Wanda Sykes Biography

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.

This summer she returns to Comedy Central for her new reality show in which she tries to tackle various non-showbiz jobs. Wanda will try such professions as cable repair, valet attendant and performing-minor surgery. She will also serve as executive producer of the untitled show. Her first book called Yeah I Said It published by Simon and Schuster, will hit bookstores by Fall 2004.

Wanda has recently signed onto the upcoming film ?Monster-In-Law? also starring Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda.

Wanda was recently seen on Fox's "Wanda at Large" which she wrote, produced and starred in. She also had a one hour Comedy Central special called "Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied". In addition, she can currently be heard on Comedy Central's "Crank Yankers?. She also adds her comedic touch to HBO's "Inside the NFL" as a field correspondent.

Wanda was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Maryland.

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 has since been seen in the biggest comedy clubs in the country.

She spent 5 years as part of the HBO's critically acclaimed " Chris Rock Show." As a performer and writer on the show, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy's 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?. This year, Wanda earned a Comedy Central Commie Award for "Funniest TV Actress." Other writing credits include: the "MTV 1999 Music Video Awards", "The MTV Movie Awards" the "74th Annual Academy Awards," "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show," and "Wanda at Large."
Other television appearances include ?"The Drew Carey Show," "Curb Your Enthusiam" and "The Downer Channel." She also appeared in the feature films: "Pootie Tang", "Nutty Professor 2; The Klumps", and "Down to Earth".