Wanda Sykes biography, comedian, married, husband, divorce, net worth

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<h2>Early Life and Ancestral History</h2>
<p>Wanda Sykes was born on March 7, 1964, in Portsmouth, Virginia, and was raised in the Washington, D.C., area. Her father, Harry Ellsworth Sykes, was a U.S. Army colonel employed at the Pentagon, while her mother, Marion Louise Sykes, worked as a banker—a professional path not commonly pursued by women of her era.</p>
<p>In a 2012 episode of PBS’s <em>Finding Your Roots</em>, Sykes discovered compelling information about her ancestry. Her paternal ninth <a href="/biography/elizabeth-banks">great-grandmother</a>, <a href="/biography/elizabeth-banks">Elizabeth Banks</a>, was a free white <a href="/biography/elizabeth-banks">woman</a> who gave birth to Mary Banks, a child fathered by an enslaved man. Despite the circumstances of her birth, Mary inherited her mother’s free status, offering insight into an extraordinary family legacy.</p>

<h2>Education and Early Career</h2>
<p>Sykes attended Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Hampton University. Shortly after graduating, she began working as a contracting specialist at the National Security Agency (NSA), where she remained for nearly five years. However, seeking a more fulfilling path and no longer feeling pressured to meet her father's expectations, she decided to pursue comedy.</p>

<h2>Entry into Comedy and Rise to Prominence</h2>
<p>In 1987, Sykes made her stand-up debut at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, D.C. By 1992, she had relocated to New York City, where she initially worked with Hal Leonard Publishing as an editor for <em>Polyrhythm–The Musician’s Guide</em> by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Magadini">Peter Magadini</a>. That same year, she married <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Hall_(music_producer)">music producer</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Hall_(music_producer)">Dave Hall</a>. The marriage ended in 1998, but her professional career gained momentum afterward.</p>
<p>In 1997, Sykes joined the writing team of <em>The Chris Rock Show</em>, where she quickly earned recognition for her wit and originality. Her work on the show earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Special.</p>

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<h2>Film and Voice Acting Career</h2>
<p>Following her success in television writing, Sykes expanded her talents to film and voice work. She appeared in several films including <em>Tomorrow Night</em> (1998), <em>Nutty Professor II: The Klumps</em> (2000), <em>Down to Earth</em> (2001), <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pootie_Tang">Pootie Tang</a></em> (2001), and <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks_II">Clerks II</a></em> (2006). In 2006 alone, she featured in multiple projects including <em>Brother Bear 2</em>, <em>The Adventures of Brer Rabbit</em>, <em>Over the Hedge</em>, <em>My Super Ex-Girlfriend</em>, <em>Barnyard</em>, and <em>CondomNation</em>.</p>
<p>Sykes has also lent her distinctive voice to numerous animated films such as <em>Rio</em> (2011), <em>Ice Age: Continental Drift</em> (2012), <em>The Angry Birds Movie</em> (2016), and <em>Ice Age: Collision Course</em> (2016), strengthening her reputation as a versatile performer in family entertainment and voiceover work.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Coming Out</h2>
<p>In November 2008, Wanda Sykes publicly came out as a lesbian during a rally supporting same-sex marriage in Las Vegas. A month prior, she had married her partner, French woman Alex Niedbalski. On April 27, 2009, the couple welcomed twins, Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude. Although the news initially created tension with her conservative parents—who did not attend the wedding—they later embraced her family and the role of grandparents.</p>

<h2>Health and Advocacy</h2>
<p>On September 19, 2011, during an appearance on <em>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</em>, Sykes revealed that she had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive form of breast cancer often referred to as Stage 0. After careful consideration, she opted for a bilateral mastectomy to significantly reduce her future cancer risk. Her decision and openness about her diagnosis raised awareness and underscored her continued advocacy for health-related issues.</p>

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