Yvette Wilson
Encyclopedia
Yvette Wilson in Los Angeles, California
is an American
comedian
and actress. She is best known for her role as Andell Wilkerson
on the UPN
sitcom Moesha
and its spinoff The Parkers
. She has appeared on many comedy films such as House Party 2
, House Party 3
, Friday
, and on Russell Simmons
' Def Comedy Jam
.
and majored in communication
s. Wilson first entered comedy
when she lost a bet and had to perform as a stand-up comedian at a friend's club. She decided to make a living of off comedy and never turned back.
, a short-lived sitcom in 1993. Thea was cancelled after 19 episodes. This experience helped her get a role in House Party 3
. She also had a minor role in the 1995 comedy movie Friday as Smokey's blind date. She has also appeared in films such as Poetic Justice, starring Janet Jackson
, and the film parody Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
.
In 1996, she took on her most important role to date, Andell Wilkerson
, a supporting character on the sitcom Moesha
, which starred one of castmates from Thea, R&B singer Brandy Norwood
. Wilson's Andell character was the owner of The Den, a local teen hot spot on the show. In 2000, she left Moesha for its spin-off The Parkers
, where she would portray the best friend of Mo'Nique's character Nikki Parker.
After the cancellation of The Parkers, she went on to appear in shows like HBO's Def Comedy Jam
and Fox Network shows.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actress. She is best known for her role as Andell Wilkerson
Andell Wilkerson
Andell Wilkerson is a fictional character that first appeared on UPN television show Moesha then its spin-off show, The Parkers.- Character information :...
on the UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
sitcom Moesha
Moesha
Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.-Overview:The show...
and its spinoff The Parkers
The Parkers
The Parkers is an American sitcom . A spin-off of UPN's Moesha, The Parkers featured the mother-daughter team of Nikki and Kim Parker . The Parkers' signature "Heeyyy" greeting made its way into popular vernacular in the early 2000s.-Premise:The series centered around a mother and daughter who...
. She has appeared on many comedy films such as House Party 2
House Party 2
House Party 2, the sequel to the 1990 film House Party, was released in 1991 by New Line Cinema. The sequel returns most of the cast of the first movie along with new cast members such as Queen Latifah and Iman. The second installment includes more guest appearances from other famous entertainers...
, House Party 3
House Party 3
House Party 3 is a 1994 comedy film, starring Kid 'n Play and Bernie Mac. It is the third and intended final installment of the House Party film series, and the last film in the series to feature Kid 'n Play. This was to be the last film in the franchise, making it a trilogy but 7 years later, a...
, Friday
Friday (film)
Friday is a 1995 stoner comedy-drama-buddy film directed by F. Gary Gray. Starring Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long, Bernie Mac, Tommy Lister, Jr...
, and on Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
' Def Comedy Jam
Def Comedy Jam
Def Comedy Jam is a HBO television series produced by Russell Simmons. The series had its original run from July 1, 1992 to January 1, 1997. The show returned on HBO's fall lineup in 2006. Def Comedy Jam helped to launch the careers of several African-American stand-up comedians...
.
Early life
Before she started her career in the entertainment business, Wilson attended San Jose State UniversitySan José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
and majored in communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
s. Wilson first entered comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
when she lost a bet and had to perform as a stand-up comedian at a friend's club. She decided to make a living of off comedy and never turned back.
Career in Comedy
Her big break came with TheaThea (TV series)
Thea is an American sitcom that premiered September 3, 1993 on ABC, and last aired on February 14, 1994, for a total of 19 episodes. Starring comedienne Thea Vidale, the series marked the first time an African American female comedienne was the star of a series named after her.-Synopsis:Thea Vidale...
, a short-lived sitcom in 1993. Thea was cancelled after 19 episodes. This experience helped her get a role in House Party 3
House Party 3
House Party 3 is a 1994 comedy film, starring Kid 'n Play and Bernie Mac. It is the third and intended final installment of the House Party film series, and the last film in the series to feature Kid 'n Play. This was to be the last film in the franchise, making it a trilogy but 7 years later, a...
. She also had a minor role in the 1995 comedy movie Friday as Smokey's blind date. She has also appeared in films such as Poetic Justice, starring Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, and the film parody Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood is a 1996 parody film by Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Similarly to I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, the film spoofs a number of black, coming-of-age, 'hood films' such as Juice, Jungle Fever, South Central, Higher Learning, Do the Right...
.
In 1996, she took on her most important role to date, Andell Wilkerson
Andell Wilkerson
Andell Wilkerson is a fictional character that first appeared on UPN television show Moesha then its spin-off show, The Parkers.- Character information :...
, a supporting character on the sitcom Moesha
Moesha
Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.-Overview:The show...
, which starred one of castmates from Thea, R&B singer Brandy Norwood
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
. Wilson's Andell character was the owner of The Den, a local teen hot spot on the show. In 2000, she left Moesha for its spin-off The Parkers
The Parkers
The Parkers is an American sitcom . A spin-off of UPN's Moesha, The Parkers featured the mother-daughter team of Nikki and Kim Parker . The Parkers' signature "Heeyyy" greeting made its way into popular vernacular in the early 2000s.-Premise:The series centered around a mother and daughter who...
, where she would portray the best friend of Mo'Nique's character Nikki Parker.
After the cancellation of The Parkers, she went on to appear in shows like HBO's Def Comedy Jam
Def Comedy Jam
Def Comedy Jam is a HBO television series produced by Russell Simmons. The series had its original run from July 1, 1992 to January 1, 1997. The show returned on HBO's fall lineup in 2006. Def Comedy Jam helped to launch the careers of several African-American stand-up comedians...
and Fox Network shows.