Wanda Yvette Sykes is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. In 1999, Wanda earned a Primetime Emmy Award for writing contributions to “The Chris Rock Show.” In 2004, Entertainment Weekly ranked her among the top 25 funniest Americans. She is also recognized for her recurring roles on “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (CBS, 2006–2010) and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO, 2001–).
For her roles on ABC’s “Black-ish” (2015–2022) and Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (2020), she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Currently, she is featured in the Netflix original series “The Upshaws” (2021-), the HBO Max comedy series “The Other Two” (2019-2023), and “The Good Fight” (2021).
Facts About Wanda Sykes
| Nationality | American |
| Estimate Net Worth | $10 million |
| Religion | Christian |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Birthplace | Portsmouth, Virginia |
| Birthday | March 7, 1964 |
Wanda Sykes’ Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 158 cm |
| Weight | 55 kg |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Body Type | Average |
| Sexual Orientation | Lesbian |
Wanda Sykes’ Net Worth
As of 2023, Wanda Sykes’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million. She has accumulated this wealth through her successful comedy, acting, and writing career.
Wanda Sykes’ Personal Life
Wanda Sykes is married to her bride, Alex Niedbalski, a French woman she met in 2006. In April 2009, Niedbalski gave birth to a pair of fraternal twins. But before their relationship, from 1991 to 1998, Wanda was married to record producer Dave Hall. In November 2008, she came out as a lesbian at a Proposition 8 rally in Las Vegas supporting same-sex marriage.
Sykes only came out to her conservative mother, Marion, and father, Harry, when she was 40, who both initially had difficulty embracing her homosexuality. They chose not to attend her nuptials with Alex, resulting in a brief estrangement period; however, they have since reconciled with Sykes.
During an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on September 19, 2011, Sykes revealed that she had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma (DCIS) earlier in the year. Although DCIS is a non-invasive “stage zero breast cancer,” Sykes elected to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer. Sykes divides his time between the Philadelphia suburb of Media, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Grove, New York.
Wanda Sykes’ Early Life
Wanda Sykes was born in the Virginia town of Portsmouth on March 7, 1964. In her third grade, her family relocated to Maryland. Wanda’s mother, Marion Louise (née Peoples), was a financier, and her father, Harry Ellsworth Sykes, worked at the Pentagon as a U.S. Army colonel. An episode of the 2012 PBS genealogy program “Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates Jr.” focused on Sykes’ family history.
Her ancestry was traced to a 1683 court case in which her ancestor, Elizabeth Banks, a free white woman and indentured servant, gave birth to a biracial child, Mary Banks, who was fathered by a slave and inherited her mother’s free status. According to historian Ira Berlin, a specialist in the history of American slavery, the Sykes family history is “the only such case that I know of in which it is possible to trace a black family rooted in freedom from the late 17th century to the present.”
Sykes graduated from Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland, and Hampton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing and joined Alpha Kappa Alpha. Five years after graduating from college, her first position was as a contracting specialist at the National Security Agency.
Wanda Sykes’ Career
1990s
Wanda Sykes began her stand-up career in 1987 at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, D.C., where she performed for the first time in front of a live audience following a position with the National Security Agency (NSA). She continued to perform at local venues until 1992 when she relocated to New York City. In the early 1990s, she appeared on Russell Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam,” where she performed alongside Adele Givens, J. B. Smoove, D. L. Hughley, Bernie Mac, and Bill Bellamy.
Peter Magadini’s book, “Polyrhythms – The Musician’s Guide,” was edited by her for the Hal Leonard publishing house. She joined the writing staff of “The Chris Rock Show” in 1997 and made numerous appearances on the program. In 1999, the writing team was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special.
2000s
In September 2004, Wanda Sykes published “Yeah, I Said It,” a collection of humorous observations on various topics. In 2006, she earned a recurring role as Barb opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine;” in 2008, she was promoted to series regular. In 2006, she appeared in the Will & Grace episode “Buy, Buy Baby” as a guest star.
Moreover, she voiced characters in the 2006 films “Over the Hedge,” “Barnyard,” and “Brother Bear 2.” Following her appearance in “Evan Almighty,” she had roles in “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” and “License to Wed.” “Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired,” her first HBO comedy special, premiered on October 14, 2006, and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2007. She participated in Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors Tour” for LGBT rights in 2008.
In October 2008, Sykes appeared in a television advertisement for the “Think Before You Speak Campaign,” an ad campaign created by GLSEN to reduce the prevalence of homophobic slang in adolescent communities. In the 30-second commercial, she uses humor to reprimand an adolescent who says, “that’s so gay,” when he actually means, “that’s so bad.” In March 2009, Sykes became the host of “The Wanda Sykes” program, a Saturday-night talk program on Fox that was scheduled to premiere on November 7, 2009. She landed at number 35 on Out magazine’s “Annual Power 50 List” in April 2009.
“Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me,” her second comedy special, debuted on HBO in October 2009. Similar to Bill Maher’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “Politically Incorrect,” “The Wanda Sykes Show” debuted in November 2009, beginning with a monologue and continuing with a panel discussion.
2010s
Wanda Skyes performed the role of Miss Hannigan in a professional production of “Annie” at The Media Theatre in Media, Pennsylvania, a suburb southwest of Philadelphia. She portrayed the character from November 23 to December 12, 2010, and again from January 12 to January 23, 2011. In the Bubble Guppies episode “Bubble Puppy’s Fin-tastic Fairytale Adventure,” she provides the voice of the Witch. In 2012, Sykes portrayed Granny in “Ice Age: Continental Drift” by Blue Sky Studios. She reprised the role in 2016’s “Ice Age: Collision Course.” In May 2013, Sykes performed at the 40th anniversary Music & Comedy Festival hosted by Olivia Travel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
That same year, Sykes appeared in eight episodes of “Alpha House,” an Amazon political comedy series written by Garry Trudeau, the creator of Doonesbury. Rosalyn DuPeche, portrayed by Sykes, is an Illinois Democrat and the next-door neighbor of four Republican senators sharing a home on Capitol Hill. Season 2, which became available in October 2014, also featured Sykes. After the second season, the show was canceled.
In 2018, Sykes was promoted to chief writer for Roseanne’s revived tenth season. Due to Roseanne Barr’s history of controversial political comments, this drew attention. After Roseanne Barr’s since-deleted Twitter diatribe about Valerie Jarrett, Sykes announced via Twitter on May 29, 2018, that she would no longer be working on the series.
2020s
Wanda Sykes began starring in “The Upshaws” on Netflix in 2021. On March 27, 2022, Sykes co-hosted the 94th Academy Awards alongside Regina Hall and Amy Schumer. Will Smith’s infamous smack of Chris Rock is the most notorious aspect of the telecast. Sykes condemned Smith’s actions, stating on Ellen, “For [The Academy] to let him stay in that room and enjoy the remainder of the show and accept his award, I was like, ‘How disgusting is this?'” This is an entirely incorrect message. If you assault someone, you are immediately escorted out of the premises. I found it repugnant that they allowed him to persist.” In January 2023, Sykes guest hosted “The Daily Show” after Trevor Noah’s departure.
Wanda Sykes’ Controversy
In May of 2009, Wanda Sykes was the featured performer at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, making her the first African-American woman and the first openly LGBT individual to hold this position. In 2005, Cedric the Entertainer was the first African American to be the featured performer.
Sykes’s response to conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh’s remarks about President Barack Obama at this event sparked controversy and made headlines. Regarding Obama’s presidential agenda, Limbaugh stated, “I hope he fails.” Sykes retorted, “I pray his [Limbaugh’s] kidneys fail; how about that? What he needs is a little bit of waterboarding.”
Net Worth of Other Notable Comedians
Trevor Noah’s Net Worth
Trevor Noah, the South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and former host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, has achieved tremendous success in the entertainment industry, earning accolades such as a Primetime Emmy Award and recognition as one of the “35 Most Powerful People in New York Media” and one of the 100 most influential individuals globally by Time magazine. As of 2023, Trevor Noah’s net worth is estimated to be an impressive $100 million, reflecting both his substantial income from “The Daily Show” and his substantial earnings from comedy tours and other ventures.
Yvonne Orji’s Net Worth
Yvonne Anuli Orji, the Nigerian-American comedian and actress renowned for her role in the hit series “Insecure,” has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. Her portrayal of Molly in the series earned her accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and three NAACP Image Award nominations. Beyond her acting career, Yvonne Orji is an author, a public speaker known for her TEDx talk on abstinence, and a committed philanthropist. As of 2023, Yvonne Orji’s net worth stands at an estimated $5 million, reflecting her success and contributions to both entertainment and charitable efforts.