventriloquism act and named his puppet Charlie McCarthy. While he had moderate success on stage, Bergen made his real mark on comedy radio broadcasts.

He and Charlie were seen performing their act at a party for Noël Coward that was hosted by Elsa Maxwell, who then recommended them for an engagement at the famous Rainbow Room. It was there that some producers saw Bergen and Charlie perform. Bergen and his puppet were recommended for a guest appearance on Rudy Vallée's radio show. The appearance was so well received that the next year they were given their own show. Under a variety of sponsors, they were on the air from 1937 until 1956. While the show was a major success and had high ratings, the format of the comedy was unusual to other radio comedy acts of the time.

While the act of Bergen and McCarthy was believed to be two different people, it was not new to the listeners that both characters were voiced by Bergen and the other was a puppet. Bergen actually used the puppet during broadcasts of the radio show, even though the listening audience could not see McCarthy. Once found out that Bergen's co-star was a puppet, people that listened still thought of McCarthy as its own character. Bergen's skill and wit carried the show and he later developed other characters that he voiced as well. McCarthy and his personality were the actual driving force and popularity of the show.

In addition to his brilliance as a radio personality, and masterful ventriloquist, Bergen also had a successful film career. With McCarthy at his side, Bergen starred in several popular motion pictures. In The Goldwyn Follies(1938), Bergen and McCarthy had top billing for the film, and during the same year, the duo appeared in the film You Can't Cheat an Honest Man. Other film roles for the team include Look Who's Laughing (1941) and Here We Go Again (1942). Later, Bergen and McCarthy were featured in Fun and Fancy Free in 1947. Also during his career Bergen developed a successful comic strip Mortimer & Charlie in 1939. Bergen and McCarthy appeared as guest on several popular television shows during the 50' and 60's, but never had success at their own full time TV series. Later in life, Bergen appeared as Grandpa Walton in the original Walton's movie, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story in 1971. In the original Walton's series the radio broadcast of Bergen and McCarthy could be heard regularly coming from the Walton's home radio. The last appearance of Bergen and McCarthy was in The Muppet Movie by Jim Henson, who was greatly inspired by the pair. Bergen passed away shortly after the film was completed, and the movie was dedicated to his memory.