CLEROW (FLIP) WILSON
Born: December 8, 1933, Jersey City, NJ
Died: November 25, 1998, in Malibu, CA
Children: Michelle Trice, Tamara Wilson, Stacy Wilson, Kevin Wilson, David Wilson
Spouse: Tuanchai MacKenzie (m. 1979–1984), Lovenia Patricia Wilson (m. 1957–1967)
Awards: Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, MORE
Parents: Clerow Wilson, Sr., Cornelia Wilson
FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN HOST AND VARIETY ON TELEVISION
Clerow Wilson is a native of New Jersey. He was born on December 8,1933 to Cornelia Bullock and Clerow Wilson SR. during the great
depression. He had 17 siblings and was from a poor family. Cornelia abandoned the family his father tried his best to be the provider on his own but was unable to care for the children. They were handed over to child welfare. Clerow was raised in different foster homes in his childhood. He eventually went to a reform school. He quit school and by false information he enlisted in the United States Air Force (note you had to be very articulate to be accepted so he was a brilliant teen). During his service in the military, he was very comical and well-known. For entertainment, they would request for him to do a skit to improve the soldiers’ morale. He ended his term in the military and relocated to the State of San Francisco, working various jobs to support his comedy stances shows. He was recognized for his talents through his consistent appearances on the Apollo stage, the Tonight Show, laugh-in, and other show guest spots. A routine titled Columbus from the album Cowboys and Colored People, brought Wilson to the Hollywood industry attention and led to the development of his own television show In 1970 the break came and he was offered to have his own variety show on NBC named the FLIP WILSON SHOW. The variety show was filled with many of his created characters such as the famous Reverend Leroy, Geraldine with mini comedy skits and celebrity guests. His show was a hit and lasted four years. In the same year 1970, Clerow won a Grammy Award for his comedy album The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress. In January 1972,
Time magazine featured Wilson’s image on its cover and named
him it the tv’s first black superstar.
Clerow won a Golden Globe Award for best actor in a television series, and the show won two Emmys out of the 11 that the series was nominated for. With all the success of the variety show and Clerow breaking records and race barriers he had very little success after the NBC show. He loved life and lived for that. Wilson was married twice; he married his first wife, Lavenia Wilson née Dean, in 1957; they divorced in 1967. In 1979, he married Tuanchai MacKenzie; they divorced in 1984. After winning custody of his children in 1979, Wilson performed less in order to spend more time with his family. On November 25, 1998, Wilson died of liver cancer in Malibu, California at the age of 64.
Clerow (Flip) Wilson the award-winning Innovator, visionary, pioneer, role model, the bridge builder we thank life for you.