Debra Wilson
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| Debra Wilson | |
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 Debra Wilson Skelton hosting "O’FLuFF’s Lucky Charms Green Carpet Event" - Culver City, CA on March 13, 2010 |
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| Born | Debra Renee Wilson April 26, 1962 South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Debra Wilson Skelton |
| Occupation | Actress Comedienne TV presenter Voice actress Host |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse | Cliff Skelton (2006-present) (separated 2010-present) |
Debra Wilson Skelton (born Debra Renee Wilson April 26, 1962), professionally known as Debra Wilson or Debra Wilzon, is an American comedienne and actress. Wilson is likely most famous for being the second longest-serving original cast member (after Michael McDonald) on the sketch comedy series MADtv, having appeared for the show's first eight seasons. She has also done voice work for various productions including Avatar, American Dad!, Family Guy, Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, The Proud Family, and The Boondocks.
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[edit] Biography
Wilson was born and raised in New York City, in the neighborhood of Ozone Park, Queens. Wilson attended the New York City High School of the Performing Arts. After graduation, she continued her studies at Syracuse University, working in television and radio broadcasting. Her acting debut was on the television pilot The Apollo Comedy Hour. Following this success she became a series regular on The Uptown Comedy Club and co-hosted Can We Shop? with Joan Rivers. She continued her work in television working as a spokesperson for Burger King, and guest starring in New York Undercover. Her major feature film debut was It Only Happens With You which she worked on shortly before starting on MADtv.
[edit] Career
[edit] MADtv
Wilson was one of the original eight cast members of MADtv when the series aired in 1995. Wilson came to the show with a background in sketch comedy, improv and television. MADtv was her third TV series, although she had done stand up in New York for one year.
Wilson was credited for creating some of the most popular recurring characters on the show. Among her characters were Latina bimbo Melina (Lida and Melina), Reality Check's Tovah McQueen, Stick Chick Autumn, Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority sister Hayden Brooks, Alexis Dubane (Prehistoric Glamazon Huntresses), blaxploitation actress Cocoa Latette (Son of Dolemite), Lowered Expectations Host and Ms. Not Nice (Jenny Jones). Perhaps her best known character was the fast talking "Black American Princess" Bunifa Latifah Halifah Sharifa Jackson. Her most recognized impressions on the show were of Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston. Her Oprah impersonation is so well recognized in fact that she has played Oprah or Oprah-like characters in other media, for example Scary Movie 4 and on The Proud Family.
[edit] Television projects
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Since her debut on MADtv, Wilson has done voice acting on episodes on numerous television shows, landing some recurring roles on such shows as Clone High, Family Guy, and The Mr. Potato Head Show. She voiced Captain Lisa Cusak in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "The Sound of Her Voice".
Wilson has made numerous independent films, including Naked Angel, Jane White Is Sick and Twisted, Skin Deep, and Soulmates. She was also in an episode of Without a Trace as a doctor, and has appeared three times (to date) as "working girl" Divine in episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
She and Sullivan have done commercials for Pepsi's Sierra Mist. She appeared as herself on the February 15, 1999, episode of WCW Monday Nitro accompanying MADtv castmate Will Sasso in his professional wrestling match against Bret Hart. She also appeared on the UK "Whose Line Is It Anyway" - Season 10, Episode 9.
She was the co-host of TV Guide Channel's TV Watercooler with John Fugelsang, until she was replaced by Teresa Strasser in October 2006. She was also a co-host on GSN Live until she left in January 2010.
Celebrity Impersonations: Oprah Winfrey, Brandy Norwood, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Chris Tucker, Condoleezza Rice, Diana Ross, Beyoncé, Rosie Perez, and more....
[edit] Theater projects
Wilson performed off-Broadway with the improvisational comedy troupe Noo Yawk Tawk directed by Richmond Shepard at The Village Gate (1988–1991).
[edit] Personal life
Debra Wilson married writer/director Cliff Skelton in April 2006, and has separated as of 2010. Wilson has a cat named Nala and a Colombian tegu named Lizard. She often volunteers as an actress with the Young Storytellers Program. Wilson plays the Aboriginal didgeridoo and collects slide puzzles. Her favorite subjects are spirituality, metaphysics, the paranormal, psi phenomena forensics, cultural anthropology and ancient history. Wilson recently got a huge amount of tattoos around her entire upper body and arms up to the bottom neck and the wrist as she claims it was a part of a ritual. Since then, she has been seen wearing long sleeve shirts the majority of the times to cover the tattoos.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Cracking Up | ||
| 1995 | Blue in the Face | Statistician | |
| 1996 | Girl 6 | Salesgirl #3 | |
| 1997 | Sleeping Together | Wendy | |
| Gridlock'd | Medicaid Woman #2 | ||
| B*A*P*S | Flight Attendant | ||
| Soulmates | Jennifer Williams | ||
| Asylum | Belinda Davis | ||
| 1998 | Star Trek: The Experience: The Klingon Encounter | Security Officer | |
| 2000 | Rubbernecking | Julia | |
| 2002 | Jane White Is Sick & Twisted | Chi-Chi | |
| 2003 | Skin Deep | Alex | |
| 2004 | Target | Nolan | |
| 2005 | Bringing Up BayBay | Pam/BayBay Girl | |
| 2006 | Danny Roane: First Time Director | Rehab Nurse | |
| Scary Movie 4 | Oprah Winfrey | ||
| Over the Hedge | Debbie | ||
| Knight to F4 | Security Guard | ||
| Whitepaddy | Aunt Tiny | ||
| If I Had Known I Was a Genius | Teresa | ||
| 2007 | Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Edan Day | |
| 2009 | Avatar | Na'vi Troupe Member | |
| 2010 | Naked Angel | Mama Tony | |
| 2013 | The Marriage Lover | Yahaloma Windham |
[edit] Television
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This article or section contains a list of works that does not follow the Manual of Style for lists of works (often, though not always, due to being in reverse-chronological order) and may need cleanup. |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | GSN Live | co-host | |
| 2009 | 90210 | Teacher | as Debra Skelton |
| 2008 | Reno 911 | Dominatrix | |
| Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Supervisor | as Debra Skelton | |
| 2006 | Celebrity Paranormal Project | Herself | Filmed in 2005 |
| In Justice | Detective Powell | ||
| 2005 | Amazing Animal Inventions | Host | |
| Studio House | Vicky | ||
| Second Time Around | Deonne | ||
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Divine | |
| Nine Lives | Lisa | ||
| I'm with Her | Brenda | ||
| Without a Trace | Doctor | ||
| That's So Raven | Myesha | ||
| 2003 | The Parkers | Zorah | |
| 2000 | Gary & Mike | ||
| 1998 | The Mr. Potato Head Show | Queenie | |
| 1995 | New York Undercover | Shanna | |
| 1995 - 2003 | MADtv | Various Characters | Sketch Comedy |
| 1992 - 1993 | Uptown Comedy Club | Various Characters |
[edit] Voice acting and video game appearances
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This article or section contains a list of works that does not follow the Manual of Style for lists of works (often, though not always, due to being in reverse-chronological order) and may need cleanup. |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | Family Guy | I Dream of Jesus | Animated Comedy TV Series |
| Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | Crying Wolf | Video Game | |
| 2007 | Halo 3 | UNSC Marine, Hocus | Video Game |
| 2006 | X-Men: The Official Game | Storm | Video Game |
| The Adventures of Brer Rabbit | Sister Buzzard | ||
| 2005 | American Dad! | Whitney Houston | Animated Comedy TV Series |
| The Chosen One | Akia May | TV Series | |
| 2002 - 2003 | The Proud Family | Oprah Winfrey, Basil/Tabasco | TV Series |
| Clone High | Various Characters | ||
| 2003 | Everybody's Golf 4 | Various Characters | Video Game |
| 2002 | Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe In Santa | Great Grandma | TV Series |
| 2001 | The Oblongs | Various Character | |
| 2000 - 2001 | Family Guy | Janet/Mrs. Kanner/Nurse/Sandy Belford | Animated Comedy TV Series |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Capt. Lisa Cusak | TV Series |
