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IMDbPro

Wanda Sykes

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000454
Wanda Sykes
Embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry! Bullets, magic, and broadswords collide across this chaotic fantasy world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina.
Play trailer2:23
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022)
35 Videos
99+ Photos
Wanda Sykes has been called one of the funniest stand-up comics by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. Her smart-witted stand-up has sent her career in many different areas.

She was previously seen in Comedy Central's Wanda Does It (2004), where she tried various non-showbiz jobs. Her first book, "Yeah I Said It," published by Simon and Schuster, hit bookstores in September 2004, which is a hilarious collection of essays touching on life, family, and current events.

In 2003, she was seen on Fox's Wanda at Large (2003), in which she wrote, produced, and starred. She also has a one-hour Comedy Central special called Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied (2003). In addition, she can be seen on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) or heard on Comedy Central's Crank Yankers (2002) as the voice of Gladys Murphy.

Wanda was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and raised in Maryland, the daughter of Marion Louise (Peoples), a banker, and Harry Ellsworth Sykes, a US Army colonel. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University. Her stand-up career began at a Coors Light Super talent Showcase in Washington, DC, where she performed for the first time in front of a live audience.

She spent 5 years as part of the HBO's critically acclaimed The Chris Rock Show (1997). As a performer and writer on the show, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards 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 a second Emmy in 2002 for her work on Inside the NFL (1977). In 2003, Wanda earned a Comedy Central Commie Award for Funniest TV Actress. Other writing credits include the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards (1999), The MTV Movie Awards, The 74th Annual Academy Awards (2002), The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show (1997), and Wanda at Large (2003).

She also appeared in the feature films Pootie Tang (2001), Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), Down to Earth (2001), and Monster-in-Law (2005).
BornMarch 7, 1964
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMarch 7, 1964
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000454
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy

LGBTQIA+ Power Couples of Hollywood

LGBTQIA+ Power Couples of Hollywood

Talk about couple goals! We can't get enough of Hollywood's LGBTQIA+ powerhouse pairs.
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Photos

Photos182

Kim Fields, Wanda Sykes, Journey Christine, and Khali Spraggins in The Upshaws (2021)
Wanda Sykes and The Kid Mero in Say No To The Mustache (2022)
Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes (2020)
Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes (2020)
Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes (2020)
Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes (2020)
Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes (2020)
Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Camryn Manheim, and Wanda Sykes in The Hot Flashes (2013)
Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Camryn Manheim, and Wanda Sykes in The Hot Flashes (2013)
Wanda Sykes in The Hot Flashes (2013)
Wanda Sykes in Black-ish (2014)
Wanda Sykes in The Other Two (2019)

Known for

Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, and Michael Vartan in Monster-in-Law (2005)
Monster-in-Law
5.5
  • Ruby
  • 2005
John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Ray Romano, Chris Wedge, and Kunal Nayyar in Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
Ice Age: Continental Drift
6.5
  • Granny(voice)
  • 2012
Jada Pinkett Smith, Christina Applegate, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, and Annie Mumolo in Bad Moms (2016)
Bad Moms
6.2
  • Dr. Karl
  • 2016
Steve Carell in Evan Almighty (2007)
Evan Almighty
5.4
  • Rita
  • 2007

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Yellowstone
    • (voice)
  • No title
    • Pre-production
  • ¡Holy Holidays!
    • (rumored)
    • Pre-production
  • Yellowstone
    • (voice)
    • In Production
  • Mindy Kaling in Velma (2023)
    Velma
    • (voice)
  • Michelle Ang and Dee Bradley Baker in Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021)
    Star Wars: The Bad Batch
    • (voice)
  • The Upshaws (2021)
    The Upshaws
  • Chivalry (2022)
    Chivalry
  • A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019)
    A Black Lady Sketch Show
  • Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022)
    Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
    • (voice)
  • Alabama Jackson (2022)
    Alabama Jackson
    • (voice)
  • Pandemica (2021)
    Pandemica
    • (voice)
  • The Other Two (2019)
    The Other Two
  • Tig N' Seek (2020)
    Tig N' Seek
    • (voice)
  • Q-Force (2021)
    Q-Force
    • (voice)
  • Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald in The Good Fight (2017)
    The Good Fight
  • Crank Yankers (2002)
    Crank Yankers
    • (voice)
  • Isabella Crovetti in Vampirina (2017)
    Vampirina
    • (voice)
  • Ellen Barkin, Juliette Lewis, Matthew Modine, Clifton Collins Jr., Allison Janney, Mila Kunis, Regina Hall, Jimmi Simpson, Wanda Sykes, Christopher Lowell, and Awkwafina in Breaking News in Yuba County (2021)
    Breaking News in Yuba County

Producer

  • History of the World: Part II
    • In Production
  • Stand Out: The Documentary
    • Post-production
  • Throw Mama From the Game Show
    • Pre-production
  • Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy (2022)
    Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy
  • Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy? (2022)
    Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?
  • The Upshaws (2021)
    The Upshaws
    • (showrunner)
  • Visible: Out on Television (2020)
    Visible: Out on Television
  • Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty (2020)
    Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty
  • Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah (2019)
    Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah
  • Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready (2019)
    Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready
  • Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes: Not Normal (2019)
    Wanda Sykes: Not Normal
  • Rob Christensen in Unprotected Sets (2018)
    Unprotected Sets
  • John Goodman, Roseanne Barr, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, Alicia Goranson, and Laurie Metcalf in Roseanne (1988)
    Roseanne
  • Big Boy in Face Value (2017)
    Face Value
  • Talk Show the Game Show (2017)
    Talk Show the Game Show
  • Wanda Sykes: What Happened... Ms. Sykes? (2016)
    Wanda Sykes: What Happened... Ms. Sykes?
  • Last Comic Standing (2003)
    Last Comic Standing
  • Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious (2013)
    Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious

Writer

  • The Upshaws (2021)
    The Upshaws
    • (creator)
  • Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes: Not Normal (2019)
    Wanda Sykes: Not Normal
  • Wanda Sykes: What Happened... Ms. Sykes? (2016)
    Wanda Sykes: What Happened... Ms. Sykes?
  • Last Comic Standing (2003)
    Last Comic Standing
  • NewNowNext Vote with Wanda Sykes (2012)
    NewNowNext Vote with Wanda Sykes
  • The Wanda Sykes Show (2009)
    The Wanda Sykes Show
  • Wanda Sykes in Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me (2009)
    Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me
  • Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired (2006)
    Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired
  • Wanda Does It
  • Dale Godboldo, Robert Bailey Jr., Tammy Lauren, Phil Morris, Jurnee Smollett, and Wanda Sykes in Wanda at Large (2003)
    Wanda at Large
    • ...
  • Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied (2003)
    Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied
  • Premium Blend (1997)
    Premium Blend
  • The 74th Annual Academy Awards (2002)
    The 74th Annual Academy Awards
  • Best of the Chris Rock Show: Volume 2 (2001)
    Best of the Chris Rock Show: Volume 2
  • The Downer Channel (2001)
    The Downer Channel
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos36

Everything to Know About the 2022 Oscars
Clip 4:55
Everything to Know About the 2022 Oscars
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:50
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:38
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:41
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Clip 1:12
Brother Bear 2: 2 Movie Collection
Monster in Law
Clip 0:41
Monster in Law
Monster in Law
Clip 0:44
Monster in Law
Season 2 Official Trailer
Trailer 1:48
Season 2 Official Trailer
TGA 2021 Trailer
Trailer 2:23
TGA 2021 Trailer
Trailer [OV]
Trailer 2:38
Trailer [OV]
Trailer #3
Trailer 1:43
Trailer #3
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:29
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • March 7, 1964
    • Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
    • October 25, 2008 - present (2 children)
  • Other works
    Book: "Yeah, I Said It".
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 2 Interviews
    • 13 Articles
    • 2 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    In September 2011, Sykes revealed that earlier in the year, she had gone in for breast reduction surgery and discovered that she had very early-stage breast cancer. Because of a history of breast cancer in her family, she decided to have a bilateral mastectomy (both breasts removed).
  • Quotes
    [on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) after the passage of Proposition 8, which took away the right to gay marriage in California] Here in California, the one that's important to me is Prop 8. What broke my heart, you know--I'm watching the news, and there were, you know, like, a lot of the black churches got together, and they were rallying, you know, they were FOR Prop 8; I'm like, come on--it's discrimination! I mean, discrimination is discrimination. And of all people, black people should know discrimination and you're going to vote and get discrimination in the Constitution? I mean, that's . . . I know African-Americans, they get upset. They're like, "Black and gay, that's totally different things. We had it hard." And I'm like, "Yeah, I get it. I'm black. I know. I get it". You know. But there's things that gay people have to go through that black people didn't have to go through. I never had to come out black. Never had to sit my family down and tell them about my blackness. Have a little talk with my employer, let him know about my "black lifestyle". Mom, dad, I gotta tell you something. Hope you still love me. I'm black. You know, and my mother: "Not black, Lord! Anything but black, Jesus! Anything but black! What did I do, what did I do? It was Soul Train (1971), wasn't it? I shouldn't have let you watch 'Soul Train'." "No, ma, that's just me--I mean, I just feel like I was born black". "No, you weren't born black. The bible says Adam and Eve; it doesn't say Adam and Mary J. Blige".
    • Has a sassy sounding voice

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