Robin Duke
Born (1954-03-13) March 13, 1954
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian
Years active1976–present
SpouseHendrik Riik
Children1

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]

Early life

Duke was born in Etobicoke, Ontario. She went to high school with Catherine O'Hara at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke; they first met in homeroom class.

Career

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"

Saturday Night Live (SNL) (1981–1984)

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".

Film acting credits

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.

Voice-over acting credits

Duke is also the voice of Penny in the children's animated television series George and Martha. Her other voice roles include:

Women Fully Clothed (2004)

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]

Schitt's Creek (2016, 2019)

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”.

Filmography

Film

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

Television

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

References

  1. ↑ "Robin Duke Biography". Humber College. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  2. ↑ Wright, Megh (3 April 2012). "Saturday Night's Children". Vulture.com. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ Shales, Tom (2015). Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests. Back Bay Books. p. 184. ISBN 978-0316295062.
  4. ↑ van Rheenen, Erik (May 18, 2013). "The Post-SNL Careers of 5 Featured Players". Mental Floss.
  5. ↑ Sumi, Glenn (May 6, 2010). "Women Fully Clothed: Older and Hotter". Now.
  6. ↑ Wheeler, Brad (June 15, 2011). "More bladder-busting laughs from Women Fully Clothed quartet". The Globe and Mail.
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