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United States Wanda Sykes has established herself as a prominent figure in comedy and acting, known for her sharp wit and versatile performances across television and film.
Wanda Sykes signed with ICM Partners to manage her career in all areas except personal appearances and comedy touring.
Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz co-founded Push It Productions in 2013, a production company focused on creating quality, comedy-based programming. They signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. TV.
Wanda Sykes's company, Push It Productions (co-founded with Page Hurwitz), signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. TV for content development.
Wanda Sykes has engaged with Netflix for comedy specials, though she previously rejected a deal over financial terms. She also stars in the Netflix original series 'The Upshaws.' Netflix has also partnered with comedians Wanda Sykes, Fortune Feimster, and Aparna Nancherla in integrated campaigns such as with Ben & Jerry's.
Wanda Sykes hosted the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Corporate partners for the event included Delta Air Lines, Gilead, and Ketel One Family-Made Vodka.
Wanda Yvette Sykes was born on March 7, 1964, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her early life included a move to Maryland during her third grade. Her mother, Marion Louise, was a banker, and her father, Harry Ellsworth Sykes, was a U.S. Army colonel working at the Pentagon. Sykes attended Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland, and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Hampton University, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Before pursuing comedy full-time, Sykes worked for five years as a contracting specialist at the National Security Agency. She began her stand-up comedy career in 1987 at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, D.C.
Sykes moved to New York City in 1992 to further her comedy career, performing in local venues on nights and weekends. Her career gained significant momentum after opening for Chris Rock at Caroline’s Comedy Club. In 1997, she joined the writing team for “The Chris Rock Show,” a role that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special. Her television appearances expanded with recurring roles on “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (2006–2010), “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (2001–2011), and voice work in animated series like “Crank Yankers.” In film, she appeared in “Monster-in-Law” (2005) and voiced characters in animated movies such as “Over the Hedge” and “Barnyard” (both 2006).
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Sykes continued to diversify her work. She published the humorous book “Yeah, I Said It” in 2004. In 2009, she hosted “The Wanda Sykes Show” on Fox, a late-night talk show. That same year, she became the first African American woman and openly LGBT person to be the featured entertainer at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. More recently, Sykes has starred in Netflix’s “The Upshaws” (2021–present) and co-hosted the 94th Academy Awards in 2022. She has received multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, including for her roles in “Black-ish” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and won an American Comedy Award in 2001 for “Funniest Female Stand-Up Comic.”
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