Debra Wilson
| Debra Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson in March 2010 | |
| Born |
Debra Renee Wilson April 26, 1962 South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Debra Wilson Skelton, Debra Skelton |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, voice actress, television presenter |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) | Cliff Skelton (m. 2006; separated 2010) |
Debra Renee Wilson (born April 26, 1962), also known as Debra Wilson Skelton or Debra Skelton, is an American actress and comedian. Wilson is known for being the longest-serving original cast member 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, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Boondocks.
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. Wilson was also a pre-school teacher during the 1980s for the All Saints Church, in Sunnyside, Queens. 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 Let It Be Me which she worked on shortly before starting on MADtv.
Career
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 regarded that in fact she has played Oprah or Oprah-like characters in other media, most notably Scary Movie 4 and The Proud Family.
Celebrity impressions on MADtv
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 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.
Theater projects
Wilson performed Off-Broadway with the improvisational comedy troupe Noo Yawk Tawk directed by Richmond Shepard at The Village Gate (1988–1991).
Personal life
Wilson married writer and director Cliff Skelton in April 2006. They separated in 2010 citing irreconcilable differences.[1]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Cracking Up | N/A | |
| 1995 | Blue in the Face | Statistician | |
| 1996 | Girl 6 | Salesgirl #3 | |
| 1997 | Gridlock'd | Medicaid woman #2 | |
| 1997 | B*A*P*S | Flight attendant | |
| 1997 | Soulmates | Jennifer Williams | |
| 1997 | Asylum | Belinda Davis | |
| 1997 | Sleeping Together | Wendy | |
| 1998 | Star Trek: The Experience: The Klingon Encounter | Security officer | Short film; voice role |
| 2000 | Rubbernecking | Julia | |
| 2002 | Jane White Is Sick & Twisted | Chi-Chi | |
| 2003 | Skin Deep | Alex | |
| 2004 | Target | Nolan | |
| 2004 | Nine Lives | Lisa | |
| 2005 | Bringing Up BayBay | Pam Wilcox, BayBay Girl | Short film; also writer |
| 2006 | Whitepaddy | Aunt Tiny | |
| 2006 | Danny Roane: First Time Director | Rehab nurse | |
| 2006 | Adventures of Brer Rabbit, TheThe Adventures of Brer Rabbit | Sister Buzzard | Direct-to-video; voice role |
| 2006 | Scary Movie 4 | Oprah Winfrey | |
| 2006 | Over the Hedge | Debbie | Voice |
| 2006 | Mandingo in a Box | Host | Short film |
| 2006 | Shut Up and Shoot! | Nikki Ryder | |
| 2006 | Rockin' Meera | Rudy | |
| 2007 | If I Had Known I Was a Genius | Teresa Reed | |
| 2007 | Lord Help Us | Shariffer Simms | Direct-to-video |
| 2007 | Cordially Invited | Vivian Dunn | |
| 2007 | Chosen One, TheThe Chosen One | Akia May | Voice role |
| 2008 | Cuttin' da Mustard | Actress | |
| 2009 | Knight to F4 | Cheryl Johnson | |
| 2009 | Psyche on Melrose | Hostess | Short film |
| 2009 | Haunted World of El Superbeasto, TheThe Haunted World of El Superbeasto | Various voices | Direct-to-video |
| 2009 | Avatar | Na'vi troupe member | |
| 2009 | Friends of Dorothy | Hillary | Short film |
| 2010 | Perfect Combination | Mrs. Lewis | |
| 2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Iana | Voice role |
| 2010 | Oprah's Last Show | Oprah Winfrey | Short film |
| 2011 | Naked Angel | Mama Tony | |
| 2011 | Division III: Football's Finest | Mandy | |
| 2012 | Back Then | Georgia Miller | |
| 2012 | Bed-Stuy Lullaby | Sha'rell | Short film |
| 2013 | Cordially Invited – The Wedding Day of Alton & Kenya | Vivian Dunn | |
| 2014 | Jungle Shuffle | Kam | Voice role |
| 2014 | Knock 'em Dead | Darien | |
| 2014 | Untold | Merrel | |
| 2014 | Fatal Acquittal | Detective Bell | |
| 2014 | 10 Year Plan | Minister | |
| 2015 | Midlife | Diane Freeland | |
| 2015 | Mothers of the Bride | Freesia the producer | |
| 2015 | Hotel Transylvania 2 | Additional Voices | |
| 2016 | Caged No More | Leona | |
| 2016 | The Summerland Project | Adah Allen |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Uptown Comedy Club, TheThe Uptown Comedy Club | Various | Main cast |
| 1995 | New York Undercover | Shanna | Episode: "High on the Hog" |
| 1995–03, 2005–09 2016 |
MADtv | Various | Main cast (seasons 1–8); guest star (seasons 10, 13, 14 and 15); 196 episodes |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Lisa Cusak | Episode: "The Sound of Her Voice" |
| 1998 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Herself | Season 10, episode 9 |
| 1998–99 | Mr. Potato Head Show, TheThe Mr. Potato Head Show | Queenie | Main role; voice; 13 episodes |
| 2000–01, 2008–11 | Family Guy | Various voices | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | Gary & Mike | Various voices | 13 episodes |
| 2001 | Oblongs, TheThe Oblongs | N/A | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa | Great grandma | Voice role; television film |
| 2002–03 | Clone High | Various voices | 3 episodes |
| 2002–03 | Proud Family, TheThe Proud Family | Oprah Winfrey | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Proud Family, TheThe Proud Family | Basil / Tobasco | Voice role; episode: "Adventures in Bebe Sitting" |
| 2003 | Parkers, TheThe Parkers | Zorah | Episode: "Kimmie Has Two Moms" |
| 2004 | Without a Trace | Doctor | Episode: "Hawks and Handsaws" |
| 2004–07 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Divine | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | I'm with Her | Brenda | Episode: "Friends in Low Places" |
| 2004 | That's So Raven | Miesha | Episode: "Spa Day Afternoon" |
| 2005 | Second Time Around | Deonne | Episode: "You're Fired" |
| 2005–2016 | American Dad! | Whitney Houston, Mom at basketball game | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2006 | In Justice | Detective Powell | Episode: "Confessions" |
| 2006 | Celebrity Paranormal Project | Herself | Episode: "Cult Commune" |
| 2007 | Higglytown Heroes | Marine biologist hero | Voice role; episode: "Little Big Fish/Good Sports" |
| 2007 | Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Edan Day | Television film (MTV) |
| 2008 | Reno 911! | Dominatrix | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Boondocks, TheThe Boondocks | Deborah LeVil | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Lilian | Episode: "Automatic for the People" |
| 2009 | 90210 | Teacher | Episode: "Hello, Goodbye, Amen" |
| 2009–10 | GSN Live | Herself | Co-host |
| 2012 | Black Dynamite | Amazon Moon Bitch leader, Lil' Orphan Penny, Eartha K.I.T.T. (voices) | 1 episode |
| 2013 | 2 Broke Girls | Delores | Episode: "And the Temporary Distraction" |
| 2013 | First Family, TheThe First Family | Helen | Episode: "The First Driver" |
| 2013 | Cleveland Show, TheThe Cleveland Show | N/A | Episode: "Of Lice and Men" |
| 2013 | Save Me | Stephanie | Episode: "Heavenly Hostess" |
| 2013–14 | DC Super-Pets! | Various voices | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Mad | Various voices | Episode: "Alfred's Game/We Are X-Men" |
| 2013 | Doom Patrol | Madame Rouge | Voice role; episode: "Chapter Ten: The Spy Within the Doom Patrol" |
| 2014 | Regular Show | Council Woman / Thunder Girl 1 / Blonde Girl | Voice role; episode: "Dodge This" |
| 2014–2016 | All Hail King Julien | Masikura, Foosa Babe, Tammy | Voice role; 21 episodes |
| 2016 | Dead 7 | Apocolypta | Television film (Syfy) |
| 2016 | Z Nation | Linda | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Lips | X-girlfriend | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Everybody's Golf 4 | Various Voices | Voice |
| 2006 | Ice Age 2: The Meltdown | Ellie | Voice |
| 2006 | X-Men: The Official Game | Storm | Voice |
| 2007 | Halo 3 | Marines | Voice |
| 2008 | Speed Racer: The Videogame | Booster Mbube | Voice |
| 2008 | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | Crying Wolf | Voice |
| 2008 | Fracture | N/A | Voice |
| 2009 | Halo 3: ODST | Marine #4 | Voice |
| 2010 | Dead to Rights: Retribution | Security Guard | Voice |
| 2010 | StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty | Additional Voices | Voice |
| 2010 | Fallout: New Vegas | Kate / Sweeite / Yvette / Boomer Teacher / Jackal Gang Member / Mercenary / New Vegas Citizen / Novac Settler / Prospector / The Tops Cashier / Traveling Merchant / Vault 34 Dweller / Vikki and Vance Dealer / Viper Gunslinger / Viper Leader / White Gloves Society Member | Voice |
| 2011 | Infamous 2 | Female Pedestrians / The Storyteller | Voice |
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | The Local Population | Voice |
| 2014 | Elder Scrolls Online | Additional Voices | Voice |
| 2014 | WildStar | Dreadphage Ohmna / Selene / Granok Female | Voice |
| 2014 | Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | Additional Voices | Voice |
| 2014 | World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor | Monster Vocal Effects | Voice |
| 2016 | Mirror's Edge Catalyst | Rebecca Thane | Voice |
| 2016 | Gears of War 4 | Ashpo Point Gear | Voice |
References
- ↑ ""MADTV" STAR Headed for Divorce Court". 10 May 2012. TMZ. Retrieved 26 August 2012.