Today's birthday, March 7

Today's birthday, march 7: US actress Wanda Sykes (1964- )

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Today's Birthday March 7: US actress Wanda Sykes (1964-).

US comedian and actor Wanda Sykes is a Emmy-nominated stand-up comedian and regular of Hollywood supporting roles.

Born on March 7, 1964 in Portsmouth, Virginia, Sykes received a degree from Hampton University and worked a stint in government before venturing into stand-up comedy.

She got her big TV break in 1997, landing a part in The Chris Rock Show.

While performing and writing for the series until 2002, Sykes had other comedic roles including in The Drew Carey Show in 2001.

The same year, she began playing herself in the hugely successful Curb Your Enthusiasm, in a recurring role that would span 10 years.

Sykes went on to star in her own short-lived sitcom, Wanda At Large (2003), and to appear in another comedy TV show, Wanda Does It (2004).

In 2006, she scored the role of Barbara Baran in The New Adventures Of Old Christine.

She was with the show until its end in 2010, the same year that her stand-up special I'ma Be Me was nominated for two Emmy awards

She voiced the Granny in Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), before scoring a role in Hot Flashes (2013) and starting her term in the political comedy-drama Alpha House (2013-2014).

Her voice will appear in Ice Age 5, which is due to be released in 2016.

Sykes was married to record producer David Hall from 1991 to 1998. She publicly came out as a lesbian in 2008 when California's Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage, was passed.

The following year, she became the first African-American woman and openly gay person to perform at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

Despite her celebrity, Sykes keeps her family life private. Her wife is only known to the public as Alex.

The couple have twins, Olivia and Lucas.


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