22 Facts About Flip Wilson

1.

From 1970 to 1974, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series The Flip Wilson Show, and introduced viewers to his recurring character Geraldine.

2.

Flip Wilson was the first African American to host a successful TV variety show.

3.

Flip Wilson released a number of comedy albums in the 1960s and 1970s and won a Grammy Award for his 1970 album The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress.

4.

Flip Wilson kept performing and acting until the 1990s, though at a reduced schedule, up until his death from cancer in 1998.

5.

Flip Wilson's father worked as a handyman but, because of the Great Depression, was often out of work.

6.

When Flip Wilson was seven years old, his mother abandoned the family.

7.

Flip Wilson's father was unable to care for the children alone and he placed many of them in foster homes.

8.

At the Plaza's nightclub, Flip Wilson found extra work playing a drunken patron between regularly scheduled acts.

9.

Carson then booked Flip Wilson to appear on The Tonight Show and Flip Wilson became a favorite guest on that show as well as on The Ed Sullivan Show.

10.

Flip Wilson later singled out Sullivan as providing his biggest career boost.

11.

Flip Wilson made guest appearances on numerous TV comedies and variety shows, such as Here's Lucy, Laugh-In, and The Dean Martin Show, among others.

12.

In 1970, Flip Wilson won a Grammy Award for his comedy album The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress.

13.

In 1970, Wilson's variety series, The Flip Wilson Show, debuted on NBC.

14.

Flip Wilson greeted all his guests with the "Flip Wilson Handshake": four hand slaps, two elbow bumps, finishing with two hip-bumps.

15.

The Flip Wilson Show aired through 1974, generating high ratings and popularity among viewers and winning strong critical acclaim, with eleven Emmy Award nominations during its run, winning two.

16.

Flip Wilson won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series.

17.

Flip Wilson acted in TV and theatrical movies, including Uptown Saturday Night and The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh.

18.

In 1957, he married Lavenia Patricia "Peaches" Flip Wilson ; they divorced in 1967.

19.

Flip Wilson had four children with his common-law wife Blonell Pitman.

20.

In March 1981, Flip Wilson was arrested and charged with possession of a small quantity of cocaine.

21.

On November 25,1998, Flip Wilson died from metastatic biliary cancer in Malibu, California, 2 weeks before his 65th birthday.

22.

Flip Wilson was cremated at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery and his ashes were scattered off Malibu Beach.