American comedian and actor
He got custody of his children in 1979 and quit show biz to devote more time to them.
He won a Grammy in 1970 for Best Comedy Recording for "The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress".
He also claimed (seriously) that one of the homes he lived in was haunted in some way.
He is the subject of a song by the World/Inferno Friendship Society, "Nosliw Pilf".
Had four children with common-law wife Blonell Pitman.
As 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.
Escaped eight times from the reformatory where he grew up.
Stand-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.
Frequently acted as master of ceremonies at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
Was sacked from a regular Seven-Up commercial spot in 1981, after being arrested for possession of a small amount of cocaine.
Father of Charles Wilson , Stacy Wilson , and Tamara Wilson.
Cousin of Rashon Khan.
He was nominated for the 2015 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services in the Performance Arts.
His remains were cremated at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
Friends with Bill Cosby , Redd Foxx , Tim Conway , Joan Rivers , and Jermaine Jackson.
He was nominated for the 2017 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts category.
One of his famous quotes from the Flip Wilson Show is "In the booth, in,the back, in the corner, in the dark. ",The cost of living is going up while the chances of living are going down.
The cost of living is going up and the chance of living is going down.
Funny is an attitude.
My happiest memory of childhood was my first birthday in reform school. This teacher took an interest in me. In fact, he gave me the first birthday presents I ever got: a box of Cracker Jacks and a can of ABC shoe polish.
The cost of living is going up and the chance of living is going down.
