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Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes 2010 GLAAD Media Awards.jpg
Sykes at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards
Born
Wanda Yvette Sykes

(1964-03-07) March 7, 1964 (age 61)
Education Hampton University (BS)
Occupation
  • Comedian
  • actress
Years active 1987–present
Spouse(s)
Dave Hall
(m. 1991; div. 1998)
Alex Niedbalski
(m. 2008)
Children 2
Comedy career
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • television
  • film
Genres
Subject(s)

Wanda Yvette Sykes (born March 7, 1964) is a famous American comedian, actress, and writer. She first became well-known for her writing on The Chris Rock Show. For this work, she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999.

In 2004, Entertainment Weekly magazine called Wanda Sykes one of the 25 funniest people in America. She is also famous for her roles on TV shows like CBS' The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006–10) and HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2001–2011). She was nominated for Emmy Awards for her roles in ABC's Black-ish (2015–2022) and Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2020). Today, she stars in the Netflix series The Upshaws (2021–) and has appeared in other shows like The Other Two (2019–2023) and The Good Fight (2021).

Besides her TV work, Wanda Sykes has also been in many movies. These include Monster-in-Law (2005), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), and Evan Almighty (2007). She has also lent her voice to characters in animated films. Some of these are Over the Hedge, Barnyard, Brother Bear 2 (all in 2006), Rio (2011), and two Ice Age movies (2012–2016).

Wanda Sykes's Early Life and Family

Wanda Sykes was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her family moved to Maryland when she was in third grade. Her mother, Marion Louise, worked as a banker. Her father, Harry Ellsworth Sykes, was a U.S. Army colonel who worked at the Pentagon. Wanda also has an older brother named Harry.

Wanda Sykes's family history was explored on a TV show called Finding Your Roots. Her family line was traced back to the 1600s. This showed a unique history of a Black family that was free for many generations.

Wanda went to Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland. She then graduated from Hampton University with a degree in marketing. She was also part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. After college, her first job was at the National Security Agency (NSA). She worked there for five years.

Wanda Sykes's Career Journey

Starting in Comedy: The 1990s

After working at the NSA, Wanda Sykes started her stand-up comedy career. Her first time performing in front of a live audience was in 1987. This was at a talent show in Washington, D.C.

She kept performing at local places while working at the NSA. In 1992, she moved to New York City. One of her first TV appearances was on Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam. She performed alongside other famous comedians. Her big break came when she opened for Chris Rock at a comedy club.

In 1997, she joined the writing team for The Chris Rock Show. She also appeared on the show many times. The writing team was nominated for four Emmys. In 1999, they won an Emmy for their writing on the show.

Ms. magazine Cover - Summer 2004
Sykes on the cover of Ms. magazine in 2004

After that, she appeared in movies like Pootie Tang and TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2003, she starred in her own TV show called Wanda at Large. That same year, she had a special on Comedy Central called Tongue Untied. Comedy Central also ranked her as one of the top 100 stand-up comedians. She worked as a reporter for HBO's Inside the NFL. She also hosted Comedy Central's Premium Blend. She voiced a character named Gladys on the puppet show Crank Yankers.

Comedy and TV Success: The 2000s

Wanda Sykes wrote a book called Yeah, I Said It in 2004. It was full of her funny thoughts on different topics. In 2006, she got a role as Barb on the TV show The New Adventures of Old Christine. She became a main character on the show in 2008. She also voiced characters in animated movies like Over the Hedge and Barnyard.

Her first HBO comedy special, Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired, came out in 2006. It was nominated for an Emmy Award. In 2008, she performed on Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour. This tour supported LGBT rights.

In 2009, Wanda Sykes became the host of her own late-night talk show on Fox. It was called The Wanda Sykes Show. In May 2009, she was the main entertainer at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. She was the first African American woman and the first openly LGBT person to have this role. Her second comedy special, Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me, premiered on HBO in October 2009.

Continued Work: The 2010s and Beyond

In 2010, Wanda Sykes played Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie on stage. In 2012, she voiced the character Granny in the movie Ice Age: Continental Drift. She returned to this role in Ice Age: Collision Course in 2016.

In 2013, Sykes appeared in the political comedy series Alpha House on Amazon. She played Rosalyn DuPeche, a Democratic Senator. In 2018, Sykes became the head writer for the TV show Roseanne. However, she later left the show.

In 2021, Sykes began starring in the Netflix sitcom The Upshaws. She also co-hosted the 94th Academy Awards in March 2022. During this event, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. Sykes later spoke about how she felt about the incident. In January 2023, Sykes was a guest host for The Daily Show.

Wanda Sykes's Personal Life

Wanda Sykes
Sykes in September 2004

Wanda Sykes was married to record producer Dave Hall from 1991 to 1998. In November 2008, she publicly shared that she is a lesbian. She did this at a rally in Las Vegas for same-sex marriage. A month before, Sykes married her wife, Alex Niedbalski, who is French. They met in 2006. In April 2009, they became parents to twins.

Wanda told her parents about her identity in 2004 when she was 40. Her parents, Marion and Harry, found it hard to accept at first. They did not attend her wedding with Alex. However, they have since become close again.

In 2011, Wanda Sykes shared that she had been diagnosed with a very early form of breast cancer. She chose to have surgery to lower her chances of getting breast cancer in the future. Sykes lives in Media, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Grove, New York.

Wanda Sykes's Activism

Wanda Sykes was very upset when California voters passed a law called Proposition 8. This law banned same-sex marriage. She said she could not just stand by and watch. She has continued to be active in supporting same-sex marriage. She hosts events and helps raise money for the cause. She has also worked with PETA to promote laws against chaining dogs.

She has also supported the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit. This organization helps young people who are experiencing homelessness, especially those who are LGBTQ+.

Sykes often uses Twitter to share her thoughts on politics and social issues. She encourages her followers to support important laws and causes.

Wanda Sykes's Film Appearances

List of film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Tomorrow Night Wanda (Mel's Date) credited as Wanda Sykes-Hall
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 Voice; Direct-to-video
Over the Hedge Stella Voice
Clerks II Angry Customer
My Super Ex-Girlfriend Carla Dunkirk
Barnyard Bessy Voice
Brother Bear 2 Innoko Voice; Direct-to-video
CondomNation Linda
2007 Evan Almighty Rita Daniels
License to Wed Nurse Borman
2011 Rio Chloe the Canada goose Voice
The Muppets Officer Ethel Cameo, deleted scene
2012 Ice Age: Continental Drift Granny Voice
2013 The Hot Flashes Florine Clarkston
2016 Ice Age: Collision Course Granny Voice
Bad Moms Dr. Karl
2017 Snatched Ruth
A Bad Moms Christmas Dr. Karl
2018 Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate Prison Matron
2019 UglyDolls Wage Voice
The Wedding Year Janet / Grandma
Jexi Denice
2020 Friendsgiving Fairy Gay Mother
2021 Breaking News in Yuba County Rita
The One and Only Dick Gregory Herself Documentary

Wanda Sykes's Television Appearances

List of television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1997–2000 The Chris Rock Show Various Characters 7 episodes
1999 Best of the Chris Rock Show TV special
2001 The Downer Channel Various 2 episodes
The Drew Carey Show Christine Watson 3 episodes
2001–2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Herself 9 episodes
2002–2005;
2019–2022
Crank Yankers Wanda / Gladys Murphy Voice, 19 episodes
2003 MTV: Reloaded The Oracle TV film
Wanda at Large Wanda Mildred Hawkins 19 episodes
Chappelle's Show Herself Episode: "The Best of Chappelle's Show: Volume 2 Mixtape"
Mad TV Season 9 episode 903
2004 Wanda Does It Herself 6 episodes
2006 Will & Grace Cricket Walker Episode: "Buy, Buy Baby"
2006 Sick and Tired Herself HBO comedy special
2006–2010 The New Adventures of Old Christine Barbara "Barb" Baran 54 episodes
(Recurring Seasons 1–2, Starring Seasons 3–5)
2007–2011 Back at the Barnyard Bessy Voice, 50 episodes
2009 Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me Herself HBO comedy special
White House Correspondents' Dinner Herself (host) TV special
2009–2010 The Wanda Sykes Show Herself 21 episodes; also creator, writer, executive producer
2011 Drop Dead Diva Judge Episode: "Prom"
2012 Bubble Guppies The Witch Voice, episode: "Bubble Puppy's Fin-tastic Fairy Tale!"
Futurama Bev the vending machine Voice, episode: "The Bots and the Bees"
2013 The Simpsons School Therapist / Counselor Voice, episode: "What Animated Women Want"
Real Husbands of Hollywood Wanda Sykes 2 episodes
2013–2014 Alpha House Senator Rosalyn DuPeche Recurring role
2014, 2019 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Herself 2 episodes
2015 Repeat After Me Herself 1 episode
2015, 2017 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Shirley B. Awesome Voice, 2 episodes
2015–2020 Black-ish Daphne Lido 16 episodes
2016 Bob's Burgers Sofa Queen Voice, episode: "Sacred Couch"
Animals Chance Voice, 2 episodes
What Happened... Ms. Sykes? Herself Epix comedy special
2017 Lip Sync Battle Episode: "Don Cheadle vs. Wanda Sykes"
Doc McStuffins Thea Voice, episode: "The Emergency Plan"
2017–2021 Vampirina Gregoria the Gargoyle Voice, main role
2017–2019 Broad City Dara Recurring role
2018 Ask the StoryBots Doctor Episode: "How Do People Catch a Cold?"
BoJack Horseman Mary-Beth Voice, episode: "INT. SUB"
2019 The Bravest Knight Mona the Mayor Voice, episode: "Cedric & the Pixies"
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? Herself Voice, episode: "Peebles' Pet Shop of Terrible Terrors!"
Live in Front of a Studio Audience Louise Jefferson Episode: "Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons"
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal Herself Netflix comedy special
Summer Camp Island Ethel Episode: "The Great Elf Invention Convention"
Big Mouth Ghost of Harriet Tubman Voice, episode: "Duke"
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Moms Mabley Episode: "A Jewish Girl Walks Into the Apollo..."
RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Episode: "Bring Back My Queens!"
2019–2023 The Other Two Shuli Kucerac Recurring role
2019–2020 Harley Quinn Tsaritsa / Queen of Fables Voice, 3 episodes
2020 Mapleworth Murders Leigh Drain Episode: "Killer Voices – Part 2"
2020–2021 Tig n' Seek Nuritza Voice, 15 episodes
2021 The Good Fight Allegra Durado 3 episodes
Q-Force Deb Voice, main role
2021–present The Upshaws Lucretia Turner Main role, 48 episodes; also co-creator, writer, executive producer
2022 94th Academy Awards Herself (co-host) TV special
Chivalry Jean Shrill Main role
Gutsy Herself Episode: "Gutsy Women Have the Last Laugh"
2023 Star Wars: The Bad Batch Phee Genoa Voice, 5 episodes
History of the World, Part II Various 8 episodes; also writer and executive producer
The Daily Show Herself (guest host) 4 Episodes (Week of Jan. 23)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Herself (guest) Episode: October 4
2023–2024 Velma Linda Blake Voice, 9 episodes

Wanda Sykes's Video Game Work

List of video game credits
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Frette Voice

Wanda Sykes as a Writer

List of writing credits
Year Title Role Notes
1997–1998 The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show Writer 11 episodes
1997–2000 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
2002–2003 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 6 episodes
2006 Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired Writer Stand-up
2009 Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me Writer Stand-up
2009–2010 The Wanda Sykes Show Creator, writer and executive producer 21 episodes
2016 What Happened... Ms. Sykes? Writer Stand-up
2018 Roseanne Writer Sitcom
2019 Wanda Sykes: Not Normal Writer Stand-up
2023 Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer Writer Stand-up

Wanda Sykes's Awards and Nominations

Wanda Sykes has been nominated for many awards. She has received seventeen Primetime Emmy nominations. She won one Emmy in 1999 for "Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music or Program." In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for "Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic." She also won a Comedy Central Commie Award in 2003 for "Funniest TV Actress." In 2010, she received the GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award for her work supporting the LGBTQ+ community. In 2015, she won the Activism in the Arts honor at the Triumph Awards.

List of awards and nominations received by Wanda Sykes
Year Award Category Work Result
1998 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series The Chris Rock Show Nominated
1999 Won
2000 Nominated
2001 Nominated
2007 Outstanding Variety Special Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired Nominated
2010 Outstanding Variety Special Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Nominated
2017 Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Black-ish Nominated
2018 Nominated
2019 Outstanding Variety Special Wanda Sykes: Not Normal Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Nominated
2020 Outstanding Variety Special Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: A Jewish Girl Walks Into the Apollo... Nominated
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance Crank Yankers: Bobby Brown, Wanda Sykes & Kathy Griffin Nominated
2023 Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Taped) Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Nominated
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance Crank Yankers: Wanda Sykes, JB Smoove & Adam Carolla Nominated
2021 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Fiction Program Noah's Arc: The 'Rona Chronicles Nominated
2024 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer Nominated

Wanda Sykes's Discography

List of recording credits
Year Title Label Formats
2003 Tongue Untied Comedy Central Records DVD/Download/Streaming
2007 Sick and Tired Image Entertainment DVD/Download/Streaming
2010 I'ma Be Me HBO Home Video DVD/Download/Streaming
2018 What Happened... Ms. Sykes? Sykes Entertainment Download/Streaming
2019 Not Normal Netflix Streaming

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wanda Sykes para niños

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