Debra Wilson
Debra Renee Wilson, also known as Debra Wilson Skelton or Debra Skelton, is an American actress, voice actress, comedian and television presenter. Wilson is known for being the longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series Mad TV, 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. Her voice acting has also been used for video games including ' and
Early life
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. Wilson was also a pre-school teacher during the 1980s for the All Saints Church, in Sunnyside, Queens. 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 Let It Be Me, which she worked on shortly before starting on MADtv.Career
''Mad TV''
Wilson was one of the original eight cast members of Mad TV when the series aired in 1995. Wilson came to the show with a background in sketch comedy, improv and television. Mad TV 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 Latina bimbo Melina, Reality Check's Tovah McQueen, Stick Chick Autumn, Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority sister Hayden Brooks, Alexis Dubane, blaxploitation actress Cocoa Latette, Lowered Expectations Host and Ms. Not Nice. 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 regarded that in fact she has played Oprah or Oprah-like characters in other media, most notably Scary Movie 4 and The Proud Family.
Celebrity impressions on ''Mad TV''
- Diana Ross
- Beyoncé
- Vanity
- Coretta Scott King
- Phylicia Rashad
- Mariah Carey
- Dionne Warwick
- Ruby Dee
- Joie Lee
- Tisha Campbell-Martin
- Rosie Perez
- La Toya Jackson
- Janet Jackson
- Lil' Kim
- Miss Cleo
- Eve
- Alicia Keys
- Whitney Houston
- Sheila E.
- Oprah Winfrey
- Brandy
- Jackée Harry
- Kim Wayans
- Tyra Banks
- Chris Tucker
- Della Reese
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Eartha Kitt
- Macy Gray
- Lorraine Bracco
- Larry Fine of The Three Stooges
- Marla Gibbs
Television projects
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 as working girl Divine in episodes of '.
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.
Theater projects
Wilson performed Off-Broadway with the improvisational comedy troupe Noo Yawk Tawk directed by Richmond Shepard at The Village Gate.Video games
Wilson has voiced many video game characters, such as her role as Grace Walker in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and her role as Cere Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.She also appeared in Call of Duty : Modern Warfare as General Lyons.
Personal life
Wilson married writer and director Cliff Skelton in April 2006. They separated in 2010 citing irreconcilable differences.Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1992–93 | ' | Various | Main cast |
1995 | New York Undercover | Shanna | Episode: "High on the Hog" |
1995–03, 2005–09, 2016 | Mad TV | Various | Main cast ; guest star ; 196 episodes |
1998 | ' | Lisa Cusak | Episode: "The Sound of Her Voice"; voice role |
1998 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Herself | Season 10, episode 9 |
1998–99 | The Mr. Potato Head Show | Queenie | Main role; voice; 13 episodes |
2000–01, 2008–11 | Family Guy | Various voices | 6 episodes |
2001 | Gary & Mike | Various voices | 13 episodes |
2001 | The Oblongs | 2 episodes | |
2002 | ' | Great Grandma Fran | Voice role; television film |
2002–03 | Clone High | Various voices | 3 episodes |
2002–03 | The Proud Family | Oprah Winfrey | Voice role; 2 episodes |
2003 | The Proud Family | Basil / Tobasco | Voice role; episode: "Adventures in Bebe Sitting" |
2003 | The Parkers | Zorah | Episode: "Kimmie Has Two Moms" |
2004–07 | ' | Divine | 3 episodes |
2004 | Without a Trace | Doctor | Episode: "Hawks and Handsaws" |
2004 | I'm with Her | Brenda | Episode: "Friends in Low Places" |
2004 | That's So Raven | Maisha | Episode: "Spa Day Afternoon" |
2005 | Second Time Around | Deonne | Episode: "You're Fired" |
2005–16 | American Dad! | Whitney Houston, Mom at basketball game | Voice role; 2 episodes |
2006 | In Justice | Detective Powell | Episode: "Confessions" |
2006 | Celebrity Paranormal Project | Herself | Episode: "Cult Commune" |
2007 | Higglytown Heroes | Marine biologist hero | Voice role; episode: "Little Big Fish/Good Sports" |
2007 | ' | Edan Day | Television film |
2008 | Reno 911! | Dominatrix | 3 episodes |
2008 | ' | Deborah LeVil | Voice role; 2 episodes |
2008 | ' | Lilian | Episode: "Automatic for the People |Automatic for the People" |
2009 | 90210 | Teacher | Episode: "Hello, Goodbye, Amen" |
2009–10 | GSN Live | Herself | Co-host |
2012–15 | Black Dynamite | Amazon Moon Bitch leader, Lil' Orphan Penny, Eartha K.I.T.T., various | 17 episodes |
2013 | 2 Broke Girls | Delores | Episode: "And the Temporary Distraction" |
2013 | The First Family | Helen | Episode: "The First Driver" |
2013 | The Cleveland Show | Episode: "Of Lice and Men" | |
2013 | Save Me | Stephanie | Episode: "Heavenly Hostess" |
2013 | Mad | Various voices | Episode: "Alfred's Game/We Are X-Men" |
2013 | Doom Patrol | Madame Rouge | Voice role; episode: "Chapter Ten: The Spy Within the Doom Patrol" |
2013–14 | DC Super-Pets! | Various voices | 3 episodes |
2014 | Regular Show | Council Woman / Thunder Girl 1 / Blonde Girl | Voice role; episode: "Dodge This" |
2014–16 | All Hail King Julien | Masikura, Mary-Ann, Tammy | Voice role; 21 episodes |
2016 | Dead 7 | Apocolypta | Television film |
2016 | Z Nation | Linda | Episode: "Doc's Angels" |
2017 | Superior Donuts | Lyric | Episode: "Flour Power" |
2018 | ' | New Bryan | Television movie |
2019 | The Jellies | Voice actor, 2 episodes | |
2019 | ' | Ramaraffe, Ketchup, Muffins | Voice actor, 1 episode |
2019 | Cannon Busters | Lady Day | English dub |
2020 | Just Roll with It | Nana Blatt | Episode: "Grandma & Grandpa Sittin' in a Tree" |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2012–13 | Lips | X-girlfriend | 2 episodes |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2004 | Everybody's Golf 4 | Various Voices | Voice |
2006 | ' | Ellie | Voice |
2006 | ' | Storm | Voice |
2007 | Halo 3 | Marines | Voice |
2008 | ' | Booster Mbube | Voice |
2008 | ' | Crying Wolf | Voice |
2008 | Fracture | Voice | |
2009 | ' | Marine #4 | Voice |
2010 | ' | Security Guard | Voice |
2010 | ' | Additional Voices | Voice |
2010 | ' | Kate / Sweeite / Yvette / Boomer Teacher / Jackal Gang Member / Mercenary / New Vegas Citizen / Novac Settler / Prospector / The Tops Cashier / Traveling Merchant / Vault 34 Dweller / Vikki and Vance Dealer / Viper Gunslinger / Viper Leader / White Gloves Society Member | Voice |
2011 | Infamous 2 | Female Pedestrians / The Storyteller | Voice |
2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | The Local Population | Voice |
2014 | Elder Scrolls Online | Additional Voices | Voice |
2014 | WildStar | Dreadphage Ohmna / Selene / Granok Female | Voice |
2014 | ' | Additional Voices | Voice |
2014 | ' | Monster Vocal Effects | Voice |
2016 | Mirror's Edge Catalyst | Rebecca Thane | Voice |
2016 | Gears of War 4 | Ashpo Point Gear | Voice |
2016 | Tyranny | Kills-In-Shadow | Voice |
2016 | Far Cry Primal | Batari | Voice |
2016 | Final Fantasy XV | Additional voices | Voice |
2017–18 | ' | Amanda Waller | Voice |
2017 | ' | Grace Walker | Voice and Motion Capture |
2018 | God of War | Additional Voices | Voice |
2018 | Just Cause 4 | Izzy, People of Solis | Voice |
2018 | Guild Wars 2 | Ambassador Sianna | Voice |
2018-19 | ' | Dorian | Voice |
2019 | Days Gone | Addison 'Addy' Walker | Voice and Motion Capture |
2019 | ' | Grace Walker | Voice and Motion Capture |
2019 | Indivisible | Snake Queen | Voice |
2019 | ' | General Lyons | Voice and Motion Capture |
2019 | The Outer Worlds | Sophia Akande | Voice |
2019 | Cere Junda | Voice and Motion Capture | |
2019 | Guild Wars 2 | Varinia Stormsounder, Jormag | Voice |
2020 | Gears Tactics | Mikayla Dorn | Voice |