Cal Wilson was a New Zealand stand-up comedian, author, radio and television presenter who was based in Australia.
She was born on 5 October 1970 in Christchurch, New Zealand, and began her comedy career in 1990 as a founding member of the improv group The Court Jesters.
Wilson completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Canterbury.
She co-founded the Court Jesters improv group in 1990 and was part of the New Zealand team that won the World Theatresports title in Los Angeles in 1994.
Cal Wilson early life
After completing high school in Christchurch, Wilson went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Canterbury.
During her early years, she co-founded the Court Jesters improv group in 1990 and was part of the New Zealand team that won the World Theatresports title in Los Angeles in 1994.
In 1997, Wilson won the inaugural Billy T award, a New Zealand prize given to emerging comedians, and in 2000, she was named the best comedian by the Auckland-based magazine Metro.
Cal Wilson cause of death
Wilson passed away at the age of 53 after a short illness.
Her cause of death was confirmed by her artist management agency as a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Wilson had been in the hospital for four weeks prior to her death, and it was reported that she had collapsed on the set of The Great Australian Bake Off before being admitted to the hospital.
However, it was later clarified that she had left the set to seek medical help after experiencing lower back pain.
Over the following weeks, her condition worsened dramatically and quickly.
Wilson died at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones; she is survived by her husband, Chris Woods, and son, Digby, 14.
Cal Wilson career
Wilson’s career spanned over two decades, and she was known for her sharp wit, observational humor, and self-deprecating jokes.
She attended high school in Christchurch, New Zealand, and later completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Canterbury.
Wilson co-founded the Court Jesters improv group in 1990 and was part of the New Zealand team that won the World Theatresports title in Los Angeles in 1994.
In 2001, Wilson won the Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
She has also appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to critical acclaim.
Wilson appeared in various television shows, including the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars in 2008, where she was the 3rd eliminated contestant.
She also hosted the program Sleuth 101 and took part in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate.
Wilson was also a gifted storyteller and writer.
She was invited to join the writing team for the 2022 BAFTA Awards ceremony and had previously written for series Mean Mums and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering.
Wilson also wrote two children’s books called George and the Great Bum Stampede and George and the Great Brain Swappery.
Additionally, Wilson was the Melbourne live show host of the worldwide smash-hit storytelling podcast The Moth.
She also joined the comedy phenomenon podcast The Guilty Feminist on tour around her native country, New Zealand.
In 2015, Wilson released her autobiography, Cal Wilson’s Chemo Club, in which she wrote about her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36.
The book was a critical and commercial success, winning the 2016 ABIA Book of the Year Award.
Wilson starred in films such as Flatmates, Locks of Love and The Wedge.
She also appeared in theater productions, including I’m All Ears and Cal Wilson is Guilty.
