{{short description|American comedian}} {{Infobox person | name = Yvette Wilson | image = Yvette Wilson.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Yvette Reneé Wilson | birth_date = March 6, 1964 | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2012|6|14|1964|3|6}} | education = San Jose State University | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Jerome Harry|2001}}<ref>[http://wafflesatnoon.com/moesha-star-yvette-wilson-dies-at-age-48/ "Moesha" star Yvette Wilson dies at age 72]</ref> | yearsactive = 1990–2012 | children = 2 | occupation = Comedian, actress | known_for = Lynette Armstrong-Russell on ''Thea''<br> Andell Wilkerson on ''Moesha'' & ''The Parkers'' }}
'''Yvette Reneé Wilson''' (March 6, 1964 – June 14, 2012) was an American comedian and actress. She was known for her role as Andell Wilkerson, the owner of the local restaurant and hangout on the UPN sitcoms ''Moesha'' (1996–2001); and restaurant owner and Nikki's (played by Mo'Nique) best friend on its spinoff ''The Parkers'' (1999–2004). She had appeared in many comedy films such as ''House Party 3'', ''''Friday'''', and on Russell Simmons' ''Def Comedy Jam''. She was also known for her role as Rita in the 1995 F. Gary Gray film ''Friday''. Wilson died from cervical cancer at the age of 48.
==Early life== Before she started her career in the entertainment business, Wilson attended San Jose State University and majored in communications. In 1991 she was a contestant on the game show Supermarket Sweep.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
Wilson first entered comedy when she lost a bet and had to perform as a stand-up comedian at a friend's club. She decided to make a living off comedy and never turned back.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
==Career== Her big break came with ''Thea'', a short-lived sitcom from 1993 to 1994. ''Thea'' was cancelled after 19 episodes but the show helped her get a role in ''House Party 3''. In addition, Wilson also had a minor role in the 1995 comedy movie ''Friday'' as Smokey's blind date and appeared in films such as ''Poetic Justice'', starring Janet Jackson, and the film parody ''Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood''.
In 1995, she got the most important role of her career: Andell Wilkerson, a supporting character on the sitcom ''Moesha'', which starred one of her castmates from ''Thea'', R&B singer Brandy Norwood. Wilson's Andell character was the owner of The Den, a local teen hot spot on the show. In 2000, she left ''Moesha'' for its spin-off ''The Parkers'', where she also played Andell Wilkerson, who was the best friend of Mo'Nique's character Nikki Parker. After ''The Parkers'' ended, she went on to appear in shows like HBO's ''Def Comedy Jam'' and Fox Network shows. Wilson final acting role was in 2005's ''Ganked''. She started her own company by the name Tigobitties Inc.
== Personal life and death== Wilson had two daughters and two grandchildren.<ref name="Memorial">[https://themississippilink.com/news/yvette-wilsons-memorial-a-party-not-a-funeral/ Yvette Wilson’s memorial: a party, not a funeral], The Mississippi Link.</ref> She was married to record producer Jerome Harry from 2001 until her death in 2012. Wilson suffered from kidney disease, having survived a kidney transplant and regular dialysis, but eventually died from cervical cancer, which metastasized throughout her entire body. A friend, Jeffrey Pittle, created a website for people to donate money to help with her medical bills and help with transportation costs.
Wilson died on June 14, 2012, aged 48.<ref>[http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/06/reports-yvette-wilson-of-moesha-dead-at-48/1 Notice of death in ''USA Today'']</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/yvette-wilson-moesha-actress-dies-at-48-report-says/2012/06/15/gJQAdWVreV_blog.html Notice of death in ''Washington Post'']</ref><ref>[http://newsone.com/2021013/yvette-wilson-dead/ Notice of death at Newsone]</ref> She was cremated, with no funeral services held.<ref name="Memorial"/>
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1993 | ''Poetic Justice'' | Colette | |- |rowspan=2| 1994 | ''House Party 3'' | Esther | |- | ''Blankman'' | Fat Girl | |- | 1995 | ''Friday'' | Rita | |- | 1996 | ''Don't Be a Menace'' | Nurse | |- | 2005 | ''Ganked'' | Physics Tutor | Video |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1991 | ''Showtime at the Apollo'' | Herself | Episode: "Episode #5.7" |- | 1992 | ''Def Comedy Jam'' | Herself | Episode: "Episode #1.1" |- | 1992-93 | ''In Living Color'' | Herself | Episode: "Trail Mix-a-Lot" & "Undigable Hosts" |- | 1993-94 | ''Thea'' | Lynette Armstrong-Russell | Main Cast |- | 1996 | ''Jungle Cubs'' | Katen (voice) | Episode: "Treasure of the Middle Jungle" |- | 1996-2000 | ''Moesha'' | Andell Wilkerson | Main Cast: Seasons 1-5 |- | 1997 | ''The Jamie Foxx Show'' | Mary Jane | Episode: "Break Yourself, Fool" |- | 1999-2004 | ''The Parkers'' | Andell Wilkerson | Main Cast |- | 2003 | ''Intimate Portrait'' | Herself | Episode: "Mo'Nique" |- | 2010 | ''Life After'' | Herself | Episode: "Shar Jackson" |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|934310|Yvette Wilson}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Yvette}} Category:1964 births Category:2012 deaths Category:20th-century African-American actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Los Angeles Category:African-American women comedians Category:African-American comedians Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Deaths from cervical cancer in California Category:San Jose State University alumni Category:American women comedians Category:Place of death missing Category:Comedians from Los Angeles Category:20th-century American comedians Category:21st-century American comedians