Victoria Jackson
| Victoria Jackson | |
|---|---|
Jackson at Occupy Wall Street in 2011
|
|
| Born |
Victoria Lynn Jackson August 2, 1959 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, singer |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Political party | Independent |
| Website | victoriajackson.com |
Victoria Lynn Jackson-Wessel (born August 2, 1959) is an American comedian, actress, satirist, singer and internet blogger best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1986 to 1992.
After SNL, she appeared in a number of movies and appears as a stand-up comedian. A right-wing activist, she is an active participant in the Tea Party movement and has received press attention as an outspoken critic of U.S. President Barack Obama, whom she describes as a "communist" and "Islamic jihadist".
Jackson was born in Miami, Florida, the daughter of Marlene Esther (née Blackstad) and James McCaslin Jackson, a gym coach. Raised by devout Christian parents in a home without a television, she was trained in gymnastics by her father from ages 5 to 18. Jackson attended the private Dade Christian School, where she was a cheerleader and the Homecoming Queen. She subsequently attended Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida. Fourteen years of gymnastics competitions led to a scholarship at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She left Furman due to lack of finances, transferring to Auburn University, where her brother was studying architecture, in 1979. Despite getting few major roles and being told by theatre instructors that her voice would hamper her career, Jackson said in 1989 that of the three colleges she attended "Auburn was my last one and favorite one.” She earned a degree in theatre from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2007.
Appearing in summer stock in Alabama led to a chance meeting with Johnny Crawford (of the 1950s television series, The Rifleman), who cast her in his night club act. She moved to Los Angeles where she supported herself with various day jobs as a cigarette girl, a typist at the American Cancer Society, and a waitress, while she performed comedy at night. Her first big break was her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson where she performed what would become her signature act: doing a handstand while reciting poetry. She ultimately appeared on the show 20 times.
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