Wikipedia

Cal Wilson

Not to be confused withCallum WilsonorCarl Wilson.

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 sitcomWilly Nillyfrom 2001 until 2003.[1]She then appeared in numerous comedy and television shows, including being the host ofSleuth 101and voiced Petal and Thorn in the children's TV seriesKitty Is Not a Cat.[2]Wilson also co-hosted several radio shows.

Cal Wilson
Born(1970-10-05)5 October 1970
Christchurch,New Zealand
Died11 October 2023(2023-10-11)(aged 53)
Sydney, Australia
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • writing
  • radio
  • television
Years active1990–2023
Spouse
Chris Woods
​
(m.2008)​
Children1

Early life and education

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Wilson was born in New Zealand on 5 October 1970.[3]After high school inChristchurch,she completed aBachelor of Arts degreeat theUniversity of Canterbury.[4]

Comedy career

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Wilson co-founded theCourt Jestersimprovgroup in 1990;[5]she was part of the New Zealand team that won the WorldTheatresportstitle in Los Angeles in 1994.[6]

Wilson then moved tostand-up comedyfull-time and in 1997 was the inaugural winner (withEwen Gilmour) of New Zealand's most prestigious comedy award, theBilly T.[7]She also regularly appeared onTV3'sPulp Comedy.[8]From 2003, she began living inMelbourne.[9]

In 2001, Wilson won the "Best Newcomer" award at theMelbourne International Comedy Festival.[10]She appeared to critical acclaim at theEdinburgh Festival Fringein 2004.[11]

Her 2006 show,Up There, Cal Wilson,sold out at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.[12][13]

Television

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During her early career, Wilson was a writer for the New Zealand sitcomWilly Nillyfrom 2001 until 2003.[1][14]In 2007, she was part of the ensemble cast of the Australian sketch comedy TV showThe Wedge.[15]She was also a writer for the series. In 2008, Wilson appeared in the eighth series of the Australian version ofDancing with the Stars.She was paired with series 7 winner Craig Monley.[16]

In 2010, Wilson became the host of the programSleuth 101[15]and also took part in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate.[17]During this time Wilson began making an appearance on the New Zealand TV comedy show7 Days.She appeared in several episodes of the series until 2018.[18]

Wilson appeared as a guest on the UK comedy quiz showQIin 2012[19]and in the following year was captain of "Team Cal" on the Australian light entertainment television seriesSlide Show.[20]

In 2018, Wilson voiced Petal and Thorn in the children's TV seriesKitty Is Not a Cat.[21]In 2019 she recorded a Netflix Original Comedy Special titledComedians of the Worldrepresenting New Zealand. She toured a stand-up show,Gifted Underachiever,in 2019.[2]In 2022, Wilson participated in theeighth seasonof the Australian version ofI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[22][23]In August that year, it was revealed that Wilson would host the seventh season ofThe Great Australian Bake OffalongsideNatalie Tranand new judgesDarren PurcheseandRachel Khoo.[24]The following year in mid-2023, Wilson featured inSBS'sWho the Bloody Hell Are You?[25]

During her television career Wilson also made appearances on various Australian comedy shows includingSkitHOUSE,Rove Live,Thank God You're Here,[15]Good News Week,Spicks and Specks,[26]The Project,Celebrity Name Game,Show Me the Movie!,[27]Would I Lie to You? Australia,SlideShow,Have You Been Paying Attention?andHughesy, We Have a Problem.[28]

Radio

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In 2007, Wilson co-hosted, withAkmal Saleh,thedrive timeradio show TheAkmal Show with Cal Wilson(later calledThe Wrong Way Home with Akmal, Cal and Ed), which aired onNova FMin Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.[29][30]Before that role, she was a regular guest on theTriple MprogramGet This.[30]

In 2009, Wilson co-hostedMorningsonNova 100(Melbourne) withDylan Lewis.[31][32]She resigned from Nova 100 in November 2009.[33]

Personal life and death

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Wilson married Chris Woods in 2008. The couple had a son and lived inSunshine,a suburb ofMelbourne.[34][35]

Wilson died on 11 October 2023, at theRoyal Prince Alfred HospitalinCamperdown,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.[3][36][37]

Filmography

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Voice roles

References

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  1. ^abScreen, NZ On."Cal Wilson | NZ On Screen".nzonscreen.com.Retrieved13 October2023.
  2. ^ab"Token Profile page".Excellence Through Guesswork.Retrieved26 July2019.
  3. ^abO'Brien, Kerrie (11 October 2023)."Comedian Cal Wilson dies, aged 53".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved11 October2023.
  4. ^"Page Title – Canterbury College – Armson Collins Architectural Drawings Collection – University of Canterbury – New Zealand".canterbury.ac.nz.Retrieved11 October2023.
  5. ^"Cal Wilson – Onya Soapbox".onyasoapbox.com.Retrieved11 October2023.
  6. ^"It's Cal Wilson's Line – Arts, News, Theatre".NZEDGE.9 December 2016.Retrieved11 October2023.
  7. ^"Cal Wilson".platinumspeakers.com.au.Retrieved11 October2023.
  8. ^Screen, NZ On."Pulp Comedy Presents Cal Wilson and Friends | Television | NZ On Screen".nzonscreen.com.Retrieved11 October2023.
  9. ^O'Brien, Kerrie (10 October 2023)."'We are devastated' – Comedian Cal Wilson dies, aged 53 ".Stuff.Retrieved11 October2023.
  10. ^"Melbourne International Comedy Festival-awards".Melbourne International Comedy Festival.Retrieved27 September2018.
  11. ^"Cal Wilson – Celebrity Speakers".1 March 2021. Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2021.Retrieved11 October2023.
  12. ^"Cal Wilson | Captive Audience".captiveaudience.nz.Retrieved11 October2023.
  13. ^Hunter, Tim (21 April 2006)."Up There, Cal Wilson".The Age.Retrieved11 October2023.
  14. ^"Willy nilly. Season one [videorecording] / director, Mike Smith; producers Judith Trye, John Gilbert".natlib.govt.nz.Retrieved13 October2023.
  15. ^abcMcManus, Bridget (11 February 2010)."Comedian has 101 moments of sleuth".The Age.Archived fromthe originalon 26 September 2018.Retrieved26 September2018.
  16. ^"Bake Off Australia host Cal Wilson dies aged 53".The Independent.11 October 2023.Retrieved13 October2023.
  17. ^Lewdon, Courtney (4 May 2013)."The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate: 11 May".Ryno's TV.Retrieved13 October2023.
  18. ^"Comedian and actor Cal Wilson dies, age 53".Radio New Zealand.11 October 2023.Retrieved14 October2023.
  19. ^"QI Series J episode guide".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved13 October2023.
  20. ^"Cal Wilson: It Could Have Been Me – Brisbane Australia Events".brisbane-australia.com.Retrieved13 October2023.
  21. ^"Kitty Is Not a Cat series 3 (2020) – The Screen Guide – Screen Australia".screenaustralia.gov.au.Retrieved13 October2023.
  22. ^"I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here 2022: Meet The Celebrities".10 Play.Network 10.3 January 2022.Retrieved3 January2022.
  23. ^Cartwright, Lexie (3 January 2022)."Full I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! cast finally revealed".news.com.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved3 January2022.
  24. ^Molk, Steve (29 August 2022)."New judges and hosts announced for THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF".TV Blackbox.Retrieved30 August2022.
  25. ^"Cal Wilson gave undercover cop the finger... but got off!".PerthNow.12 October 2023.Retrieved13 October2023.
  26. ^Casey, Mark (17 March 2009)."Comedy's it girl".NewsComAu.Retrieved27 September2018.
  27. ^"What's on TV: Thursday, April 12".The Sydney Morning Herald.29 March 2018.Retrieved14 October2023.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.
  28. ^"Hughesy, We Have a Problem: Apr 3".TV Tonight.3 April 2018.Retrieved14 October2023.Guests tonight on Hughesy, We Have a Problem are Ross Noble, Chrissie Swan, Dave O'Neil and Cal Wilson.
  29. ^"The Akmal Show with Cal Wilson – Nova".Archived fromthe originalon 29 August 2007.Retrieved10 August2007.
  30. ^abJaves, Sue (6 August 2007). "Fourth time lucky – Radio".The Sydney Morning Herald.
  31. ^"Cal Wilson | Inspire Speakers".19 March 2023. Archived fromthe originalon 19 March 2023.Retrieved11 October2023.
  32. ^"Biggest ever Melbourne International Comedy Festival".ABC News.27 March 2015.Retrieved11 October2023.
  33. ^"Cal Wilson – Contact & Book – Australian Comedian".Entertainment Bureau.Retrieved11 October2023.
  34. ^Guertin, Lachlan (11 October 2023)."Popular New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson dies aged 53".Yahoo News.Retrieved11 October2023.
  35. ^"A ray of Sunshine has her last laugh".Brimbank & North West.11 October 2023.Retrieved11 October2023.
  36. ^"Rare cancer revealed as the cause of Cal Wilson's death as stars pay tribute to 'shining soul' of comedy".ABC News. 12 October 2023.
  37. ^"Cal Wilson's cause of death revealed: Kiwi comedian's secret battle with rare, aggressive cancer; on-set collapse".New Zealand Herald. 12 October 2023.
  38. ^"NFSA – Search the Collection".collection.nfsa.gov.au.Retrieved11 October2023.
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