Flip Wilson

Flip Wilson was born Clerow Wilson, Jr. in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1933. At age 16, Wilson lied about his age to join the U.S. Air Force, where he earned the nickname “Flip” for his tendency to “flip out.” After he was discharged from the Air Force in 1954, Wilson started performing at various comedy clubs in California. In the 1960s, Wilson appeared frequently on shows like The Tonight Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. His comedy album The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress won a Grammy Award in 1970. In the early 1970s, Wilson hosted The Flip Wilson Show, a weekly TV series which earned him a Golden Globe, two Emmys, and the designation by TIME Magazine of “TV’s first black superstar.”