Yvonne Wilder

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Born Name:  Yvonne Othon

Born Date:  September 21, 1937

Born Place:  New York City, New York

Died Date:  November 24, 2021

Died Place:  Los Angeles, California

Occupations:  Comedian, actress, writer, artist

Brief Biography:  Yvonne Wilder was versatile who enjoyed a prolific entertainment career spanning from the late 1950s into the 1990s.

Comedy Career:
In the mid-1960s, she adopted the stage name Yvonne Wilder and formed a highly successful comedy duo with actor Jack Colvin, known as Colvin and Wilder.
Live Venues: The duo became staples of the comedy scene, regularly performing character-driven, satirical routines at famous venues like West Hollywood’s The Troubadour and Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills.
TV Variety Shows: Their popularity led to frequent appearances on the major television variety circuits of the era, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, and programs hosted by Merv Griffin, Dean Martin, and Mike Douglas.

Signature Screen Roles:
Beyond stand-up and sketch comedy, Wilder established herself as a recognizable character actress on both the big and small screens:
West Side Story (1961): Before her comedy duo days, she played Consuelo in the iconic film adaptation and performed the same role in London’s West End.
Seems Like Old Times (1980): She played Aurora De La Hoya, Goldie Hawn's opinionated housekeeper, delivering a highly memorable comedic performance.
Full House: Modern audiences remember her recurring role as Irene Katsopolis, Jesse Katsopolis’s (John Stamos) mother.
Other Credits: She appeared in Mel Brooks' Silent Movie (1976) and logged dozens of guest spots on classic shows like The Partridge Family, Archie Bunker's Place, and Gimme a Break!.

Writing and Later Art Career:
Wilder was also a writer, co-authoring and co-starring in the 1971 horror film The Return of Count Yorga alongside her then-husband Bob Kelljan. In the 1990s, she stepped away from Hollywood to focus on fine arts, building a respected second career as a painter and sculptor whose work was exhibited at the Santa Monica Art Institute.