ACTOR
Wanda Sykes
- Known for
- Monster-in-Law (2005), Barnyard (2006), Velma (2023), Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021)
16 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Wanda Sykes is an actor best known for Monster-in-Law, Barnyard and Velma.
All facts (16)
- #001
In September 2011, Sykes revealed that she had undergone a breast reduction earlier that year and had discovered she had a very early stage of breast cancer. Because of a family history of breast cancer, she decided to have a bilateral mastectomy (removal of both breasts).
- #002
From her college graduation in 1986 until 1992, she worked as a procurement officer at the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade in Laurel, Maryland.
- #003
She earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Hampton University.
- #004
In 2009, she made history as the first African American woman to host the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
- #005
On November 15, 2008, at a pro-gay marriage rally hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, she came out as gay. At that rally, she also publicly revealed for the first time that she had a wife, whom she had married in California on October 25, 2008.
- #006
She has two children: a daughter, Olivia Lou Sykes, and a son, Lucas Claude Sykes (born April 27, 2009), and her wife is Alex Niedbalski.
- #007
She ranked 70th on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time and was the only Black woman to make the list.
- #008
She grew up in a military family.
- #009
Her stand-up career began at the Super Talent Show in Washington, DC, where she performed in front of a live audience for the first time.
- #010
She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
- #011
She grew up in the Maryland-Washington, DC area.
- #012
After performing at various local clubs in Washington, DC to start her stand-up career, she moved to New York in 1992.
- #013
She is friends with Steve Harvey.
- #014
She is afraid of the Met Gala.
- #015
She is the daughter of Marion Louise Peoples and Harry Ellsworth Sykes.
- #016
She is the aunt of Racine Sykes, Derek Sykes and Alex Sykes.
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