Debra Wilson
![]() | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (October 2007) |
Debra Wilson | |
---|---|
![]() Wilson in 2010 | |
Born | |
Other names | Debra Wilson Skelton Debra Skelton |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 1992–present |
Spouse(s) | Cliff Skelton
(m. 2006; sep. 2010) |
Debra Wilson (born April 26, 1962), also known as Debra Wilson Skelton or Debra Skelton, is an American actress, comedienne and television presenter. She is known for being the longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series Mad TV, 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. Her voice acting has also been used for video games including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Destiny 2: The Witch Queen.
Early life[]
Wilson was born and raised in New York City, in the neighborhood of Ozone Park, Queens, and attended the New York City High School of the Performing Arts.[1] After graduation, she studied television and radio broadcasting at Syracuse University.[2] She worked as pre-school teacher during the 1980s for the All Saints Church, in Sunnyside, Queens.
Wilson made her television acting debut on The Apollo Comedy Hour and The Uptown Comedy Club, where she became a series regular.[2] She also co-hosted Can We Shop? with Joan Rivers.[3] She continued her work in television working as a spokesperson for Burger King,[3] and guest starring in New York Undercover.[4]
Career[]
Mad TV[]
Wilson was one of the original eight cast members of Mad TV when the series aired in 1995.[5] Wilson came to the show with a background in sketch comedy, improv and television.
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),[6] Reality Check's Tovah McQueen,[7] Stick Chick Autumn, Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority sister Hayden Brooks,[8] Alexis Dubane (Prehistoric Glamazon Huntresses), blaxploitation actress Cocoa Latette (Son of Dolemite),[6] 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.[2]
Her most recognized impressions on the show were of Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston.[2][8][9][10] 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.[11][12]
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.[2] She voiced Captain Lisa Cusak in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "The Sound of Her Voice".[13]
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 a 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.
Wilson is currently the announcer of the revival of the NBC game show Weakest Link hosted by Jane Lynch.
Theater projects[]
Wilson performed off-Broadway with the improvisational comedy troupe Noo Yawk Tawk directed by Richmond Shepard at The Village Gate (1988–1991).
Video games[]
Wilson has voiced many video game characters, such as her role as Grace Walker in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and her role as Cere Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. She also appeared in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as General Lyons. Her other video game voice work includes The Outer Worlds, Gears 5, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Rage 2, Days Gone and Far Cry New Dawn.[14] She is the voice of Draka, once of the Frostwolf clan, now Baroness of the House of the Chosen of Maldraxxus in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands.[15] She is the voice of Savathûn in Destiny 2.[16]
Personal life[]
Wilson married writer and director Cliff Skelton in April 2006. They separated in 2010 citing irreconcilable differences.[17]
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 | |
B*A*P*S | Flight attendant | ||
Soulmates | Jennifer Williams | ||
Asylum | Belinda Davis | ||
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 | |
Nine Lives | Lisa | ||
2005 | Bringing Up BayBay | Pam Wilcox, BayBay Girl | Short film; also writer |
2006 | Whitepaddy | Aunt Tiny | |
Danny Roane: First Time Director | Rehab nurse | ||
The Adventures of Brer Rabbit | Sister Buzzard | Direct-to-video; voice role | |
Scary Movie 4 | Oprah Winfrey | ||
Over the Hedge | Debbie | Voice | |
Mandingo in a Box | Host | Short film | |
Shut Up and Shoot! | Nikki Ryder | ||
Rockin' Meera | Rudy | ||
2007 | If I Had Known I Was a Genius | Teresa Reed | |
Lord Help Us | Shariffer Simms | Direct-to-video | |
Cordially Invited | Vivian Dunn | ||
The Chosen One | Akia May | Voice role | |
2008 | Cuttin' da Mustard | Actress | |
2009 | Knight to F4 | Cheryl Johnson | |
Psyche on Melrose | Hostess | Short film | |
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto | Various voices | Direct-to-video | |
Avatar | Na'vi troupe member | ||
Friends of Dorothy | Hillary | Short film | |
2010 | Perfect Combination | Mrs. Lewis | |
Oprah's Last Show | Oprah Winfrey | Short film | |
2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Iana | Voice role |
Naked Angel | Mama Tony | ||
Division III: Football's Finest | Mandy | ||
2012 | Back Then | Georgia Miller | |
Bed-Stuy Lullaby | Sha'rell | Short film | |
2013 | Cordially Invited – The Wedding Day of Alton & Kenya | Vivian Dunn | |
2014 | Jungle Shuffle | Kam | Voice role |
Knock 'em Dead | Darien | ||
Untold | Merrel | ||
Fatal Acquittal | Detective Bell | ||
10 Year Plan | Minister | ||
2015 | Midlife | Diane Freeland | |
Mothers of the Bride | Freesia the producer | ||
Hotel Transylvania 2 | Additional Voices | ||
2016 | Caged No More | Leona | |
The Summerland Project | Adah Allen | ||
2017 | Open Marriage | Vulnavia | |
2018 | Painkillers | Gail Konrad | |
Bodied | Dean Hampton | ||
The Christmas Chronicles | Lars | Voice role | |
2019 | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | Nambi Ghima | Voice role; also additional voices |
2021 | Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms | D'Vorah | Direct-to-video; voice role[18] |
The Loud House Movie | Nana May, Nana Collette, Nana Helene, and Mrs. Turnberry | Voice role |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992–93 | The Uptown Comedy Club | Various | Main cast |
1995 | New York Undercover | Shanna | Episode: "High on the Hog" |
1995–03, 2005–09, 2016 | Mad TV | Various | Main cast (seasons 1–8); guest star (seasons 10, 13–15); 196 episodes |
1998 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Lisa Cusak | Episode: "The Sound of Her Voice"; voice role |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Herself | Season 10, episode 9 | |
1998–99 | The 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 |
The Oblongs | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2002 | Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe In Santa | Great Grandma Fran | Voice role; television film |
2002–03 | Clone High | Various voices | 3 episodes |
The Proud Family | Oprah Winfrey | Voice role; 2 episodes | |
2003 | Basil / Tobasco | Voice role; episode: "Adventures in Bebe Sitting" | |
The Parkers | Zorah | Episode: "Kimmie Has Two Moms" | |
2004–07 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Divine | 3 episodes |
2004 | Without a Trace | Doctor | Episode: "Hawks and Handsaws" |
I'm with Her | Brenda | Episode: "Friends in Low Places" | |
That's So Raven | Maisha | Episode: "Spa Day Afternoon" | |
2005 | Second Time Around | Deonne | Episode: "You're Fired" |
2005–16 | American Dad! | Whitney Houston, Mom at basketball game | Voice role; 2 episodes |
2006 | In Justice | Detective Powell | Episode: "Confessions" |
Celebrity Paranormal Project | Herself | Episode: "Cult Commune" | |
2007 | Higglytown Heroes | Marine biologist hero | Voice role; episode: "Little Big Fish/Good Sports" |
Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Edan Day | Television film (MTV) | |
2008 | Reno 911! | Dominatrix | 3 episodes |
The Boondocks | Deborah LeVil | Voice role; 2 episodes | |
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 |
2012–15 | Black Dynamite | Amazon Moon Bitch leader, Lil' Orphan Penny, Eartha K.I.T.T., various (voices) | 17 episodes |
2013 | 2 Broke Girls | Delores | Episode: "And the Temporary Distraction" |
The First Family | Helen | Episode: "The First Driver" | |
The Cleveland Show | N/A | Episode: "Of Lice and Men" | |
Save Me | Stephanie | Episode: "Heavenly Hostess" | |
Mad | Various voices | Episode: "Alfred's Game/We Are X-Men" | |
Doom Patrol | Madame Rouge | Voice role; episode: "Chapter Ten: The Spy Within the Doom Patrol" | |
2013–14 | DC Super-Pets! | Various voices | 3 episodes |
2014 | Regular Show | Council Woman / Thunder Girl 1 / Blonde Girl | Voice role; episode: "Dodge This" |
2014–16 | All Hail King Julien | Masikura, Mary-Ann, Tammy | Voice role; 21 episodes |
2016 | Dead 7 | Apocolypta | Television film (Syfy) |
Z Nation | Linda | Episode: "Doc's Angels" | |
2017 | Superior Donuts | Lyric | Episode: "Flour Power" |
2018 | The Last Sharknado: It's About Time | New Bryan | Television movie |
2019 | The Jellies | Voice actor, 2 episodes | |
2019–present | Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart | Ramaraffe, Ketchup, Muffins, Marion, Camille, Scoops, Various voices | Voice actor |
2019 | Cannon Busters | Lady Day | English dub |
2020 | Just Roll with It | Nana Blatt | Episode: "Grandma & Grandpa Sittin' in a Tree" |
Spitting Image | Beyoncé, Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Mother Nature | Voice actor | |
Baby Shark's Big Show! | Grandma Shark | English dub, main role | |
2021 | Final Space | Quinn's Mother | Voice role, Episode: "All the Moments Lost" |
The Casagrandes | Papaya (voice) | Episode: "Do the Fruit Shake" | |
The Owl House | TBA | Voice actor |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2012–13 | Lips | X-girlfriend | 2 episodes |
2017 | My Sister Is So Gay[9] | 6 episodes |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Everybody's Golf 4 | Various Voices | Voice |
2006 | Ice Age 2: The Meltdown | Ellie | Voice |
X-Men: The Official Game | Storm | Voice | |
2007 | Halo 3 | Marines | Voice |
2008 | Speed Racer: The Videogame | Booster Mbube | Voice |
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | Crying Wolf | Voice | |
Fracture | N/A | Voice | |
2009 | Halo 3: ODST | Marine #4 | Voice |
2010 | Dead to Rights: Retribution | Security Guard | Voice |
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty | Additional Voices | Voice | |
Fallout: New Vegas | Kate / Sweetie / 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 |
WildStar | Dreadphage Ohmna / Selene / Granok Female | Voice | |
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | Additional Voices | Voice | |
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor | Monster Vocal Effects | Voice | |
2016 | Mirror's Edge Catalyst | Rebecca Thane | Voice |
Gears of War 4 | Aspho Point Gear | Voice | |
Far Cry Primal | Batari | Voice | |
Final Fantasy XV | Additional voices | Voice | |
2017 | Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus | Grace Walker | Voice and Motion Capture |
2017–18 | Batman: The Enemy Within | Amanda Waller | Voice |
2018 | God of War | Additional Voices | Voice |
Just Cause 4 | Izzy, People of Solis | Voice | |
Guild Wars 2 | Ambassador Sianna | Voice | |
2018-19 | The Walking Dead: The Final Season | Dorian | Voice |
2019 | Days Gone | Addison 'Addy' Walker | Voice and Motion Capture |
Wolfenstein: Youngblood | Grace Walker | Voice and Motion Capture | |
Gears 5 | Private Casan (COG Gear) | Voice | |
Indivisible | Snake Queen[19] | Voice | |
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | General Lyons | Voice and Motion Capture | |
The Outer Worlds | Sophia Akande | Voice | |
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | Cere Junda | Voice and Motion Capture | |
Guild Wars 2 | Varinia Stormsounder, Jormag | Voice | |
2020 | Gears Tactics | Mikayla Dorn | Voice |
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands | Baroness Draka | Voice | |
Desperados III | Isabelle Moreau | Voice | |
Bugsnax | Shellsy "Shelda" Woolbag | Voice | |
2021 | Persona 5 Strikers | Additional voices | Voice[20] |
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Kit | Voice | |
Destiny 2 | Savathûn | Voice |
References[]
- ^ West, Diane (October 1, 2006). "Debra Wilson On Success, Snakes and Spirituality". New York Tails.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Debra Wilson Biography". TCM.com. Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Fischer, Paul (April 19, 2003). "Debra Gets Twisted". FilmMonthly.
- ^ "New York Undercover Season 2, Episode 1 Cast". TV Guide.
- ^ Greiving, Tim (May 18, 2016). "An Oral History of MADtv, the Sketch Show That Never Quite Changed Comedy". Vulture.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Pantoja, Kevin (May 27, 2019). "10 Funniest Cast Members of MadTV (And Where They Are Now)". Screenrant.
- ^ Carter, Alan (July 2002). "Laugh In". Vibe. Vol. 10 no. 7.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Persaud, Christine (May 28, 2019). "Where Are They Now? The Cast of MadTV". ScreenRant.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Mar, Pollo Del (January 27, 2017). "Debra Wilson Talks Queer Legacy of MADtv Whitney Houston Parodies, New Series 'My Sister Is So Gay'". Huff Post.
- ^ Voger, Mark (April 12, 2013). "'Veep,' 'Madtv' on home video". NJ.com.
- ^ Punter, Jennie (April 14, 2006). "Scary Movie 4 **½". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Rorke, Robert (July 14, 2010). "Oprah comic shuns TV role". New York Post.
- ^ Bastién, Angelica Jade (January 4, 2018). "The Best Episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Ranked". Vulture.
- ^ Shanley, Patrick (November 13, 2019). "'Star Wars' Actor Debra Wilson Is a Prolific Force Among Video Game Performers". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Blizzard Entertainment (September 3, 2020). "Watch Shadowlands Afterlives: Maldraxxus". Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "This Week At Bungie – 8/26/2021 > News". Bungie.net. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ ""MADTV" STAR Headed for Divorce Court". 10 May 2012. TMZ. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (June 16, 2021). "Animated 'Mortal Kombat Legends' Sequel Arriving This Summer (Exclusive)". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "Indivisible Cast List Revealed". Indivisible. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ "Persona 5 Strikers (2021 Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 7, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.CS1 maint: postscript (link)
External links[]
- 1962 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American actresses
- 20th-century American comedians
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century American comedians
- Actresses from New York City
- African-American actresses
- African-American female comedians
- African-American television personalities
- American film actresses
- American sketch comedians
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- Television personalities from New York City
- American women comedians
- American women television personalities
- American voice actresses
- Comedians from New York City
- Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
- Game show announcers
- People from Ozone Park, Queens
- Syracuse University alumni