Debra Wilson
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| Debra Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Debra Renee Wilson April 26, 1962 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other name(s) | Debra Wilson Skelton (no hyphen) Debra Skelton |
| Occupation | Actress Comedienne TV presenter Voice actress |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) | Cliff Skelton (2006-present) |
Debra Renee Wilson Skelton (born April 26, 1962), also known as Debra Wilson, Debra Wilson Skelton, or Debra Skelton, is an American comedienne and actress. Wilson is notable 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 the animated series The Oblongs, American Dad!, Family Guy, Gary and Mike, The Proud Family, and Clone High.
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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 was hosting various programming on the TV Guide Channel until October 2006.
[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 Cloret, 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 Latite (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 That's So Raven.
[edit] Television projects
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 Jane White Is Sick and Twisted, Skin Deep and Soulmates. She was also in an episode of Without a Trace as a nurse. 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 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 is now a co-host on GSN Live from 3:00PM to 6:00PM ET as of May 26, 2009 (and on occasion filling in for Alfonso Ribeiro from the noon-3:00PM ET segment when Ribeiro has the day off). Debra moved to the mornings at 12:00PM to 3:00PM ET on GSN Live.
[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. Wilson has two cats and an Emperor scorpion. Her step son is Quinn Skelton. She often volunteers as an actress with the Young Storytellers Program. Wilson plays the Aboriginal didgeridoo and collects slide puzzles. Her favorite subjects are forensics and the paranormal.
Before beginning work as an actress, Debra Wilson was a pre-school teacher in Sunnyside, New York.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Edan Day | |
| 2006 | If I Had Known I Was a Genius | Teresa | |
| Whitepaddy | Aunt Tiny | ||
| Knight to F4 | Security Guard | ||
| Over the Hedge | Debbie | ||
| Scary Movie 4 | Oprah Winfrey | ||
| Danny Roane: First Time Director | Rehab Nurse | ||
| 2005 | Bringing Up BayBay | Pam/BayBay Girl | |
| 2004 | Target | Nolan | |
| 2003 | Skin Deep | Alex | |
| 2002 | Jane White Is Sick & Twisted | Chi-Chi | |
| 2000 | Rubbernecking | Julia | |
| 1998 | Star Trek the Experience: The Klingon Encounter | Security Officer | |
| 1997 | Asylum | Belinda Davis | |
| Soulmates | Jennifer Williams | ||
| B*A*P*S | Flight Attendant | ||
| Gridlock'd | Medicaid Woman #2 | ||
| Sleeping Together | Wendy | ||
| 1996 | Girl 6 | Salesgirl #3 | |
| 1995 | Blue in the Face | Statistician | |
| New Jersey Drive Not of This Earth | |||
| 1994 | Cracking Up |
[edit] Television
| 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
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Family Guy | I Dream of Jesus | Animated Comedy TV Series |
| 2008 | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | Crying Wolf | Video Game |
| 2007 | Halo 3 | UNSC Marine | 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/Tobasco | 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 |
