Debra Wilson

About Debra Wilson

Debra Renee Wilson Skelton (born April 26, 1962) is an American comedienne and actress. Wilson is notable for being one of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv and for once being the longest-serving cast member on the show. (That record was tied by fellow cast member Aries Spears in 2005 and broken by Michael McDonald in 2006). She has also done voice work for the animated series The Oblongs, American Dad, Family Guy, Gary and Mike, The Proud Family and Clone High.

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 was hosting various programming on the TV Guide Channel until October 2006. Wilson married writer/director Cliff Skelton in April 2006.

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 was credited for creating some of the most popular recurring characters on the show. Among her characters were Cloret, 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 Latite (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. The character quickly accuses other characters' most basic assertions as being motivated by racism.