Comedian Cal Wilson’s death ‘tears a hole in heart of our community’
The New Zealand comic and writer died in Sydney after a ‘short illness’.
New Zealand comedian and writer Cal Wilson, a beloved fixture of Australian television, has died at age 53 after battling a “short illness.”
Wilson died on Wednesday surrounded by loved ones at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, her management Token Artists confirmed.
“Cal’s generosity, talent and friendship have been constants in the Australian comedy scene for the last twenty years,” the statement read. “Cal was loved by her family, friends, fans and peers and a huge hole has been torn in the heart of our community.”
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1970, Wilson moved to Melbourne in 2003 to pursue comedy — where she starred in the TV sketch show Skithouse.
Wilson later became a mainstay in Australian comedy, appearing on such shows as Have You Been Paying Attention?, Spicks and Specks, Good News Week, and Would I Lie To You. In 2019, she recorded her own Netflix Comedy Special, Comedians of the World. Most recently, she co-hosted The Great Australian Bake Off, which was in production when Wilson was first admitted to hospital.
A stand-up veteran, Wilson performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival 14 times, and was a member of its board.
In 2019, she recorded her own Netflix Comedy Special, Comedians of the World. That same year, she wrote two children’s books called George and the Great Bum Stampede, and George and the Great Brain Swappery.
This year, a portrait of Wilson, painted by the Cairns artist Andrea Huelin, won the Packing Room Prize at the Archibald Prize.
Huelin, who was a first-time Archibald entrant, said at the time that she had been following Wilson on social media and was charmed by the comedian’s homemade headpieces. “But it was mainly the smile on her face when she was modelling them that got me in … she just looked ridiculously proud of herself and was obviously having fun,” she said.
As news spread of Wilson’s death, many of her comedy and entertainment peers shared tributes to her on social media.
Australian actor Rebel Wilson, whom she worked alongside on the TV series The Wedge, wrote that Wilson was “amazingly talented and amazingly kind”.
“I was very very lucky to work with Cal on multiple projects, especially over the last few years where she wrote brilliant material for me,” she said.
New Zealand actor Rhys Darby, who starred alongside Wilson in the Australian version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? said that the news of her death “hurts hard.”
Darby described Wilson as “an amazing talent” with “such a quick brain and so much style and taste.”
Fellow New Zealand comedian Melanie Bracewell wrote that Wilson was “one of the first Kiwi women I saw on TV regularly being funny.”
“I thought “I so wish I could be her friend”. I feel lucky that I got to know her. Funny, supportive, kind, a lasting legacy.”
Australian comedian Adam Hills said that Wilson was “one of life’s best people” and shared that the news had “broken me slightly.”
“She made everyone happy. Everyone. Off stage and on,” he wrote. “That’s how you live a life. May her spirit live on.”
Wilson is survived by her husband of 15 years, Chris, and son Digby.
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