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''

Since her debut on MADtv, Wilson has done voice acting on episodes on numerous television shows, landing some recurring roles on such shows as Clone High, Family Guy, and The Mr. Potato Head Show. She voiced Captain Lisa Cusak in the ' episode "The Sound of Her Voice".
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

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992–93'VariousMain cast
1995New York UndercoverShannaEpisode: "High on the Hog"
1995–03, 2005–09, 2016Mad TVVariousMain cast ; guest star ; 196 episodes
1998'Lisa CusakEpisode: "The Sound of Her Voice"; voice role
1998Whose Line Is It Anyway?HerselfSeason 10, episode 9
1998–99The Mr. Potato Head ShowQueenieMain role; voice; 13 episodes
2000–01, 2008–11Family GuyVarious voices6 episodes
2001Gary & MikeVarious voices13 episodes
2001The Oblongs2 episodes
2002'Great Grandma FranVoice role; television film
2002–03Clone HighVarious voices3 episodes
2002–03The Proud FamilyOprah WinfreyVoice role; 2 episodes
2003The Proud FamilyBasil / TobascoVoice role; episode: "Adventures in Bebe Sitting"
2003The ParkersZorahEpisode: "Kimmie Has Two Moms"
2004–07'Divine3 episodes
2004Without a TraceDoctorEpisode: "Hawks and Handsaws"
2004I'm with HerBrendaEpisode: "Friends in Low Places"
2004That's So RavenMaishaEpisode: "Spa Day Afternoon"
2005Second Time AroundDeonneEpisode: "You're Fired"
2005–16American Dad!Whitney Houston, Mom at basketball gameVoice role; 2 episodes
2006In JusticeDetective PowellEpisode: "Confessions"
2006Celebrity Paranormal ProjectHerselfEpisode: "Cult Commune"
2007Higglytown HeroesMarine biologist heroVoice role; episode: "Little Big Fish/Good Sports"
2007'Edan DayTelevision film
2008Reno 911!Dominatrix3 episodes
2008'Deborah LeVilVoice role; 2 episodes
2008'LilianEpisode: "Automatic for the People |Automatic for the People"
200990210TeacherEpisode: "Hello, Goodbye, Amen"
2009–10GSN LiveHerselfCo-host
2012–15Black DynamiteAmazon Moon Bitch leader, Lil' Orphan Penny, Eartha K.I.T.T., various 17 episodes
20132 Broke GirlsDeloresEpisode: "And the Temporary Distraction"
2013The First FamilyHelenEpisode: "The First Driver"
2013The Cleveland ShowEpisode: "Of Lice and Men"
2013Save MeStephanieEpisode: "Heavenly Hostess"
2013MadVarious voicesEpisode: "Alfred's Game/We Are X-Men"
2013Doom PatrolMadame RougeVoice role; episode: "Chapter Ten: The Spy Within the Doom Patrol"
2013–14DC Super-Pets!Various voices3 episodes
2014Regular ShowCouncil Woman / Thunder Girl 1 / Blonde GirlVoice role; episode: "Dodge This"
2014–16All Hail King JulienMasikura, Mary-Ann, TammyVoice role; 21 episodes
2016Dead 7ApocolyptaTelevision film
2016Z NationLindaEpisode: "Doc's Angels"
2017Superior DonutsLyricEpisode: "Flour Power"
2018'New BryanTelevision movie
2019The JelliesVoice actor, 2 episodes
2019'Ramaraffe, Ketchup, MuffinsVoice actor, 1 episode
2019Cannon BustersLady DayEnglish dub
2020Just Roll with ItNana BlattEpisode: "Grandma & Grandpa Sittin' in a Tree"

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012–13LipsX-girlfriend2 episodes

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Everybody's Golf 4Various VoicesVoice
2006'EllieVoice
2006'StormVoice
2007Halo 3MarinesVoice
2008'Booster MbubeVoice
2008'Crying WolfVoice
2008FractureVoice
2009'Marine #4Voice
2010'Security GuardVoice
2010'Additional VoicesVoice
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 MemberVoice
2011Infamous 2Female Pedestrians / The StorytellerVoice
2013Grand Theft Auto VThe Local PopulationVoice
2014Elder Scrolls OnlineAdditional VoicesVoice
2014WildStarDreadphage Ohmna / Selene / Granok FemaleVoice
2014'Additional VoicesVoice
2014'Monster Vocal EffectsVoice
2016Mirror's Edge CatalystRebecca ThaneVoice
2016Gears of War 4Ashpo Point GearVoice
2016TyrannyKills-In-ShadowVoice
2016Far Cry PrimalBatariVoice
2016Final Fantasy XVAdditional voicesVoice
2017–18'Amanda WallerVoice
2017'Grace WalkerVoice and Motion Capture
2018God of WarAdditional VoicesVoice
2018Just Cause 4Izzy, People of SolisVoice
2018Guild Wars 2Ambassador SiannaVoice
2018-19'DorianVoice
2019Days GoneAddison 'Addy' WalkerVoice and Motion Capture
2019'Grace WalkerVoice and Motion Capture
2019IndivisibleSnake QueenVoice
2019'General LyonsVoice and Motion Capture
2019The Outer WorldsSophia AkandeVoice
2019Cere JundaVoice and Motion Capture
2019Guild Wars 2Varinia Stormsounder, JormagVoice
2020Gears TacticsMikayla DornVoice