Cal Wilson
{{Short description|New Zealand stand-up comedian (1970–2023)}}
{{distinguish|Callum Wilson|Carl Wilson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Cal Wilson
| image = Cal Wilson resize.jpg
| imagesize =
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| pseudonym =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1970|10|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|10|11|1970|10|5|df=y}}
| death_place = Sydney, Australia
| medium = {{hlist|Stand-up|writing|radio|television}}
| nationality =
| active = 1990–2023
| genre =
| subject =
| influences =
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| spouse = {{marriage|Chris Woods|2008|}}
| children = 1
| notable_work =
| signature =
}}
Cal Wilson (5 October 1970 – 11 October 2023) was a New Zealand stand-up comedian, author, radio and television presenter based in Australia. Wilson wrote the New Zealand sitcom Willy Nilly from 2001 until 2003.{{Cite web |last=Screen |first=NZ On |title=Cal Wilson {{!}} NZ On Screen |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/cal-wilson/screenography |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=nzonscreen.com |language=en}} She then appeared in numerous comedy and television shows, including being the host of Sleuth 101, co-host of The Great Australian Bake Off, and voiced Petal and Thorn in the children's TV series Kitty Is Not a Cat.{{Cite web|url=https://token.com.au/artist/cal-wilson/|title=Token Profile page|website=Excellence Through Guesswork|access-date=26 July 2019}} Wilson also co-hosted several radio shows.
Early life and education
Wilson was born in New Zealand on 5 October 1970.{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Kerrie |date=11 October 2023 |title=Comedian Cal Wilson dies, aged 53 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/comedy/comedian-cal-wilson-dies-aged-53-20231011-p5ebdy.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}} After high school in Christchurch, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Canterbury.{{Cite web |title=Page Title – Canterbury College – Armson Collins Architectural Drawings Collection – University of Canterbury – New Zealand |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/exhibition/canterburycollege/open_doors/roll.shtml |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=canterbury.ac.nz}}
Comedy career
Wilson co-founded the Court Jesters improv group in 1990;{{Cite web |title=Cal Wilson – Onya Soapbox |url=https://onyasoapbox.com/artists/cal-wilson/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=onyasoapbox.com}} she was part of the New Zealand team that won the World Theatresports title in Los Angeles in 1994.{{Cite web |date=9 December 2016 |title=It's Cal Wilson's Line – Arts, News, Theatre |url=https://www.nzedge.com/news/its-cal-wilsons-line/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=NZEDGE |language=en-US}}
Wilson then moved to stand-up comedy full-time and in 1997 was the inaugural winner (with Ewen Gilmour) of New Zealand's most prestigious comedy award, the Billy T.{{Cite web |title=Cal Wilson |url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/speaker/cal-wilson/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=platinumspeakers.com.au |language=en-US}} She also regularly appeared on TV3's Pulp Comedy.{{Cite web |last=Screen |first=NZ On |title=Pulp Comedy Presents Cal Wilson and Friends {{!}} Television {{!}} NZ On Screen |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/pulp-comedy-presents-cal-wilson-and-friends-2001 |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=nzonscreen.com |language=en}} From 2003, she began living in Melbourne.{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Kerrie |date=10 October 2023 |title='We are devastated' – Comedian Cal Wilson dies, aged 53 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/300986988/we-are-devastated--comedian-cal-wilson-dies-aged-53 |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
In 2001, Wilson won the "Best Newcomer" award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/about-us/awards|title=Melbourne International Comedy Festival-awards|website=Melbourne International Comedy Festival|language=en-AU|access-date=27 September 2018}} She appeared to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2004.{{Cite web |date=1 March 2021 |title=Cal Wilson – Celebrity Speakers |url=https://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/speakers/cal-wilson/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301100746/https://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/speakers/cal-wilson/ |archive-date=1 March 2021 }}
Her 2006 show, Up There, Cal Wilson, sold out at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.{{Cite web |title=Cal Wilson {{!}} Captive Audience |url=https://captiveaudience.nz/speakers/spk6241 |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=captiveaudience.nz}}{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Tim |date=21 April 2006 |title=Up There, Cal Wilson |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/up-there-cal-wilson-20060421-ge2678.html |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=The Age |language=en}}
Television
During her early career, Wilson was a writer for the New Zealand sitcom Willy Nilly from 2001 until 2003.{{Cite web |title=Willy nilly. Season one [videorecording] / director, Mike Smith ; producers Judith Trye, John Gilbert. |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23323969?search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject_text%5D=Television+comedies&search%5Bil%5D%5Bprimary_collection%5D=National+Library+of+New+Zealand+Catalogue&search%5Bpath%5D=items |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=natlib.govt.nz}} In 2007, she was part of the ensemble cast of the Australian sketch comedy TV show The Wedge.{{Cite web |last=McManus |first=Bridget |date=11 February 2010 |title=Comedian has 101 moments of sleuth |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/comedian-has-101-moments-of-sleuth-20100211-ge893x.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926205619/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/comedian-has-101-moments-of-sleuth-20100211-ge893x.html |archive-date=26 September 2018 |access-date=26 September 2018 |website=The Age |language=en}} She was also a writer for the series. In 2008, Wilson appeared in the eighth series of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars. She was paired with series 7 winner Craig Monley.{{Cite web |date=11 October 2023 |title=Bake Off Australia host Cal Wilson dies aged 53 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/cal-wilson-death-bake-off-tributes-b2427817.html |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
In 2010, Wilson became the host of the program Sleuth 101 and also took part in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate.{{Cite web |last=Lewdon |first=Courtney |date=4 May 2013 |title=The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate: 11 May |url=https://rynostv.com/the-melbourne-international-comedy-festival-great-debate-11-may/ |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=Ryno's TV |language=en}} During this time Wilson began making an appearance on the New Zealand TV comedy show 7 Days. She appeared in several episodes of the series until 2018.{{Cite web |date=11 October 2023 |title=Comedian and actor Cal Wilson dies, age 53 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/499903/comedian-and-actor-cal-wilson-dies-age-53 |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=Radio New Zealand|language=en-nz}}
Wilson appeared as a guest on the UK comedy quiz show QI in 2012{{Cite web |title=QI Series J episode guide |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/10/ |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}} and in the following year was captain of "Team Cal" on the Australian light entertainment television series Slide Show.{{Cite web |title=Cal Wilson: It Could Have Been Me – Brisbane Australia Events |url=https://www.brisbane-australia.com/events/view/cal-wilson-it-could-have-been-me |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=brisbane-australia.com}}
In 2018, Wilson voiced Petal and Thorn in the children's TV series Kitty Is Not a Cat.{{Cite web |title=Kitty Is Not a Cat series 3 (2020) – The Screen Guide – Screen Australia |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/kitty-is-not-a-cat-series-3-2020/38429/ |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=screenaustralia.gov.au |language=en}} In 2019 she recorded a Netflix Original Comedy Special titled Comedians of the World representing New Zealand. She toured a stand-up show, Gifted Underachiever, in 2019. In 2022, Wilson participated in the eighth season of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.{{cite web|title=I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here 2022: Meet The Celebrities|url=https://10play.com.au/im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here/articles/im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here-2022-meet-the-celebrities/tpa220103siamc|date=3 January 2022|website=10 Play|publisher=Network 10|access-date=3 January 2022}}{{cite web|last=Cartwright|first=Lexie|title=Full I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! cast finally revealed|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/im-a-celebrity/first-two-im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here-names-revealed/news-story/1cef9afacb29290d4d2ef4541987ce4d|date=3 January 2022|website=news.com.au|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=3 January 2022}} In August that year, it was revealed that Wilson would host the seventh season of The Great Australian Bake Off alongside Natalie Tran and new judges Darren Purchese and Rachel Khoo.{{Cite web |last=Molk |first=Steve |date=29 August 2022 |title=New judges and hosts announced for THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/08/30/new-judges-and-hosts-announced-for-the-great-australian-bake-off/ |access-date=30 August 2022 |website=TV Blackbox |language=en-AU}} The following year in mid-2023, Wilson featured in SBS's Who the Bloody Hell Are You?{{Cite web |date=12 October 2023 |title=Cal Wilson gave undercover cop the finger... but got off! |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/how-cal-wilson-hilariously-gave-undercover-cop-the-finger-and-got-off-c-12182272 |access-date=13 October 2023 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}
During her television career Wilson also made appearances on various Australian comedy shows including SkitHOUSE, Rove Live, Thank God You're Here, Good News Week, Spicks and Specks,{{Cite news |last=Casey |first=Mark |date=17 March 2009 |title=Comedy's it girl |work=NewsComAu |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/comedys-it-girl/news-story/3e8602f356536c948a04b6fc1dcc6c30 |access-date=27 September 2018}} The Project, Celebrity Name Game, Show Me the Movie!,{{cite news |title=What's on TV: Thursday, April 12 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/picks-for-television-viewing-on-thursday-april-12-20180329-h0y3wx.html |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=29 March 2018 |language=en |quote=Show Me The Movie! Ten, 7.30pm ... Joining them this week are actor Nicholas Hammond, comedian Cal Wilson, actor-comedian Merrick Watts and actress Shari Sebbens.}} Would I Lie to You? Australia, SlideShow, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.{{cite web |title=Hughesy, We Have a Problem: Apr 3 |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/04/hughesy-we-have-a-problem-apr-3.html |website=TV Tonight |access-date=14 October 2023 |language=en-AU |date=3 April 2018 |quote=Guests tonight on Hughesy, We Have a Problem are Ross Noble, Chrissie Swan, Dave O'Neil and Cal Wilson.}}
Radio
In 2007, Wilson co-hosted, with Akmal Saleh, the drive time radio show The Akmal Show with Cal Wilson (later called The Wrong Way Home with Akmal, Cal and Ed), which aired on Nova FM in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nova969.com.au/site/shows/akmal_cal.aspx |title=The Akmal Show with Cal Wilson – Nova |access-date=10 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829101601/http://www.nova969.com.au/site/shows/akmal_cal.aspx |archive-date=29 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news | last = Javes | first = Sue | title = Fourth time lucky – Radio | work = The Sydney Morning Herald| date = 6 August 2007}} Before that role, she was a regular guest on the Triple M program Get This.
In 2009, Wilson co-hosted Mornings on Nova 100 (Melbourne) with Dylan Lewis.{{Cite web |date=19 March 2023 |title=Cal Wilson {{!}} Inspire Speakers |url=https://www.inspirespeakers.com.au/speakers/show/cal-wilson/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319202135/https://www.inspirespeakers.com.au/speakers/show/cal-wilson/ |archive-date=19 March 2023 }}{{Cite news |date=27 March 2015 |title=Biggest ever Melbourne International Comedy Festival |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-27/melbourne-international-comedy-festival-comedians-perform/6349086 |access-date=11 October 2023}} She resigned from Nova 100 in November 2009.{{Cite web |title=Cal Wilson – Contact & Book – Australian Comedian |url=http://entertainmentbureau.com.au/portfolio-view/cal-wilson/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=Entertainment Bureau |language=en-US}}
Personal life and death
Wilson married Chris Woods in 2008. The couple had a son and lived in Sunshine, a suburb of Melbourne.{{Cite web |last=Guertin |first=Lachlan |date=11 October 2023 |title=Popular New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson dies aged 53 |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/popular-new-zealand-comedian-cal-wilson-dies-aged-53-000406015.html |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last= |date=11 October 2023 |title=A ray of Sunshine has her last laugh |url=https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/news/a-ray-of-sunshine-has-her-last-laugh/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=Brimbank & North West |language=en-US}}
Wilson died on 11 October 2023, at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, Sydney, from a rare and aggressive form of cancer, six days following her 53rd birthday. She had been in hospital for two weeks before her death.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-12/comedian-cal-wilson-rare-cancer-cause-of-death-tributes-continue/102967174|title=Rare cancer revealed as the cause of Cal Wilson's death as stars pay tribute to 'shining soul' of comedy|publisher=ABC News|date=12 October 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/cal-wilson-dead-at-53-comedians-cause-of-death-revealed-after-collapse-on-tv-set/Q2JX5WENORFKHKMEIBK3H7YGRI/|title=Cal Wilson's cause of death revealed: Kiwi comedian's secret battle with rare, aggressive cancer; on-set collapse|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=12 October 2023}}
Filmography
Voice roles
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://calwilsoncomedy.com.au/ Official website]
- {{IMDb name|id=0933125|name=Cal Wilson}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110616153728/http://www.australiancomedy.net/forum/comedian-profiles/749-cal-wilson-profile.html Cal's MOSH Profile]
{{Billy T Award}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Cal}}
Category:New Zealand women comedians
Category:New Zealand expatriates in Australia
Category:New Zealand stand-up comedians
Category:University of Canterbury alumni
Category:20th-century New Zealand comedians
Category:Entertainers from Christchurch