Biography
At its height, "The Flip Wilson Show" (NBC, 1970-1974) was one of TV's hottest hours, No. 2 in the Nielsen ratings its first two seasons, and enabled its star to walk away a very wealthy man after only four seasons. Debuting not long after the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert Kennedy, the show cut across racial lines, clicking with people of all backgrounds. Audiences loved the musical guests--the Jackson Five, James Brown, …
Latest Tv Credits
1 - 4 of 4
Career Milestones
1997 | Reruns of "The Flip Wilson Show" debuted on Nick at Nite and then moved to sister channel Nick at Nite's TV Land | |
1996 | Made another appearance as himself in ABC's "The Drew Carey Show" | |
1993 | Appeared as himself on Fox's "Living Single" | |
1990 | Portrayed God in "Zora Is My Name!", a PBS "American Playhouse" drama about African-American writer, oral historian and folklorist Zora Neal Hurston | |
| Starred as Charlie Richmond in the CBS sitcom "Charlie & Company" opposite Gladys Knight; Jaleel White in his pre-Urkel days played Charlie's 9-year old son | ||
1984 | Hosted NBC's short-lived "People Are Funny", an updated version of the 1950s series hosted by Art Linkletter | |
1981 | Dropped as commercial spokesman for 7-Up when he was arrested for possession of a small amount of cocaine | |
1976 | Played The Fox in CBS's musical adaptation of "Pinocchio" | |
| Hosted series of specials on NBC | ||
1974 | Feature debut as Reverend in "Uptown Saturday Night" | |
1973 | Served as executive producer of NBC's "The Helen Reddy Show" | |
| Carved a niche for himself in comedic television history as the host of "The Flip Wilson Show" | ||
1969 | Rocketed to national attention with a smash hit television comedy/variety special on NBC in September | |
| During the 1960s became a popular guest on several top shows, most notably NBC's "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" | ||
| Series of one-nighters eventually led to New York's Apollo and prime engagements in Miami Beach and Las Vegas | ||
| While working as a bell-hop at a San Francisco hotel, convinced manager to let him play a drunk during the wardrobe changes of the hotel's main act | ||
1950 | Served in US Air Force; gained enough confidence from performances before fellow servicemen to consider show business as a career; earned nickname 'Flip' for his irreverent humor | |
1942 | Brought the house down as last minute replacement for the little girl cast as Clara Barton in Jersey City school play when he was 9 years old (date approximate) | |
| Raised in foster homes | ||
Awards
1973 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Musical Series in The Flip Wilson Show |
1973 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Variety or Music in The Flip Wilson Show |
1972 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in The Flip Wilson Show |
1972 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program - Variety or Musical in The Flip Wilson Show |
1972 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series - Musical in The Flip Wilson Show |
1972 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Variety or Music in The Flip Wilson Show |
1971 | Golden Globe Award for Actor in a Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy Series Or Television Movie in The Flip Wilson Show |
1971 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series - Musical in The Flip Wilson Show |
1971 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Variety or Music in The Flip Wilson Show |
1970 | Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording |
1970 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in The Flip Wilson Show |