Robin Duke

Robin Duke (born March 13, 1954) is a Canadian actress, comedian, and voice actress. Duke may be best known for her work on the television comedy series SCTV and, later, Saturday Night Live. She co-founded Women Fully Clothed, a sketch comedy troupe which toured Canada. She teaches writing as a faculty member at Humber College in Toronto and has a recurring role playing Wendy Kurtz in the sitcom Schitt's Creek.[1]

Robin Duke
Born (1954-03-13) March 13, 1954
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress, comedian
Years active1976–present
Spouse(s)Hendrik Riik
Children1

Life and career

Duke was born in Toronto, Ontario.[2] She went to high school with Catherine O'Hara at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke; they first met in homeroom class. In 1976, Duke joined O'Hara as part of the Toronto version of the stage comedy troupe The Second City, while also making several appearances in the troupe's television series, SCTV. Duke became a regular on SCTV from 1980 to 1981. She joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1981 when O'Hara suddenly dropped out of that show.

NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) (1981–1984)

Duke was an actor and writer on SNL from 1981 to 1984.[3] Duke was hired in place of Catherine O'Hara, who was chosen as a cast member in 1981 but had decided to return to SCTV instead. Duke's most popular character was probably Wendy Whiner, a woman who, with her equally whiny husband (Joe Piscopo), annoyed everyone she met.[4] She is also remembered for appearing with Mr. T as the equally bizarre "Mrs. T" in a faux commercial for the real-life product "Mr. and Mrs. T's Bloody Mary Mix".

Film acting credits

Duke went on to appear in such films as Club Paradise (1986), Groundhog Day (1993), Stuart Saves His Family (1995) and Portrait of a Serial Monogamist (2015), along with many television guest appearances.

Voice-over acting credits

Duke is also the voice of Penny in the children's animated television series George and Martha. Her other voice roles include:

Women Fully Clothed (2004)

In 2004, Duke along with Kathryn Greenwood, Debra McGrath, Jayne Eastwood and Teresa Pavlinek created Women Fully Clothed, a sketch comedy troupe. The group has toured the United States, Canada and appeared in Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival.[5][6]

Schitt's Creek (2016, 2019)

In 2016, Duke had a recurring role on Schitt's Creek playing dress shop owner Wendy Kurtz in five episodes of season 2. The sitcom reunited Duke with her former SCTV castmate Eugene Levy, and with Catherine O'Hara, whom she had replaced on both SCTV and Saturday Night Live. Duke made another appearance as Kurtz in the Season 5 episode “Roadkill”.

References
  1. "Robin Duke Biography". Humber College. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  2. Wright, Megh. "Saturday Night's Children". Splitsider.
  3. Shales, Tom (2015). Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests. Back Bay Books. p. 184. ISBN 978-0316295062.
  4. van Rheenen, Erik (May 18, 2013). "The Post-SNL Careers of 5 Featured Players". Mental Floss.
  5. Sumi, Glenn (May 6, 2010). "Women Fully Clothed: Older and Hotter". Now.
  6. Wheeler, Brad (June 15, 2011). "More bladder-busting laughs from Women Fully Clothed quartet". The Globe and Mail.
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