Debra Wilson
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Born Name:
Debra Wilson
Born Date: April 26, 1962
Born Place: Queens, New York
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actress, comedian, voice artist
Brief Biography: Debra Wilson is known as the longest-serving original cast member on FOX’s sketch comedy series MADtv, she is widely celebrated for her spot-on celebrity impressions—most notably of Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Wilson attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She went on to study radio and television broadcasting at Syracuse University. She cut her teeth in the entertainment industry as a stand-up comic in New York City and performed with the off-Broadway improvisational troupe Noo Yawk Tawk. Her early television breakthroughs included appearances on The Apollo Comedy Hour and The Uptown Comedy Club in 1992.
Rise to Fame on MADtv:
Wilson’s career skyrocketed in 1995 when she was hired as an original cast member on the hit sketch comedy show MADtv. She remained with the show for its first eight seasons, making her the longest-running original cast member. She became a cultural fixture through her original characters (such as Bunifa Latifah Halifah Sharifa Jackson) and highly memorable parodies of stars like Oprah and Whitney Houston.
Prolific Voice Acting and Performance Capture:
Following her departure from MADtv, Wilson transitioned into one of the busiest and most successful voice actors in animation and video games. Her extensive voice and performance capture credits include:
Video Games: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Cere Junda), God of War: Ragnarök (Grýla), Destiny 2 (Savathûn), Halo Infinite (The Harbinger), and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Animation: She made history in 2022 by becoming the sixth official voice of Disney’s Daisy Duck on Mickey Mouse Funhouse, making her the first African-American performer to voice the character.
Film: She served as the prototype model and provided performance capture for Neytiri in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Avatar.
Born Date: April 26, 1962
Born Place: Queens, New York
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actress, comedian, voice artist
Brief Biography: Debra Wilson is known as the longest-serving original cast member on FOX’s sketch comedy series MADtv, she is widely celebrated for her spot-on celebrity impressions—most notably of Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Wilson attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She went on to study radio and television broadcasting at Syracuse University. She cut her teeth in the entertainment industry as a stand-up comic in New York City and performed with the off-Broadway improvisational troupe Noo Yawk Tawk. Her early television breakthroughs included appearances on The Apollo Comedy Hour and The Uptown Comedy Club in 1992.
Rise to Fame on MADtv:
Wilson’s career skyrocketed in 1995 when she was hired as an original cast member on the hit sketch comedy show MADtv. She remained with the show for its first eight seasons, making her the longest-running original cast member. She became a cultural fixture through her original characters (such as Bunifa Latifah Halifah Sharifa Jackson) and highly memorable parodies of stars like Oprah and Whitney Houston.
Prolific Voice Acting and Performance Capture:
Following her departure from MADtv, Wilson transitioned into one of the busiest and most successful voice actors in animation and video games. Her extensive voice and performance capture credits include:
Video Games: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Cere Junda), God of War: Ragnarök (Grýla), Destiny 2 (Savathûn), Halo Infinite (The Harbinger), and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Animation: She made history in 2022 by becoming the sixth official voice of Disney’s Daisy Duck on Mickey Mouse Funhouse, making her the first African-American performer to voice the character.
Film: She served as the prototype model and provided performance capture for Neytiri in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Avatar.