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.
Early life
Duke was born in St. Catharines, 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. 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. 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, since NBC had acquired that show to run as a possible replacement for Saturday Night Live at the time. Duke's most popular character was Wendy Whiner, a woman who, with her equally whiny husband (Joe Piscopo), annoyed everyone she met. 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: Bob and Margaret Atomic Betty Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse
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.
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 +YearTitleRole Notes1979RunningOlympic Office Receptionist1986Club ParadiseMary Lou1987Blue MonkeySandra Baker1991MotoramaMiss Lawton1992Only YouMrs. Johnson1992There Goes the NeighborhoodThe Colangelos1993Groundhog DayDoris the Waitress1994I Love TroubleSandra1995Stuart Saves His FamilyCousin Denise1996MultiplicityBallet School Receptionist2015Portrait of a Serial MonogamistAbby Neufeld2025John Candy: I Like MeHerselfDocumentary2026The SnakeAnne
Television YearTitleRole Notes1976–81Second City TelevisionVarious27 episodes1977King of KensingtonDorisEpisode: "The Quiz Show"1981–84Saturday Night LiveVarious59 episodes1985 The Last PolkaMax LemonTelevision film1988 The Second City Toronto 15th AnniversaryFlorence Allen1989I, Martin Short, Goes HollywoodDrunk Woman1990, 1991Maniac MansionCarla / Jazz Pope2 episodes1994Hostage for a DayElizabeth KooeyTelevision film1996 The Adventures of Dudley the DragonTiny RaincloudEpisode: "Dudley and the Tiny Raincloud"1996–97Boston CommonDr. Brenda Nidorf4 episodes1996, 1997North of 60Faith2 episodes1996–98Stickin' AroundVoice7 episodes1997F/X: The SeriesWomanEpisode: "Shooting Mickey"1997–98 The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance PoliceVoice15 episodes1998 The Outer LimitsSheriff Marie DuPontEpisode: "Glyphic"1998Degas and the DancerZoeTelevision film1998–2000Bad DogVoice15 episodes1999–2000George and MarthaPenny26 episodes1999–2000Blaster's UniverseVoice13 episodes2000QuintsFionaTelevision film2000 The Sandy Bottom OrchestraMrs. Johnson2000Marvin the Tap-Dancing HorseEdnaEpisode: "Eddy's Job/ Elephants Almost Never Forget"2000Virtual MomMaude GozmeckiTelevision film2001Bob and MargaretJoyceEpisode: "Fish at the Bat"2002MonkAunt MinnEpisode: "Mr. Monk and the Airplane"2003Moville MysteriesMountain MargeEpisode: "Something Fishy in Lake Gimmee-Gimmee-Itchee-Owee"2004–05Atomic BettyMiss Dourly4 episodes2005Train 48MiriamEpisode #1.26620056teenMimiEpisode: "Pillow Talk"2006Getting Along FamouslyPeggy6 episodes2006 The Jane ShowJane's momEpisode: "Daddy's Home"2012I, Martin Short, Goes HomePrincess AnneTelevision film2012Comedy BarChris' Grandmother2 episodes2014Rocky RoadFiona DraperTelevision film2015–17Man Seeking WomanPatti19 episodes2016–19Schitt's CreekWendy Kurtz6 episodes2018Max & RubyKatieEpisode: "Max and Ruby's Bunnyhop Parade"2019BigfootMrs. HowzendufferEpisode: "Community Profile" 2023 Shelved Unhoused Wendy Supporting role
References
External links