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{{short description|American actress}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Thea Vidale
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Thea R. Vidale
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|11|20}}
| birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| medium = {{hlist|[[Stand-up comedy|Stand-up]]|television|[[film]]}}
| nationality = [[Americans|American]]
| years_active = 1986–present
| genre = {{hlist|[[Black comedy]]|[[Ribaldry#Blue comedy|Blue comedy]]|[[observational comedy]]}}
| subject = {{hlist|[[Race relations]]|[[human sexuality]]|[[African-American culture]]}}
<!-- Infobox comedian does not support the following parameter:
| influenced =
-->
| notable_works = ''[[Thea (TV series)|Thea]]''
| family =
| children = 4
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Thea R. Vidale''' (born November 20, 1956) is an American [[stand-up comedy|stand-up comedian]] and actress.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review/Television; Finally, Mother Knows Best |last= O'Connor| first= John J.|date=September 29, 1993|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/29/arts/review-television-finally-mother-knows-best.html|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Vidale is perhaps best known for her role as Thea Armstrong-Turrell in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom ''[[Thea (TV series)|Thea]]'', which originally aired from 1993 until 1994. Vidale is noted as the first African American female comedian to have a television series named after her.
==Early life and education==
Vidale was born in [[Washington, D.C.]] into a military family with three sisters and moved around frequently. Her family moved to [[Victoria, Texas]] when she was 12 years old.<ref name= Addicted-Laughter /> She graduated from Victoria High School in 1975 or 1976.<ref name= Addicted-Laughter />{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} After high school, Vidale worked as a waitress in [[Pasadena, Texas]]<ref name= Addicted-Laughter /> before friends encouraged her to be a comedian.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f5hQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ABMEAAAAIBAJ&dq=thea%20vidale%20waitress&pg=5098%2C2218260 |title= ABC Comedy 'Thea' Falls Into Netherworld |work= [[Milwaukee Sentinel]]| via= Google News| date= September 8, 1993}}</ref><ref name= Addicted-Laughter />
==Career==
Vidale began her career in 1986 performing at amateur [[stand-up comedy]] nights in [[Houston]]<ref name= Addicted-Laughter /> before quickly progressing to comedy clubs in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles. She appeared in the [[cable television|cable]] comedy special ''[[Rodney Dangerfield]]: Opening Night at Rodney's Place'' on [[HBO]] in 1989. On the same special were such notables as [[Tim Allen]], [[Jeff Foxworthy]], and [[Sam Kinison]]. She performed on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' and toured internationally.<ref name= Addicted-Laughter /> Vidale's most prominent featured role on a TV series was as the title character, a single mother, on the short-lived 1993 sitcom ''[[Thea (TV series)|Thea]]''.<ref name= dailypress /> The show lasted only one season in which it was noted to be "ranked near 50 out of approximately 75 shows in the weekly Nielsen ratings" <ref name= dailypress /> Nevertheless, she was nominated for a [[People's Choice Award]] as Favorite Female in a New Series.{{citation needed|date= July 2020}} She was regularly a judge on the [[BET]] comedy competition TV series ''Comic View''.<ref name= Addicted-Laughter /> She has performed on numerous sitcoms, including ''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]'', ''[[The Wayans Bros.]]'', ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'', and ''[[My Wife and Kids]]''. Vidale made a guest appearance, playing a hairdresser, in the episode "[[Queens for a Day (Ugly Betty episode)|Queens for a Day]]" (2007) of the television series ''[[Ugly Betty]]''. That same year, she played the part of Helen's grandmother on the [[Drake & Josh]] episode "Really Big Shrimp". Vidale provided the voice of [[Mammy Two Shoes]] in re-dubbed versions of 19 ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' cartoons from 1989 to 2001. She has performed in [[feature film]]s such as 1995's ''[[Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde]]'', [[Jerry Springer]]'s ''[[Ringmaster (film)|Ringmaster]]''<ref name= Addicted-Laughter /> in 1998, and the 2006 [[Master P]] comedy ''Repos''.
===Later stand-up career===
Her national comedy tour in 1999 was titled ''Thea Vidale, Down & Dirty''.<ref name= Addicted-Laughter>{{cite news| via= Google News| url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n0wcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dVkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2592%2C58307 |title= Comedienne Addicted To Laughter |work= The Victoria Advocate | place= Victoria, Texas| date= February 1, 1999| access-date= July 30, 2020| page= 6A}} continued on [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n0wcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dVkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2592%2C58307 p. 12]</ref> In 2007, she competed on the reality television show ''[[Last Comic Standing#Season 5: Summer 2007|Last Comic Standing]]'', making it to the second round.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punchlinemagazine.com/blog/?p=101 |title=Last Comic Standing: 32 minutes in |access-date=2007-06-21 |work= PunchlineMagazine.com |quote=And the LA winners are: Thea Vidale...}}</ref> In 2009, Vidale was part of the ''Hot Tamales Live! presented by [[Kiki Melendez]]'' comedy tour, which was filmed for [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.mysanantonio.com/sacultura/Hot_Tamales_Live_Comedy_with_a_twist.html |work= San Antonio Express-News| title= 'Hot Tamales Live': Comedy with a twist| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091008091022/http://www.mysanantonio.com/sacultura/Hot_Tamales_Live_Comedy_with_a_twist.html |archive-date=2009-10-08 }}</ref> On December 12, 2012, she appeared on ''[[Standup in Stilettos]]'', a standup comedy show on the [[TV Guide Network]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1704761.php/TV-Guide-StandUp-In-Stilettos-Premiering-on-November-10 |title= TV Guide 'StandUp In Stilettos' Premiering on November 10| website= Monstersandcritics.com| first= April | last= MacIntyre | date= October 8, 2012| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130129094218/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1704761.php/TV-Guide-StandUp-In-Stilettos-Premiering-on-November-10 | archive-date= 2013-01-29 }}</ref> She performed on the third and seventh episode of the first season of the [[Gabriel Iglesias]] stand-up series ''[[Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution|Stand Up Revolution]]''. In 2022 and 2024, Vidale worked with Carnival Cruise Lines as one of their comedians, and still works with Carnival cruises line as of April 3 2025.
===Other media appearances===
In 1999, Vidale appeared at the [[Philadelphia]] LGBT Pride Fest, her first LGBT event, with comic [[Etta May]]. Both were honored by the city's mayor, who officially named the day simultaneously "Thea Vidale Day" and "Etta May Day".<ref>{{cite web|title=Improv welcomes Thea Vidale to Harveys|date=August 27, 2008|author=Nave, Howie|url=https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/improv-welcomes-thea-vidale-to-harveys/|work=Tahoe Daily Tribune}}</ref> Vidale served as co-host for both the 2005 and 2009 [[AVN Awards]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://avn.com/video/articles/33650.html |website= AVN.com| title= A Missing Breast Does Not An Annulment Make| date= March 22, 2000| access-date= July 30, 2020}}</ref>
===Professional Wrestling===
Vidale performed on [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) in 2006. She appeared as the mother to wrestler [[Shelton Benjamin]], who had been going through difficulties in the preceding weeks. Her first appearance was on the January 2 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060102.html |title=RAW results - January 2, 2006 |access-date=2007-06-21 |website= onlineworldofwrestling.com| publisher= Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Over the next several weeks, "Momma Benjamin" was involved in several backstage skits resulting in her challenging wrestlers to matches on Shelton's behalf. Shelton won the majority of these matches, breaking his losing streak that existed before her arrival.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060109.html |title=RAW results - January 9, 2006 |access-date=2007-06-21 |website= onlineworldofwrestling.com| publisher= Online World of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060116.html |title=RAW results - January 16, 2006 |access-date=2007-06-21 |website= onlineworldofwrestling.com| publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author = PWI Staff |title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated |work = Arena Reports |publisher = Kappa Publishing |date=May 2006 |page = 130 |quote = Shelton Benjamin pinned Goldust }}</ref>
On the February 6, 2006, episode of ''RAW'', Momma Benjamin attempted to interfere in Shelton's match with the [[Big Show]], only to have the Big Show turn to her and scream in her face. After he turned back to finish the match (which he won), Momma Benjamin [[Syncope (medicine)|fainted]] to the ground, prompting [[Emergency medical technician|EMTs]] to rush to her side and wheel her backstage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060206.html |title=RAW results - February 6, 2006 |access-date=2007-06-21 |website= onlineworldofwrestling.com |publisher= Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> The official WWE website later announced that she was resting at home after suffering from a [[cardiac arrhythmia|heart arrhythmia]], which was what caused her to pass out. Momma Benjamin returned to ''Raw'' the next week,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060213.html |title=RAW results - February 13, 2006 |website= onlineworldofwrestling.com |access-date= 2007-06-21 |publisher= Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> but with an oxygen tank attached to her wheelchair that started being used as a [[Foreign object (professional wrestling)|weapon]], especially on the February 20 episode when she led Shelton to winning the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]], in the process turning them both heel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060220.html |title=RAW results - February 20, 2006 |access-date=2007-06-21 |website= onlineworldofwrestling.com |publisher= Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Momma Benjamin was mentioned for the final time on WWE television on March 13, with Shelton announcing to the crowd that she was having heart surgery, and had no plans to return to WWE.<ref>{{cite web |website= onlineworldofwrestling.com |url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060313.html |title=RAW results - March 13, 2006 |access-date=2007-06-21 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Vidale has spoken often about her troubled marriage where she suffered physical abuse from her husband.<ref name= dailypress /> She has four children<ref name= Stern2010 /> from that marriage and later left the children with her ex-husband when she was touring.<ref name= dailypress /> She has spoken frequently about her faith in God.<ref name= dailypress>{{cite news| url= https://www.dailypress.com/1994/05/20/will-the-real-thea-vidale-do-stand-up/ |title= Will The Real Thea Vidale Do Stand-up?: Sassy TV Mom To Perform At Norfolk Comedy Theater May 20, 1994| first= Monette |last= Austin| work= [[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]| date= May 20, 1994 | place= Toronto| access-date= July 30, 2020}}</ref>
On October 21, 2010, Vidale was a guest on ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]'', where she announced she had decided to have [[gastric bypass surgery]] because she had developed complications resulting from [[diabetes mellitus type 2|type 2 diabetes]]. She stated, "I have four children. This is not about vanity...I want it to be like a rebirth. A new me. A healthier me."<ref name= Stern2010>{{cite web| url= http://howardstern.com/rundown.hs?j=p&d=1287720000 |title= Thea Vidale's Hard Life: The Howard Stern Show for October 21, 2010| date= October 21, 2010|website= HowardStern.com| interviewer= [[Howard Stern]]| first= Thea| last= Vidale| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724031320/http://howardstern.com/rundown.hs?j=p&d=1287720000 |archive-date= 2011-07-24 |access-date= July 30, 2020}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1988
|''[[Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen]]''
|{{N/a}}
|Documentary
|-
|1995
|''[[Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde]]''
|Valerie
|
|-
|1998
|[[Ringmaster (film)|''Ringmaster'']]
|Juanita
|
|-
|2000
|[[Punks (film)|''Punks'']]
|Nurse
|
|-
|2006
|''Repos''
|Coffee's Mama
|Direct-to-video
|-
|2009
|''[[Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy]]''
|{{N/a}}
|Documentary
|-
|2011
|''Queen of Media''
|Salon Manager
|
|-
|2013
|''Douglass U''
|Mrs. Windsor
|
|-
|2013
|''Lineage''
|Louise
|
|-
|2013
|''Scavenger Killers''
|Velma Rodriguez
|
|-
|2015
|''Love Won't Let Me Wait''
|Aunt Willia Mae
|
|}
=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1990
|''...Where's Rodney?''
|Teacher
|Television film
|-
|1993–1994
|[[Thea (TV series)|''Thea'']]
|Thea Turrell
|19 episodes
|-
|1994
|''[[Totally Bill Hicks]]''
|{{N/a}}
|Television film
|-
|1995
|[[Ellen (TV series)|''Ellen'']]
|Technician
|Episode: "Two Mammograms and a Wedding"
|-
|1997
|''[[The Wayans Bros.]]''
|Big Mama
|2 episodes
|-
|-
|2001
|''[[The Drew Carey Show]]''
|Mimi's Double
|Episode: "What's Wrong with This Episode IV"
|-
|2002
|''[[My Wife and Kids]]''
|Aunt Evelyn
|Episode: "Get Out"
|-
|2003
|[[Whoopi (TV series)|''Whoopi'']]
|Arbitrator
|Episode: "The Fat and the Frivolous"
|-
|2004
|''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''
|Crystal Fergin
|Episode: "Mad Hops"
|-
|2006
|''[[WWE Raw]]''
|Mama Benjamin
|10 episodes
|-
|2006
|''[[Ugly Betty]]''
|Cholli
|Episode: "[[Queens for a Day]]"
|-
|2006
|''[[WWE New Year's Revolution]]''
| rowspan="2" |Mama Benjamin
| rowspan="2" |Television special
|-
|2006
|''[[Royal Rumble]]''
|-
|2007
|''[[Drake & Josh]]''
|Lula DuBois
|Episode: "Really Big Shrimp"
|}
==References==
{{reflist|35em}}
==External links==
*{{
{{authority control}}
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[[Category:Professional wrestling
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[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:Actresses from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:American women comedians]]
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[[Category:21st-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
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