- Debra Wilson
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Debra Wilson 
Debra Wilson Skelton hosting "O’FLuFF’s Lucky Charms Green Carpet Event" - Culver City, CA on March 13, 2010Born 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
HostYears 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.
Contents
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.
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 as Bunifa Latifah Halifah Sharifa Jackson
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.
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.
Celebrity Impersonations: Oprah Winfrey, Brandy Norwood, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Chris Tucker, Condoleezza Rice, Diana Ross, Beyonce, Rosie Perez, and more....
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
Debra Wilson married writer/director Cliff Skelton in April 2006, and has separated as of 2010. Wilson 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.
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 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 Voice acting and video game appearances
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 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 External links
Categories:- 1962 births
- Actors from New York City
- African American actors
- African American comedians
- American comedians
- American film actors
- American television actors
- American television personalities
- Living people
- People from New York City
- People from Queens
- Syracuse University alumni
- Women comedians
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