Chandra Wilson is a renowned American actress and director, widely recognized for her portrayal of Miranda Bailey in Grey’s Anatomy since 2005. She has received four nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Early Life & Education
Chandra Danette Wilson was born on August 27, 1969, in Houston, Texas. Her mother, who worked as a postal employee, ensured that Chandra participated in various extracurricular activities after school.
Chandra completed her education at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts before obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1991. From 1991 to 1995, she furthered her training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.
In the same year, Wilson made her professional debut in New York with the production ‘The Good Times Are Killing Me,’ which garnered her a Theater World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance. Additionally, she participated in off-Broadway productions such as ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Paper Moon: The Musical.’
Chandra Wilson’s Career
Chandra Wilson made her television debut in a 1989 episode of ‘The Cosby Show,’ followed by guest appearances on ‘One Life to Live’ (1991), ‘CBS Schoolbreak Special’ (1992), and ‘Law & Order’ (1992).
Her first feature film was ‘Philadelphia’ (1993), which received five Academy Award nominations. Subsequently, she featured in ‘Lone Star’ (1996), ‘Head of State’ (2003), and ‘Strangers with Candy’ (2005), lent her voice to Coretta Scott King in ‘A Single Woman’ (2008), and earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for her role in the TV movie ‘Accidental Friendship’ (2008).
Chandra Wilson made guest appearances on several television shows, including “Cosby” (2000), “Third Watch” (2001), “100 Centre Street” (2001), “Sex and the City” (2002), “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2002; 2005), “Queens Supreme” (2003), and “The Sopranos” (2004). Additionally, she portrayed the character Claudia in the 2001 ABC sitcom “Bob Patterson.”
Wilson achieved significant recognition by securing the role of Dr. Miranda Bailey in the ABC medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’
She has been a part of the series since its debut in 2005, and she reprised her character in one episode of ‘Private Practice’ (2009) as well as in over 20 episodes of ‘Station 19’ (2018–2024). As of now, Chandra has received four Primetime Emmy nominations for her performance on the show.
Chandra Wilson was also featured in the films ‘Frankie and Alice’ (2010) and ‘Christmas Harmony’ (2018), as well as the short film ‘Muted’ (2014). In 2021, she participated in ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,’ representing the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Personal Life
Chandra Wilson and her husband have been together for over thirty years. They have raised three children together: daughters Sarina, born in 1992, and Joylin, born in 1998, as well as their son Michael, born in 2005.
Net Worth
Chandra Wilson is a renowned American actress, producer, and director with a net worth estimated at $10 million. She is most recognized for her portrayal of Dr. Miranda Bailey in the ABC medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–present), a role for which she received an Emmy nomination and later reprised in ‘Private Practice’ (2009) and ‘Station 19’ (2018–2024).
