Flip Wilson Net Worth

Flip Wilson net worth is
$6 Million

Flip Wilson Wiki Biography

Clerow Wilson Jr. was born on 8 December 1933, in Jersey City, New Jersey USA, and was an actor and comedian, best known for his variety series entitled “The Flip Wilson Show”. He earned two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe from the series, and all of his efforts helped put his net worth to where it was prior to his passing in 1998.

How rich was Flip Wilson? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that was at $6 million, mostly earned through a successful career in comedy encompassing film, television and stand-up. He was called “TV’s first black superstar” by Time magazine, and made appearances in a lot of popular shows. All of these ensured the position of his wealth.

Flip Wilson Net Worth $6 million

Due to poverty brought about by the Great Depression, Flip’s mother would abandon the family and his father would then put them to foster homes as he could not take care of them. Wilson moved around various foster homes and then went to reform school. At the age of 16, he joined the United States Air Force, lying about his true age, and would soon earn popularity due to his comedy skills, getting the nickname Flip from his friends which he would then use as his stage name. After being discharged in 1954, he worked as a bellhop for the Manor Plaza Hotel in San Francisco, and then found work at the hotel’s nightclub, slowly earning his popularity in stand-up.

In the 1960s, he started becoming a regular guest on TV in such as “The Ed Sullivan Show”, “The Tonight Show” and “Laugh-In”. He also released the comedy album entitled “The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress” and it won him a Grammy Award. After a routine entitled “Columbus” became popular, Flip started to get noticed in Hollywood. In the 1970s, he started his own “The Flip Wilson Show” airing on NBC, in which he performed comedy sketches and had many big names as guests including the Jackson Five, the Supremes, the Temptations and even basketball legend Bill Russell. His writer George Carlin also made appearances in the show. During this time, he popularized the lines “What you see is what you get” and “The devil made me do it”. The show would become very popular, getting consistently high ratings and viewership, and steadily increasing his net worth.

After the show’s run, Flip would then appear in various shows including “Here’s Lucy” and “The Dean Martin Show”, and in films such as “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh and “Uptown Saturday Night”. In 1976, he became part of the television musical “Pinocchio” and then made a cameo appearance in “Living Single”.

During the late 70s, Wilson started to appear less in front of the camera and prioritize spending time with his family. However, in 1984 Wilson was the host of “People Are Funny “, a remake, and in 1985-86 he starred in “Charlie & Co”, a CBS sitcom. Flip’s last appearance was a cameo in the sitcom “Living Single” in late 1993.

For his personal life, he was married to Lavenia Dean from 1957 to 1967. In 1979, he married Tuanchai MacKenzie but they would also divorce in 1984. He was also an active lighter-than-air pilot, but stopped after he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He passed away in 1998 because of the disease.


Full NameFlip Wilson
Net Worth$6 Million
Date Of BirthDecember 8, 1933
DiedNovember 25, 1998, Malibu, California, United States
Place Of BirthJersey City, New Jersey, United States
ProfessionComedian
NationalityAmerican
SpouseTuanchai MacKenzie (m. 1979–1984), Lovenia Patricia Wilson (m. 1957–1967)
ChildrenStacy Wilson, Michelle Trice, David Wilson, Kevin Wilson, Tamara Wilson
ParentsClerow Wilson, Sr., Cornelia Wilson
NicknamesClerow Wilson Jr. , Clerow Wilson , Wilson, Flip , Flip , Clerow Wilson, Jr.
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933400/
AwardsGrammy Award for Best Comedy Album, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing - Variety Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy-Variety Or Music Program
NominationsWGA Award for Best Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series - Television, WGA Award for Best Variety Series or Special: Musical or Comedy - Television
MoviesUptown Saturday Night, Skatetown, U.S.A., Pinocchio, Clerow Wilson and the Miracle of P.S. 14, Flip Wilson: Vols. 3 & 4, 18. Episode 18, 17. Episode 17, 16. Episode 16
#Quote
1One of his famous quotes from the Flip Wilson Show is "In the booth, in the back, in the corner, in the dark."
#Fact
1His remains were cremated.
2He was nominated for the 2015 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services in the Performance Arts.
3Cousin of Rashon Khan.
4Father of Charles Wilson, Stacy Wilson, and Tamara Wilson.
5Was sacked from a regular Seven-Up commercial spot in 1981, after being arrested for possession of a small amount of cocaine.
6Frequently acted as master of ceremonies at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
7Stand-up comic and teller of circuitous and outrageous stories, usually in jive slang. While serving in the Air Force, his penchant for crazy dialects led some of his fellow servicemen to think he was 'flipping out', and so the nickname 'Flip' evolved. His commanding officer encouraged him to take up studying and, by the time of his discharge in 1954, he embarked on a career as a professional comedian.
8Escaped eight times from the reformatory where he grew up.
9As a child, Wilson was put into a foster home, but he was unhappy there. He asked to be sent to the reformatory where his brother was. His request was granted.
10Had four children with common-law wife Blonell Pitman.
11He is the subject of a song by the World/Inferno Friendship Society, "Nosliw Pilf".
12He also claimed (seriously) that one of the homes he lived in was haunted in some way.
13He won a Grammy in 1970 for Best Comedy Recording for "The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress".
14He got custody of his children in 1979 and quit show biz to devote more time to them.

All pictures

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Flip Wilson Special1974TV Special
Flip1970-1974TV Series writer - 94 episodes
Clerow Wilson and the Miracle of P.S. 141972TV Movie story

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Drew Carey Show1996TV SeriesFlip Wilson
American Playhouse1990TV Series
2271988-1989TV SeriesEd Fulton / Mr. Grant
Charlie & Co.1985-1986TV SeriesCharlie Richmond
The Love Boat1981TV SeriesFrank Dalton
The Cheap Detective1980TV ShortEddie Krowder
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh1979Coach 'Jock' Delaney
Skatetown, U.S.A.1979Harvey Ross
Insight1978TV SeriesGod
The Six Million Dollar Man1976TV SeriesBilly Parker / The Prime Minister
Pinocchio1976TV MovieFox
Uptown Saturday Night1974The Reverend
Clerow Wilson's Great Escape1974TV MovieClerow Wilson Geraldine Jones Ralph the Invisible Dog ... (voice)
Clerow Wilson and the Miracle of P.S. 141972TV MovieClerow Wilson Geraldine Jones Reverend Leroy ... (voice)
Here's Lucy1971TV SeriesFlip Wilson
Laugh-In1969-1970TV SeriesGuest / Performer / Regular Performer
Love, American Style1969TV SeriesBig Red (segment "Love and the Hustler")
The Jerry Lewis Show1968TV SeriesPrisoner

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Helen Reddy Show1973TV Series executive producer - 1973

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Flip1971TV Series performer - 1 episode

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Laff Mobb Presents2012TV Series special thanks - 2 episodes

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Howard Stern1997TV SeriesHimself
Rolonda1996TV SeriesHimself
Living Single1993TV SeriesHimself
The Jaleel White Special1992TV MovieHimself
The 11th Annual Black Achievement Awards1990TV SpecialHimself - Host
The Joan Rivers Show1989TV SeriesHimself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1965-1989TV SeriesHimself - Guest Host / Himself - Guest / Himself / ...
The 7th Annual Black Achievement Awards1986TV SpecialHimself - Host
Ebony/Jet Showcase1983-1985TV SeriesHimself
The 6th Annual Black Achievement Awards1985TV SpecialHimself - Host
People Are Funny1984TV SeriesHimself
Battle of the Network Stars XVI1984TV SpecialHimself - NBC Team Captain
Saturday Night Live1983TV SeriesHimself - Host / Various
Happy Birthday, Bob!1983TV SpecialHimself
The Suzanne Somers Special1982TV SpecialHimself
The Big Show1980TV SeriesHimself - Host
Uptown: A Tribute to the Apollo Theatre1980TV SpecialHimself - Host
The First 40 Years1980TV SpecialHimself
The Mike Douglas Show1974-1979TV SeriesHimself - Comedian / Himself - Co-Host
Leif1979TV SpecialHimself
Happy Birthday, Bob1978TV SpecialHimself
The Stars Salute Israel at 301978TV MovieHimself
A Tribute to Mr. Television Milton Berle1978TV SpecialHimself
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra1978TV SpecialHimself
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 21977TV MovieHimself - Host
Laugh-In1977TV SeriesHimself
US Against the World1977TV MovieHimself
They Said It with Music: Yankee Doodle to Ragtime1977TV Special
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes1977TV SpecialHimself
3 Girls 31977TV SeriesHimself
The Sonny and Cher Show1977TV SeriesHimself / Various Characters
Van Dyke and Company1976TV SeriesHimself
Joys1976TV SpecialHimself
Travels with Flip1975TV MovieHimself - Host
HBO Boxing1975TV Series documentaryHimself - Ringside Guest
Sammy and Company1975TV SeriesHimself
Bob Hope on Campus1975TV Special
The Flip Wilson Special1975TV MovieHimself - Host
The 1975 Annual Entertainment Hall of Fame Awards1975TV SpecialHimself
Cher1975TV SeriesHimself
The Flip Wilson Special1974TV SpecialHimself - Host
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Bob Hope1974TV SpecialHimself
Flip Wilson... Of Course1974TV MovieHimself - Host
The Midnight Special1974TV SeriesHimself - Cameo
Flip1970-1974TV SeriesHimself - Host
Milton Berle's Mad Mad Mad World of Comedy1974TV MovieHimself
The Helen Reddy Show1973TV SeriesHimself
The Bobby Darin Show1973TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Comedian
Jack Benny's First Farewell Special1973TV SpecialHimself
Cancel My Reservation1972Himself, Flip Wilson (uncredited)
The Hollywood Squares1968-1972TV SeriesHimself - Panelist
Sesame Street1971TV SeriesHimself
The Andy Williams Show1969-1971TV SeriesHimself - Comedian / Himself
The Don Knotts Show1970TV SeriesHimself
The David Frost Show1970TV SeriesHimself
The Ed Sullivan Show1967-1970TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Comedian
Bing Crosby - Cooling It1970TV SpecialHimself
The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians1970TV MovieHimself (voice)
Della1970TV SeriesHimself
The Many Moods of Perry Como1970TV MovieHimself
The Carol Burnett Show1968-1970TV SeriesHimself - Guest / Himself
The Hollywood Palace1969TV SeriesHimself - Host / Himself - Cameo
The Bob Hope Show1969TV SeriesHimself
Personality1968-1969TV SeriesHimself
That's Life1968TV SeriesHimself
Operation: Entertainment1968TV SeriesHimself - Host
Laugh-In1968TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest Performer
The Match Game1968TV SeriesHimself - Team Captain
The Kraft Music Hall1968TV SeriesHimself
Snap Judgment1968TV SeriesHimself
The Joey Bishop Show1967-1968TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest Host
The Pat Boone Show1967TV SeriesHimself
The Dean Martin Show1967TV SeriesHimself
The Dean Martin Summer Show Starring Your Host Vic Damone1967TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Dream Girl of '671967TV SeriesHimself - Bachelor Judge
The Kraft Summer Music Hall1966TV SeriesRegular

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1971Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USABest TV Actor - Comedy or MusicalFlip (1970)
1971Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Variety Series - MusicalFlip (1970)
1971Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or MusicFlip (1970)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1973Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USABest TV Actor - Comedy or MusicalFlip (1970)
1973Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Variety Musical SeriesFlip (1970)
1973Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or MusicFlip (1970)
1972Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USABest TV Actor - Comedy or MusicalFlip (1970)
1972Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Variety Series - MusicalFlip (1970)
1972Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Single Program - Variety or Musical - Variety and Popular MusicFlip (1970)
1972Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or MusicFlip (1970)

Known for movies


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