Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes is an Emmy Award-winning stand-up comedian, actress, writer, and producer recognized for her distinctive voice in American comedy. Before entering the entertainment industry, Sykes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Hampton University and worked as a contracting specialist at the National Security Agency. Her comedy career began after participating in a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, D.C., where she performed stand-up for the first time. She continued developing her comedic skills at local clubs before transitioning to a full-time career in New York City.

Sykes gained national attention when she began opening for Chris Rock at Caroline's Comedy Club, which led to a position on the writing team for "The Chris Rock Show." Her work on the series earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special. Sykes has received multiple Emmy nominations, including for guest-starring roles on "Black-ish" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," as well as for her stand-up specials. She has been recognized by Entertainment Weekly as one of the 25 funniest people in America and by Comedy Central among the 100 greatest stand-up comedians.

On television, Sykes has held recurring roles on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and CBS's "The New Adventures of Old Christine." She created, wrote, and starred in the Fox sitcom "Wanda at Large" and hosted "The Wanda Sykes Show." Sykes stars in the Netflix series "The Upshaws" and has appeared in the HBO Max comedy "The Other Two" and the Paramount+ series "The Good Fight." Her stand-up specials include "Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired," "I'ma Be Me," "Not Normal," and "I'm an Entertainer."

In film, Sykes has appeared in "Monster-in-Law," "Evan Almighty," and "Bad Moms," and has provided voice work for animated features such as "Over the Hedge" and the "Ice Age" franchise. She co-hosted the Academy Awards with Regina Hall and Amy Schumer and was the first African American woman and the first openly LGBTQ person to serve as the featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Sykes is a breast cancer survivor and advocate for LGBTQ rights, often speaking publicly about her experiences. She is the author of "Yeah, I Said It," a collection of essays reflecting her observational comedy and candid perspective.