"Amazingly talented and amazingly kind"
October 11, 2023 4:47 PM Subscribe
Comedy legend Cal Wilson has died, surrounded by family and friends, after a short illness. She had just turned 53 and was, as Rebel Wilson described her, "amazingly talented and amazingly kind".
Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, Wilson moved to Australia in 2003 where she quickly became a mainstay on Australian sketch programs and comedy shows as well as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Obituary and some career highlights from the ABC (video) and The Press (NZ).
If you need more Cal Wilson in your life, she was in the Netflix stand-up comedy series Comedians of the World, representing New Zealand in Season 1, episode 12. If you subscribe to Foxtel in Australia, she was one of the co-hosts of the latest season of the Great Australian Bake Off. And of course, some YouTube highlights: 2022 MICF; 2013 MICF Great Debate (opening argument); QI Journeys and Joints.
Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, Wilson moved to Australia in 2003 where she quickly became a mainstay on Australian sketch programs and comedy shows as well as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Obituary and some career highlights from the ABC (video) and The Press (NZ).
If you need more Cal Wilson in your life, she was in the Netflix stand-up comedy series Comedians of the World, representing New Zealand in Season 1, episode 12. If you subscribe to Foxtel in Australia, she was one of the co-hosts of the latest season of the Great Australian Bake Off. And of course, some YouTube highlights: 2022 MICF; 2013 MICF Great Debate (opening argument); QI Journeys and Joints.
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posted by poxandplague at 4:55 PM on October 11, 2023
posted by poxandplague at 4:55 PM on October 11, 2023
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posted by jim in austin at 5:36 PM on October 11, 2023
posted by jim in austin at 5:36 PM on October 11, 2023
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posted by Barbara Spitzer at 5:47 PM on October 11, 2023
posted by Barbara Spitzer at 5:47 PM on October 11, 2023
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Was surprised at how much this one hurt, to the point of tearing up a bit, because I wasn't a fan, as such. Meaning I did not go out of my way to see her perform, though her name was certainly a bonus attraction for a show.
After sleeping on it, I think it is for three reasons: She really was a sharp, quick wit, and an excellent improviser (as demonstrated by her many performances on Thank God You're Here). She was not malicious, while still being quite able and willing to poke a pointed stick at those who deserved it. But mostly because she always left you smiling and feeling good at the end of her act.
So I am sad at her early passing, and the loss to comedy and the world of such a warm generous intelligent human. But I can still have a smile on my face for her life. I hope her family and friends can too, after the initial shock and grief have abated.
posted by Pouteria at 5:57 PM on October 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
Was surprised at how much this one hurt, to the point of tearing up a bit, because I wasn't a fan, as such. Meaning I did not go out of my way to see her perform, though her name was certainly a bonus attraction for a show.
After sleeping on it, I think it is for three reasons: She really was a sharp, quick wit, and an excellent improviser (as demonstrated by her many performances on Thank God You're Here). She was not malicious, while still being quite able and willing to poke a pointed stick at those who deserved it. But mostly because she always left you smiling and feeling good at the end of her act.
So I am sad at her early passing, and the loss to comedy and the world of such a warm generous intelligent human. But I can still have a smile on my face for her life. I hope her family and friends can too, after the initial shock and grief have abated.
posted by Pouteria at 5:57 PM on October 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
My partner went to school with Cal and paths would cross occasionally after. A real loss. This house is even sadder with this news.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 6:03 PM on October 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 6:03 PM on October 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
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i saw her mid 90’s when she did standup at a Vic Uni orientation at the Student Union. If I recall, some dude gave her shit for being a female comic, and she absolutely destroyed him. She was hilarious.
Fuck cancer. One of Cal’s fellow NZ comedians and friends - Dai Henwood - has been recently sharing his struggle with stage 4 bowel cancer as well. Dai’s my age (I acted with him in College).
So yeah fuck cancer bears repeating.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 6:07 PM on October 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
i saw her mid 90’s when she did standup at a Vic Uni orientation at the Student Union. If I recall, some dude gave her shit for being a female comic, and she absolutely destroyed him. She was hilarious.
Fuck cancer. One of Cal’s fellow NZ comedians and friends - Dai Henwood - has been recently sharing his struggle with stage 4 bowel cancer as well. Dai’s my age (I acted with him in College).
So yeah fuck cancer bears repeating.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 6:07 PM on October 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 6:55 PM on October 11, 2023
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:55 PM on October 11, 2023
I saw her perform live a couple of times in the 90s and she was definitely my favourite local (nz) stand up of the time - just a good night out with plenty of belly laughs, a natural amongst the slimmer pickings of the time who all tried just a little too hard to be Funny with a capital F. To be honest, I had no idea she had moved to Oz and am glad to hear that she made a go of it with a larger audience. And now I am surreptitiously watching a couple of her TikTok vids at work and I discover she had the same breed of cat as me.
. for Pirate's mum.
posted by Sparx at 7:24 PM on October 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
. for Pirate's mum.
posted by Sparx at 7:24 PM on October 11, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by interogative mood at 9:31 PM on October 11, 2023
posted by interogative mood at 9:31 PM on October 11, 2023
I've been a fan for years, most recently enjoying her cat TikToks. This is such sad news - I hope her family and friends take comfort in how much fun she brought to the world.
posted by harriet vane at 5:11 AM on October 12, 2023
posted by harriet vane at 5:11 AM on October 12, 2023
Sorry to read this. I know little of her beyond a couple of QI appearances and a few standup clips on YouTube, but she always struck me as intelligent and extremely funny. Her departure leaves the world a lesser place.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:45 PM on October 12, 2023
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:45 PM on October 12, 2023
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posted by MrBobaFett at 4:15 AM on October 13, 2023
posted by MrBobaFett at 4:15 AM on October 13, 2023
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posted by But tomorrow is another day... at 11:46 AM on October 13, 2023
posted by But tomorrow is another day... at 11:46 AM on October 13, 2023
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posted by UhOhChongo! at 4:50 PM on October 11, 2023