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Wanda Sykes
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| Wanda Sykes | |
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 Wanda Sykes, September 2004 |
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| Born | March 7, 1964 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, comedienne, writer, rapper, singer |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse(s) | David Hall (1991-1998) Alex Sykes (2008-present)1 |
| www.WandaSykes.com Official website |
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Wanda Sykes (born March 7, 1964) is an American writer, stand-up comedienne and actress. She is known for her blunt comedic observations on current events, the differences between the sexes and races, and the human condition. She is known for her role as Barb on The New Adventures of Old Christine, on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm as herself and numerous cameo appearances. In 2004 Entertainment Weekly named her as one of the 25 funniest people in America.2 She has won an Emmy for her writing as well as numerous other awards.
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Early years
Sykes was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. Her father served as a US Army colonel employed at the Pentagon, and her mother worked as a banker. She attended Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland, and went on to graduate from Hampton University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. After college, her first job was as a procurement officer with the National Security Agency (NSA),3 where she worked for five years.4
In October 2008, Wanda Sykes appeared in a television ad for the Think Before You Speak Campaign, an advertising campaign by GLSEN aimed at curbing homophobic slang in youth communities. In the 30-second spot, she uses humour to scold a teenager for saying "that's so gay" when he really means "that is so bad."56
In March 2009 it was announced that Sykes would be the host of a new late-night talk show on Saturdays on Fox. The Wanda Sykes Show is scheduled to premiere November 7, 2009.7 In April 2009, she was named in Out magazine's Annual Power 50 List, landing at number 35.8
In May 2009, Sykes was the featured entertainer for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, becoming both the first African American woman and the first openly LGBT person to get the role. Cedric the Entertainer had been the first African American to become the featured entertainer in 2005. At this event, Sykes made controversial headlines as she responded to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh's comments regarding President Barack Obama. Limbaugh, in reference to what he identified as Obama's socialist agenda, had said "I hope he fails". In response, Sykes quipped: "I hope his [Limbaugh's] kidneys fail."9
Awards
Sykes was nominated for three Primetime Emmys and in 1999 won the Emmy for "Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special." In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for "Outstanding Female Stand Up Comic". She won three more Emmys, in 2002, 2004 and 2005 , for her work on “Inside the NFL” for “Outstanding Studio Show - Weekly- Inside The NFL" followed by a Comedy Central Commie Award for "Funniest TV Actress in 2003."10
Personal life
Sykes was married to record producer David Hall from 1991 to 1998.4 In October 2008, she married her female partner, Alex, whom she met in 2006. In November 2008, she publicly came out as lesbian while at a same-sex marriage rally in Las Vegas regarding Proposition 8, which forbids new marriages of same-sex couples in California.4 Alex gave birth to twins Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude on April 27, 2009.1
Sykes expressed her excitement over the presidential election of Barack Obama, and feeling "crushed" after California voters passed state Proposition 8.411 She has continued to be active in same-sex marriage issues hosting events and emceeing fundraisers.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tomorrow Night | ||
| 2000 | Nutty Professor II: The Klumps | Chantal | |
| 2001 | Down to Earth | Wanda | |
| Pootie Tang | Biggie Shorty | ||
| 2005 | Monster-in-Law | Ruby | |
| 2006 | The Adventures of Brer Rabbit | Sister Moon | Direct-to-video Voice |
| Over the Hedge | Stella | Voice | |
| Clerks II | Wife | ||
| My Super Ex-Girlfriend | Carla Dunkirk | ||
| Barnyard | Bessy the Cow | Voice | |
| Brother Bear 2 | Innoko | Direct-to-video Voice |
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| CondomNation | Linda | ||
| Hammy's Boomerang Adventure | Stella | Direct-to-video short film (from the Over the Hedge DVD) | |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | Rita | |
| License to Wed | Doctor | uncredited |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–2000 | The Chris Rock Show | Various Characters | 7 episodes |
| 1999 | Best of the Chris Rock Show | Various Characters | TV special |
| 2001 | The Downer Channel | Various | First 2 episodes |
| The Drew Carey Show | Christine Watson | Episode: "Eat Drink Drew Woman" Episode: "Mr. Laffoon's Wild Ride" Episode: " Drew and the King" |
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| 2001-2009 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Wanda | Episode: "Thor" Episode: "The Massage" Episode: "The Benadryl Brownie" Episode: "The Terrorist Attack" Episode: "Krazee-Eyez Killa" Episode: "The Surrogate" Episode: "The Bowtie" Episode: "Funkhouser's Crazy Sister" |
| 2002, 2003 | Crank Yankers | Gladys/Wanda/Gladys Murphy | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | MTV: Reloaded | The Oracle | TV film |
| Wanda at Large | Wanda Mildred Hawkins | Episode: "Pilot" Episode: "King Rat" Episode: "Wanda and Bradley" Episode: "Wanda's Birthday" Episode: "The Favor" Episode: "Bradley Has a Friend?" Episode: "Back to the Club" Episode: "Clowns to the left of Me" |
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| Chappelle's Show | Herself | Episode: "The Best of Chappelle's Show: Volume 2 Mixtape" | |
| MADtv | Herself | Season 9 episode 903 | |
| 2006 | Will & Grace | Cricket | Episode: "Buy, Buy Baby" |
| 2006-2009 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Barbara 'Barb' Daran | 42 episodes |
| 2007-2009 | Back at the Barnyard | Bessy the Cow | 37 episodes |
| 2009 | The Wanda Sykes Show | Herself; also creator, and writer | Talk show |
Writer
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show | Writer | 11 episodes |
| 1997-00 | The Chris Rock Show | Writer | Wrote 33 episodes Co-produced 14 episodes |
| 1998 | Comedy Central Presents | Herself and writer (as Wanda Sykes-Hall) | Episode: "Wanda Sykes-Hall" |
| 2001 | Best of the Chris Rock Show: Volume 2 | Writer | TV special |
| The Downer Channel | Writer | Wrote the first 2 episodes | |
| 2002 | The 74th Annual Academy Awards | Special material written by | Award show |
| 2002-03 | Premium Blend | Writer | 4 episodes/Stand-up |
| 2003 | Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied | Writer | Documentary |
| Wanda at Large | Creator, writer and producer | 19 episodes | |
| 2004 | Wanda Does It | Creator, writer and executive producer | Episode: "Wanda Does Repo" Episode: "Wanda Does Vegas" Episode: "Wanda Does the Sky" Episode: "Wanda Does the Night" Episode: "Wanda Does the WNBA" Episode: "Wanda Does Photos" |
| 2006 | Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired | Writer | Stand-up |
Discography
- Sick & Tired (2007)
References
- ^ a b Julie Jordan (13 May 2009). "Wanda Sykes Becomes Mom of Twins!". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20278746,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
- ^ "The Best of the Rest". Entertainment Weekly. 19 March 2004. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,600311_2,00.html. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
- ^ "Wanda Sykes Biography". Yahoo! Movies. AEC One Group Stop, Inc.. 2008. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1804481088/bio. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ a b c d Karpel, Ari (March 2009). "Black and Gay Like Me". The Advocate (1024). http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid71760.asp.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ Out magazine
- ^ Bolcer, Julie. "Wanda Sykes Rips Into Rush Limbaugh." The Advocate. 11 May 2009. (accessed May 11, 2009).
- ^ "Wanda Sykes Biography". Comedy Central. May 11 2009. http://comedians.comedycentral.com/wanda-sykes. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ Sarah Warn (15 November 2008). "Wanda Sykes Comes Out as Gay and Married". afterellen. http://www.afterellen.com/people/2008/11/wanda-sykes-comes-out. Retrieved 2008-11-22.