Cal Wilson was a New Zealander stand-up comedian, author, radio and television presenter who was based in Australia.
The New Zealander who made Australia home died on 11 October 2023 at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, Sydney.
Her death was confirmed in a statement released by her artist management agency. She died on Wednesday “surrounded by family and friends after a short illness at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney”, the statement read.
“Cal’s generosity, talent and friendship have been constants in the Australian comedy scene for the last twenty years. Cal was loved by her family, friends, fans and peers and a huge hole has been torn in the heart of our community.”
Cal Wilson Biography
Wilson was born in 1970 in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she began her comedy career in 1990 as a founding member of the improv group The Court Jesters. In 1994, she won the world theatresports title as part of the New Zealand team.
The accolades continued: in 1997, Wilson won the inaugural Billy T award, a New Zealand prize given to emerging comedians. In 2000 she was named best comedian by the Auckland-based magazine Metro.
Wilson moved to Melbourne in 2003, two years after winning the best newcomer award at the Melbourne international comedy festival, where she became a constant fixture, performing 14 shows over her career and serving as a board member.
Soon after her move, Wilson began appearing regularly on Australian comedy shows including Rove Live, Spicks and Specks and Good News Week. A multiple guest on early seasons of Thank God You’re Here, Wilson was also part of the ensemble cast of sketch show The Wedge, a short-lived series that garnered a cult following with its second and final season.
Wilson had a brief stint as a radio host, hosting the national drive show on Nova in 2007, then a morning show with the same network in 2009.
Throughout the next decade, she continued touring and performing. In 2016 she joined the ensemble for Australia’s version of Whose Line is it Anyway?, a role described by her agency as her “dream job”.
Wilson also found international success, recording her own Netflix comedy special at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs festival which was released as part of a 2019 series titled Comedians of the World.
Most recently, she co-hosted the latest season of The Great Australian Bake Off alongside Natalie Tran. Token artist management confirmed the show was in production when Wilson was admitted to hospital for the first time.
Outside of comedy, Wilson also published two children’s books in 2019, and in 2020’s Covid lockdowns, she began crafting outsized, extravagant headdresses.
“Making ridiculous headdresses … kept me sane,” she told the Guardian in an interview. A portrait of her donning a particularly glitzy headdresses adorned with doll’s heads and baubles won the packing room prize at the 2023 Archibalds.
Cal Wilson cause of death
The exact cause of Wilson’s untimely death remains unconfirmed. However, her agency did mention a “short illness.”
This has led to speculations about the illness being the possible reason behind her demise. But until further details or official confirmations emerge, everything remains in the realm of speculation.
Cal Wilson Husband
The Billy T award winner married her husband, Chris Woods, in an intimate ceremony in 2008.
Cal Wilson Children
They had a 14-year-old son, Digby. She has said during interviews that they had a strong bond and they spent a lot of time together in the kitchen.
Cal Wilson Parents
Cal Wilson’s father Graeme was an engineer and her mother Barbara, worked as a primary school teacher.
Cal Wilson Siblings
She has two brothers Richard and Sean who are civil engineers and physiotherapists respectively.
Cal Wilson Family
Father: Graeme Wilson
Mother : Barbara Wilson
Siblings: Richard and Sean Wilson
Spouse : Chris Woods
Child : Digby
Cal Wilson Net Worth
Cal Wilson had an estimated net worth of $5 million at the time of her death.
She accrued her money from her work as a stand-up comedian, author, and radio and television presenter.
FAQs
What was Cal Wilson known for?
She was a celebrated stand-up comedian, author, and TV presenter based in Australia.
When did Cal Wilson pass away?
She passed away on October 11, 2023.
How old was Cal Wilson at the time of her death?
She was 53 years old.
Has the cause of her death been confirmed?
No, the exact cause hasn’t been confirmed, though her agency mentioned she battled a “short illness.”
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