Robin Duke | |
---|---|
Born | St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada | March 13, 1954
Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian |
Years active | 1976–present |
Spouse | Hendrik Riik |
Children | 1 |
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 had a recurring role playing Wendy Kurtz in the sitcom Schitt's Creek . [1]
Duke was born in Etobicoke, Ontario.[ citation needed ] She went to high school with Catherine O'Hara at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke; they first met in homeroom class.[ citation needed ]
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. [2] She joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1981 when O'Hara suddenly dropped out of that show. She now teaches at Humber College's Comedy Writing and Performance program, teaching Improv and Voice and Acting, it's been quoted by her that "class C is my favorite"
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".
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.
Duke is also the voice of Penny in the children's animated television series George and Martha . Her other voice roles include:
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]
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 SCTV. Duke made another appearance as Kurtz in the Season 5 episode “Roadkill”.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Running | Olympic Office Receptionist | |
1986 | Club Paradise | Mary Lou | |
1987 | Blue Monkey | Sandra Baker | |
1991 | Motorama | Miss Lawton | |
1992 | Only You | Mrs. Johnson | |
1992 | There Goes the Neighborhood | The Colangelos | |
1993 | Groundhog Day | Doris the Waitress | |
1994 | I Love Trouble | Sandra | |
1995 | Stuart Saves His Family | Cousin Denise | |
1996 | Multiplicity | Ballet School Receptionist | |
2015 | Portrait of a Serial Monogamist | Abby Neufeld |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976–1981 | Second City Television | Various | 27 episodes |
1977 | King of Kensington | Doris | Episode: "The Quiz Show" |
1981–1984 | Saturday Night Live | Various | 59 episodes |
1985 | The Last Polka | Max Lemon | Television film |
1988 | The Second City Toronto 15th Anniversary | Florence Allen | |
1989 | I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood | Drunk Woman | |
1990, 1991 | Maniac Mansion | Carla / Jazz Pope | 2 episodes |
1994 | Hostage for a Day | Elizabeth Kooey | Television film |
1996 | The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon | Tiny Raincloud | Episode: "Dudley and the Tiny Raincloud" |
1996–1997 | Boston Common | Dr. Brenda Nidorf | 4 episodes |
1996, 1997 | North of 60 | Faith | 2 episodes |
1996–1998 | Stickin' Around | Voice | 7 episodes |
1997 | F/X: The Series | Woman | Episode: "Shooting Mickey" |
1997–1998 | The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police | Voice | 15 episodes |
1998 | The Outer Limits | Sheriff Marie DuPont | Episode: "Glyphic" |
1998 | Degas and the Dancer | Zoe | Television film |
1998–2000 | Bad Dog | Voice | 15 episodes |
1999–2000 | George and Martha | Penny | 26 episodes |
1999–2000 | Blaster's Universe | Voice | 13 episodes |
2000 | Quints | Fiona | Television film |
2000 | The Sandy Bottom Orchestra | Mrs. Johnson | |
2000 | Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse | Edna | Episode: "Eddy's Job/ Elephants Almost Never Forget" |
2000 | Virtual Mom | Maude Gozmecki | Television film |
2001 | Bob and Margaret | Joyce | Episode: "Fish at the Bat" |
2002 | Monk | Aunt Minn | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Airplane" |
2003 | Moville Mysteries | Mountain Marge | Episode: "Something Fishy in Lake Gimmee-Gimmee-Itchee-Owee" |
2004–2005 | Atomic Betty | Miss Dourly | 4 episodes |
2005 | Train 48 | Miriam | Episode #1.266 |
2005 | 6teen | Mimi | Episode: "Pillow Talk" |
2006 | Getting Along Famously | Peggy | 6 episodes |
2006 | The Jane Show | Jane's mom | Episode: "Daddy's Home" |
2012 | I, Martin Short, Goes Home | Princess Anne | Television film |
2012 | Comedy Bar | Chris' Grandmother | 2 episodes |
2014 | Rocky Road | Fiona Draper | Television film |
2015–2017 | Man Seeking Woman | Patti | 19 episodes |
2016–2019 | Schitt's Creek | Wendy Kurtz | 6 episodes |
2018 | Max & Ruby | Katie | Episode: "Max and Ruby's Bunnyhop Parade" |
2019 | Bigfoot | Mrs. Howzenduffer | Episode: "Community Profile" |
2023 | Shelved | Unhoused Wendy | Supporting role |
Second City Television, commonly shortened to SCTV and later known as SCTV Network and SCTV Channel, is a Canadian television sketch comedy show that ran intermittently between 1976 and 1984. It was created as an offshoot from Toronto's Second City troupe. It is an example of a Canadian show that moved successfully to U.S. television, where it aired on NBC in 1981–1983.
Edward Mayhoff 'Ed' Grimley is a fictional character created and portrayed by Martin Short. The original concept came from the stories told by Bob Ingram about his childhood imaginary friend. Developed amongst The Second City improv comedy troupe, Grimley made his television debut on the sketch comedy show SCTV in 1982, leading to popular success for both Short and the persona. Short continued to portray Grimley on Saturday Night Live and in various other appearances. The character also starred in Hanna-Barbera's 1988 animated series The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley, and appeared in Short's comedy specials I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood and I, Martin Short, Goes Home.
Martin Hayter Short is a Canadian and American actor, comedian, and writer. Short is known as an energetic comedian who gained prominence for his roles in sketch comedy. He has also acted in numerous films and television shows. He has received various awards including two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. Short was awarded as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2019.
Catherine Anne O'Hara is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her comedy work on Second City Television (1976–1984) and Schitt's Creek (2015–2020) and in films such as After Hours (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), and the first two installments of the Home Alone franchise: Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). Her other film appearances include the mockumentary films written and directed by Christopher Guest: Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006).
Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor and comedian. Known for portraying flustered and unconventional figures, Levy has won multiple accolades throughout his career including four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011, and was made Companion of the Order of Canada in 2022.
Saturday Night Live is an American sketch comedy series created and produced by Lorne Michaels for most of the show's run. The show has aired on NBC since 1975.
Janet Vivian Hooks was an American actress and comedian. Hooks was best known for her tenure on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where she was a repertory player from 1986 to 1991. After leaving SNL, she continued to make cameo appearances until 1994. Her subsequent work included a regular role on the last two seasons of Designing Women, a recurring role on 3rd Rock from the Sun, and a number of other film and television roles, including on 30 Rock and The Simpsons.
The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and featuring Martin Short's fictional character Ed Grimley. The show aired on NBC from September 10 to December 3, 1988 for a single season of 13 episodes. The show is the only Saturday morning animated adaptation of both an SCTV character and a Saturday Night Live character, and the first Saturday morning cartoon featuring an SCTV cast member.
Antonio Rosato was an Italian-Canadian actor and comedian, who appeared in television and films. He was best known as a cast member on both SCTV and Saturday Night Live, and for voicing Luigi in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World.
Women Fully Clothed is a Canadian live sketch comedy troupe, with a cast of four women, touring throughout the world.
Elizabeth Cackowski is an American actress, comedian, and comedy writer.
Valri Bromfield is a Canadian comedian, actress, writer, and television producer who started her career as one half of a comedy team with Dan Aykroyd. Together, they joined the first Toronto company of The Second City where she was one of the original players.
Emily Prager is an American author and journalist. Prager grew up in Texas, Taiwan, and Greenwich Village, New York City. She is a graduate of the Brearley School, Barnard College and has a master's degree in Applied Linguistics.
Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute and Adult Learning Centre is an adult and alternative high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Eatonville neighbourhood of the former suburb of Etobicoke. It has operated since 1956, currently by the Toronto District School Board, originally part of the Etobicoke Board of Education. It offers credit courses to adult learners and to young adults (18-20). The motto for Burnhamthorpe is Quisque Praestet Officium which translates to "No matter whose attention offers".
Schitt's Creek is a Canadian television sitcom created by Dan Levy and his father, Eugene Levy, that aired on CBC Television from 2015 to 2020. It consists of 80 episodes spread over six seasons. Produced by Not a Real Company Productions and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, it follows the trials and tribulations of the formerly wealthy Rose family. After their business manager embezzles the family business, Rose Video, the family loses its fortune and relocates to Schitt's Creek, a town they once purchased as a joke. Now living in a motel, Johnny and Moira — along with their adult children, David and Alexis — must adjust to life without wealth.
John Hemphill is a Canadian comic actor, writer and producer.
The second season of Schitt's Creek a Canadian television sitcom created by Daniel Levy and father Eugene Levy premiered on January 12, 2016, and concluded on March 29, 2016, on CBC Television. The season aired 13 episodes and saw the return of the characters Johnny Rose, Moira Rose, David Rose & Alexis Rose. The season was once again produced by Not a Real Company Productions.
The third season of Schitt's Creek, a Canadian television sitcom created by Daniel Levy and father Eugene Levy, premiered on January 10, 2017, and concluded on April 4, 2017, on CBC Television. The season aired 13 episodes and saw the return of the characters Johnny, Moira, David, and Alexis Rose. It was once again produced by Not a Real Company Productions.