Debra Wilson

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Debra Wilson
Wilson in 2010
Born	(1962-04-26) April 26, 1962 (age 59) Queens, New York, U.S.
Other names	Debra Wilson Skelton Debra Skelton
Occupation	Actress comedian television presenter
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[]

References[]

External links[]

• Debra Wilson at IMDb
• Debra Wilson at the Internet Off-Broadway Database