Chandra Wilson
Chandra Wilson | |
---|---|
Born | Chandra Danette Wilson August 27, 1969[1][2][3] |
Alma mater | New York University |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1989–present |
Children | 3 |
Chandra Danette Wilson (born August 27, 1969) is an American actress and director. She is best known for her role as
Early life
Wilson was born and raised in
By the age of five, Wilson was performing in musicals with Houston's Theatre Under the Stars Company.
While she was making a name for herself on the New York stage, Wilson also began to land guest spots on a variety of prime-time television shows. She appeared on The Cosby Show (1989), Law & Order (1992) and CBS Schoolbreak Special (1992). She made her big-screen debut alongside Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington in the highly acclaimed 1993 film Philadelphia. Despite receiving high praise for nearly all of her performances, however, Wilson struggled for many years to gain more prominent roles. For eight years, while she tried to break into major stardom, Wilson worked part-time as a teller at Deutsche Bank in order to make ends meet.
In 2005, Wilson landed her breakthrough role as Dr. Miranda Bailey on the hit ABC show Grey's Anatomy.
Career
Wilson's first regular network TV role was in the short-lived series
Wilson also had career in theater, where she played Bonna Willis in The Good Times Are Killing Me,[9] and was featured in the Tony-nominated musical Caroline, or Change. Wilson is an accomplished singer and has sung in several productions, including On the Town (1998), Avenue Q (2003) and Caroline, or Change (2004).[6]
Wilson worked as a temp at
Wilson made her television directing debut with the episode "Give Peace a Chance", the 7th episode in
Wilson explained the only difference between her acting career now and her acting career a decade ago is that people actually recognize her on the street. "The only difference in my career now is the visibility I have," she insisted. "People say I made it now, but I feel like I made it doing summer stock." She is also clear-headed about the fragility of her new-found fame and fortune. Upon finally leaving her job at Deutsche Bank to focus solely on her role in Grey's Anatomy, Wilson was careful not to burn any bridges. She said, "They told me I could come back if acting doesn't work out. I told them, 'Keep my seat warm.'"
In 2014, Wilson made a
Personal life
In Parade May 2007 edition, Wilson described herself as "I'm in a relationship, but I'm not married." She has been with her partner for 31 years as of 2019.[15] Wilson and her partner have 3 children; their daughter Sarina was born in 1992, daughter Joylin was born in 1998, and son Michael was born on October 31, 2005.[16]
Activism
Wilson is an activist for the cause of cyclic vomiting syndrome and serves as the spokesperson for the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association, as well as, the celebrity ambassador for CureMito![17] after her teenage daughter, Sarina, developed the disease in 2010.[18] For the ninth season of Grey's Anatomy Wilson met with the producers and pitched the idea of featuring cyclic vomiting syndrome in an upcoming episode.[19] The episode, "Second Opinion", aired on November 15, 2012, and was directed by Wilson.[20][21]
She also is an advocate for people with mental and/or substance use disorders. In 2015, she hosted the 10th Annual Voice Awards event for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.[21]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Peer Pressure, Drugs and... You | ||
1993 | Mad Dog and Glory | ||
Philadelphia | Chandra | ||
1996 | Lone Star | Athena | |
2003 | Head of State | Jaime | Uncredited |
2005 | I Love the 80's 3-D | Herself | |
2008 | A Single Woman | Coretta Scott King | |
2010 | Frankie and Alice
|
Maxine | |
2018 | Christmas Harmony | Karen |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | The Cosby Show | Dina | Episode: "The Lost Weekend" |
1991 | Sesame Street | Teenage Student | Episode: "Telly Monster follows Gordon to school for a "Wide World of Sesame Street" report" |
1992 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Gloria | Episode: "Sexual Considerations" |
Law & Order | Serena Price | Episode: "Cradle to Grave" | |
2000 | Cosby | Unknown | Episode: "It's a Wonderful Wife" |
2001 | Third Watch | Volunteer | Episode: "Man Enough" |
100 Centre Street | Unknown | Episode: "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" | |
Bob Patterson | Claudia | Unknown episodes | |
2002 | Sex and the City | Police Officer | Episode: "Anchors Away" |
2002, 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Nurse Jenkins | Episode: "Waste" |
Rachel Sorannis | Episode: "911" | ||
2003 | Queens Supreme | Dolores | Episode: "The House Next Door" |
2004 | The Sopranos | Evelyn Greenwood | Episode: "Cold Cuts" |
2005–present | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Miranda Bailey | Main cast (season 1–present) 410 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2007–08) People's Choice Award for Favorite Scene Stealing Star Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated—BET Award for Best Actress on Television (2007–08) Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress – Drama Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2010–14) Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2006–09) Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2007–08) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2006, 2008) |
2008 | Sesame Street | Herself | Episode: "Number 6 Games" |
Accidental Friendship | Yvonne | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
| |
2009 | Private Practice | Dr. Miranda Bailey | 2 episodes |
2014 | General Hospital | Tina Estrada[12][13] | 1 episode |
2018 | Dr. Linda Massey[13] | 1 episode | |
2019 | Sydney Val Jean | 1 episode | |
2018–present | Station 19 | Dr. Miranda Bailey | Recurring; 24 episodes |
2021 | Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
|
Herself | Episode: "Leslie Jones, Chandra Wilson and Tony Hawk" |
Director
Year | Title | Episode |
---|---|---|
2009–present | Grey's Anatomy |
|
2015–2017 | The Fosters
|
|
2015 | Scandal
|
|
2019-2022 | Good Trouble |
|
Stage
Year | Show | Role | Theatre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | The Good Times are Killing Me | Bonna Willis | Second Stage Theater | Original |
1998 | On the Town | Woman of Carnegie Hall, Flossie's Friend, Person of New York, Lucy Schmeeler understudy | Gershwin Theatre | Original |
2003 | Avenue Q | Gary Coleman understudy | John Golden Theatre | |
2004 | Caroline, or Change | Dotty Moffett | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | Original |
2009 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton | Ambassador Theatre |
Awards and nominations
Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Theatre World Awards
|
Performance as Bonna Willis | The Good Times are Killing Me | Won |
2006 | Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | Nominated |
Image Awards
|
Nominated | |||
2007 | BET Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Image Awards
|
Won | |||
Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Television Vision/Mini-Series | Nominated | ||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Won | ||
Outstanding Cast in a Drama Series | Won | |||
2008 | BET Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Image Awards
|
Won | |||
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Scene Stealing Star | Won | ||
Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Television Vision/Mini-Series | Nominated | ||
Best Ensemble Cast in a Series | Won | |||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Cast in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2009 | Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | Accidental Friendship | Nominated | ||
Image Awards
|
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | Won | |
Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/Television Movie | Accidental Friendship | Nominated | ||
2010 | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | "Give Peace a Chance" (Grey's Anatomy) | Won | |
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Grey's Anatomy | Nominated | ||
2011 | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2012 | Nominated | |||
2013 | Nominated | |||
2014 | Nominated | |||
2022 | Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Chandra Wilson: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "Chandra Wilson- Biography". Yahoo!. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- The Biography Channel. Archived from the originalon May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "Chandra Wilson". IMDb. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "'Grey's Anatomy' helped many actors grow into directors: Chandra Wilson - Times of India". The Times of India. October 9, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Bernardo, Melissa Rose (June 15, 2009). "Before Grey's Anatomy, Chicago star Chandra Wilson was a Broadway Baby". broadway.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ "Alexander's sitcom lacks character". USA Today. October 2, 2001.
- ^ Rosenberg, Howard (October 2, 2001). "Comic Timing Can't Save 'Bob Patterson'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Rich, Frank (April 19, 1991). "Review/Theater; A Child's Innocence Fights Bias". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- ^ MacMedan, Dan (March 1, 2006). "At TV fest, 'Grey's Anatomy' cast has as much fun as characters". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
- ^ ^ "Grey's Anatomy : Transplant Wasteland". Zap2It. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
- ^ SheKnows Media. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ a b c Rice, Lynette (August 6, 2018). "Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson returns to General Hospital". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Time Inc. Archived from the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ DeSantis, Rachel (April 25, 2019). "Grey's Anatomy's Chandra Wilson Returning for a Third Guest Spot on General Hospital". People. United States: Time Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
- ^ "In Step WithChandra Wilson | Parade.com". Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
- ^ Freydkin, Donna (September 20, 2006). "Grey's ladies". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
- ^ "Chandra Wilson". curemito.org. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
- ^ Salahi, Lara (April 11, 2011). "'Grey's Anatomy' Chandra Wilson: Real-Life Stomach Migraine Mystery". ABC News. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "Grey's Anatomy, Chandra Wilson - CVSA". cvsaonline.org. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
- ^ "Second Opinion". November 15, 2012 – via IMDb.
- ^ a b "Press Announcements | SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration". Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
External links
- Chandra Wilson at IMDb
- Chandra Wilson at the Internet Broadway Database
- Chandra Wilson at Playbill Vault