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Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson
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Victoria Jackson (born August 2, 1959) is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Jackson was born in Miami, Florida, the daughter of Marlene Esther (née Blackstad) and James McCaslin Jackson, a gym coach.[2] From the age of 5 until she was 18, Jackson's father trained her in gymnastics.[3]

After graduating from high school, Jackson attended Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida, later transferring to Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina on a gymnastics scholarship. At Furman, she was cast in her first play. She transferred to Auburn University in 1979 for her senior year, changing her major to theater. Midway through her senior year, she left Auburn to pursue an acting career.[3][4]

In the 2000s, Jackson earned a degree in theater from Palm Beach Atlantic University.[5]

Acting and comedy

[edit]

While doing summer stock theater in Alabama, Jackson met former child actor Johnny Crawford of the 1950s television series The Rifleman, who cast her in his nightclub act. She moved to Los Angeles in 1981,[6] working various day jobs and performing comedy at night.[7][8][9] Her first big break was an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where she recited poetry while doing a handstand.[7][10][11] She went on to appear on the show 20 times.[7] In 1984 she appeared in the pilot for W*A*L*T*E*R, a M*A*S*H spin-off that the networks did not pick up.[12]

Following a role in the short-lived 1985 television series Half Nelson,[13] Jackson received an offer to audition for the cast of Saturday Night Live. Because she was not confident her audition had gone well, she performed several impersonations on her next Tonight Show appearance and sent the tape to SNL's Lorne Michaels. After viewing the tape, Michaels asked Jackson to join the show.[14][15] A regular cast member from 1986 to 1992,[16] Jackson often appeared on the show's weekly Weekend Update segment as a correspondent who goes off topic, reciting poetry and doing backbends or handstands on the desk.[5][14] She was also known for recurring skit roles where she impersonated Roseanne Barr, Sally Struthers and Zsa Zsa Gabor.[5][17]

During her tenure on SNL, Jackson was cast in a number of films, including Baby Boom, Family Business, I Love You to Death,[16] UHF,[7] The Pick-up Artist,[18] The Couch Trip,[19] and Casual Sex?.[14] Her film career continued after her 1992 departure from Saturday Night Live, but mostly in unknown or unnoticed films. On television, she was cast as the lead of her own sitcom, co-starring George Clooney. When there was a change in management at Fox, the show was scrapped without being broadcast.[7] In 1994, she appeared as "Beverly" in the In the Heat of the Night[20] episode "Good Cop, Bad Cop", and in 1999 she appeared as the unrequited love of a small-town man who can control the weather in The X-Files episode "The Rain King".[21]

Jackson had a regular role as Patty in the 2000–2001 Comedy Central sitcom Strip Mall and in the 2003–2004 seasons of the Nickelodeon show Romeo!.[16] In 2004 and 2005, she had roles in two romantic comedies, Shut Up and Kiss Me! and Her Minor Thing.[16] During this period, Jackson appeared on the game show Hollywood Squares and participated in the show Celebrity Fit Club.[16] She played multiple characters in the 2014 direct-to-video movie Campin' Buddies.[22][23]

Political views

[edit]
Jackson at a Tea Party rally in 2009

A self-described conservative Christian, Jackson has appeared in productions such as the 2007 Christian comedy concert Thou Shalt Laugh 2: The Deuce[24] as well as a dozen times on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher.[16] She supported the Tea Party movement through appearances at events as well as her website, which was affiliated with the Liberty Alliance.[25]

In October 2008, she appeared with other celebrities on The O'Reilly Factor in a National Republican Senatorial Committee advertisement poking fun at Al Franken, a fellow Saturday Night Live alumnus then running for the United States Senate from Minnesota.[26]

Beginning in 2008, Jackson stated that she believed Barack Obama to be a communist.[5][27][28][29][30] In 2015, she claimed that Obama was an "Islamic jihadist" and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, with members of the organization in his cabinet, and that Obama's support for legal abortion and same-sex marriage showed he was not a Christian.[31][32][33]

In 2011, Jackson criticized the TV show Glee for showing a kiss between two male actors, calling it "sickening" and citing the Bible to justify her criticism. When accused of homophobia, Jackson countered that the label was merely a "cute liberal buzzword" and suggested that Glee be replaced with a show promoting celibacy.[34]

In 2011, Jackson joined the staff of Patriot Update as a writer and video blogger and host of the talk show Politichicks. Co-hosts included Ann-Marie Murrell, Jannique Stewart, and Jennie Jones.[35][36] Jackson wrote a satirical song for "Politichicks" titled "Shariah Law", with the song's lyrics claiming, "They [Muslims] like beheadings and pedophile weddings".[35] Among her work for Patriot Update was a piece on Occupy Wall Street that was critical of the protesters.[37][38]

In 2012, White Hall publishers, part of the Liberty Alliance, released Jackson's autobiography Is My Bow Too Big? How I Went from Saturday Night Live to the Tea Party.[25][39][40]

In 2012, after Todd Akin's remarks regarding pregnancies resulting from rape, Jackson said "If I got raped, I would have the baby. And if I didn't want to keep it because I had these horrible nightmares, I would adopt it out. But I think that God can turn a bad thing into a good thing, and that if I got raped and a beautiful baby who was innocent was born out of it, that would be a blessing."[41]

In 2014, Jackson filed a petition as an independent candidate for one of two District 2 seats in Williamson County, Tennessee. She received 632 votes, not enough to secure either seat against the incumbent candidates.[42][43]

In 2023, Jackson objected to Franklin, Tennessee holding a gay pride parade.[44]

Personal life

[edit]

Jackson married a fellow performer, fire-eating magician Nisan Mark Eventoff, in 1984,[6] and had a daughter. They divorced in 1991.[5] Shortly thereafter, she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Paul Wessel, then a Miami-Dade SWAT team police officer, and they married and had a daughter.[3] When her husband retired in 2013, the couple moved to Nashville, Tennessee.[3][24] Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.[45] She announced through an Instagram post in August 2024 that her breast cancer had metastasized and she had been diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in her windpipe.[46]

Filmography

[edit]

Books

[edit]
  • Is My Bow Too Big? How I Went from Saturday Night Live to the Tea Party, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4675-0256-6
  • Lavender Hair: 21 Devotions for Women with Breast Cancer, 2017, ISBN 978-1-4245-5562-8

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Victoria Jackson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Victoria Jackson (born August 2, 1959) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and conservative commentator recognized primarily for her six-year stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992, where she portrayed characters often featuring her distinctive high-pitched voice and physical comedy style.
Born and raised in a devout Christian household in Miami, Florida, without television exposure, Jackson competed in gymnastics from ages five to eighteen under her father's coaching before transitioning to stand-up comedy and musical performances that propelled her into national prominence. Her career included guest spots on shows like The Tonight Show and roles in films such as Casual Sex? (1988) and UHF (1989), but post-SNL, she shifted toward evangelical advocacy, producing content critical of secular Hollywood influences and progressive policies.
Jackson's defining later characteristics involve vocal conservatism informed by her faith, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and what she describes as communist influences in American politics, such as her 2012 song alleging a "communist" in the White House during Barack Obama's presidency; these stances have sparked controversies, including public Bible-based condemnations of homosexuality at local government meetings and assertions of ideological bias against traditionalist views in entertainment. She unsuccessfully ran as an independent for a Tennessee county commission seat in 2014 and has supported figures like Donald Trump. In August 2024, she disclosed the recurrence of her breast cancer, estimating a prognosis of 34.8 months.

Early Life and Education

Family and Upbringing

Victoria Jackson was born on August 2, 1959, in , Florida, into a middle-class emphasizing traditional and discipline. Raised in a Bible-believing household without television, her early environment revolved around structured routines of schoolwork, , piano practice, , and , fostering a foundation of creativity alongside rigorous self-control. Her father, James McCaslin Jackson, a teacher and coach, played a pivotal role in her upbringing by personally training her in from age five to eighteen, which involved daily competitions and performances that built her resilience and performative flair. This hands-on paternal guidance created a strict, achievement-oriented atmosphere, where physical prowess and perseverance were prioritized as core virtues. Jackson's mother, Marlene Jackson, a homemaker, complemented this by nurturing her daughter's vocal talents and artistic inclinations, encouraging singing in family and church settings that sparked an early interest in musical expression and lighthearted performance. These parental influences—fatherly discipline through and maternal support for creative outlets—shaped Jackson's energetic, uninhibited personality, blending physical vitality with whimsical self-expression in her formative years.

Gymnastics and Early Performances

Jackson began competitive at age five, trained by her father, James McCaslin Jackson, who worked as a gymnastics coach, and continued until age eighteen. Her proficiency in the sport secured a gymnastics scholarship to in . At Dade Christian School in , Jackson participated as a cheerleader and was named homecoming queen in 1976. These activities involved performative elements, such as routines and public appearances, which complemented the discipline and poise developed through years of gymnastics training and competitions. Upon enrolling at , Jackson transitioned into theatrical pursuits, securing a role in her first play, which introduced her to and highlighted her emerging entertainment talents beyond athletic performance. This early stage experience built on the resilience and presence fostered by her background, paving the way for further discoveries in drama during college.

Formal Education

Jackson attended Florida Bible College following high school graduation in 1977. She subsequently received a scholarship to , where she first performed in theater productions, sparking her interest in acting. In 1979, she transferred to to study theater but departed after one year without completing a degree, opting instead to relocate to and pursue performance opportunities. To finance her early acting ambitions in the late and early 1980s, Jackson held various jobs, including waitressing and working as a . She later returned to formal education, earning a in philosophy from in the 2000s and a in from in 2021. These later credentials supplemented her initial path, which prioritized practical experience over extended academic enrollment.

Comedy and Acting Career

Stand-Up and Local Beginnings

Jackson relocated to in the early 1980s to launch her comedy career, taking on day jobs such as waitress, cigarette girl, and typist at the while honing her stand-up routine at local venues including on open-mic nights. Her performances emphasized a signature high-pitched vocal delivery and impressions of exaggerated female archetypes, such as airheaded characters reminiscent of stereotypes, which distinguished her amid the competitive club circuit and drew initial local buzz. This groundwork yielded minor opportunities, including a role in the 1984 Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland, providing early on-screen visibility before broader national exposure.

Breakthrough in Television and Film

Jackson first garnered national television exposure through multiple guest spots on Starring , appearing seven times between 1983 and 1986, where she performed stand-up routines emphasizing her gymnastic flexibility, including handstands and flips, alongside her signature high-pitched, breathy vocal style. These performances highlighted her , drawing from her competitive experience, and differentiated her from contemporaries by prioritizing whimsical, non-confrontational humor over aggressive or topical . In film, Jackson landed early supporting roles that built her on-screen resume, including a part in the thriller Double Exposure (1982), directed by William Khalfay, and a role in the action-disaster movie Firestorm (1984), which depicted a volcanic eruption scenario. She also appeared in the CBS pilot TV movie WALTER* (1984), a MASH* spin-off starring Gary Burghoff, playing a drugstore clerk who befriends the protagonist. These credits, though modest, demonstrated her versatility in blending ditzy character work with physicality, appealing to producers seeking lighthearted performers. Jackson further refined her comedic timing in the sketch series Bizarre (1985), a Canadian production hosted by , where she contributed to absurd, variety-style segments that echoed her stand-up's apolitical, playful tone. This exposure helped cultivate a reputation for accessible , free of partisan edge, which resonated with broad audiences and paved the way for major network opportunities by emphasizing relatable, escapist laughs over ideological commentary.

Saturday Night Live Era

Victoria Jackson was hired as a featured player for the twelfth season of in September 1986, amid the show's mid-1980s ratings decline following the departure of key cast members like . Her recruitment stemmed from over 20 appearances on Starring , where her distinctive high-pitched voice and style—marked by handstands and flexible —caught producers' attention, leading to her joining alongside newcomers , , , and . Jackson's energetic, non-conformist persona, characterized by a ditzy yet abrasive delivery, injected cartoonish vitality into sketches, aiding the program's revival under producer and later ' renewed oversight. Spanning six seasons through 1992, Jackson's tenure featured her in over 100 live sketches, often as naive ingenues or quirky supporting roles that highlighted her and acrobatic flair. Recurring appearances included Jenny Baker, the wide-eyed niece to Dana Carvey's , in "Church Chat" segments critiquing celebrity scandals and cultural vices, such as the November 8, 1986, episode with . She contributed to with through musical commentaries like "I Am Not a Bimbo" on April 9, 1988, and handstand poetry readings, blending whimsy with satirical edge. Additional highlights encompassed Brenda Clark in "Toonces the Driving Cat" driving mishaps and the "Handi-Off" parody commercial for adaptive devices. Jackson exited after the 17th on May 16, 1992, during which she portrayed a reckless pregnant character in the "Bad Expectant Mother" sketch opposite , reflecting her real-life pregnancy at the time. Her departure aligned with a shift toward family priorities, as she later cited the demanding schedule's incompatibility with motherhood. Throughout her run, Jackson's versatility supported ensemble dynamics, enhancing the era's mix of and absurd humor without developing a singular breakout .

Post-SNL Projects and Ventures

Following her departure from Saturday Night Live in 1992, Jackson pursued roles in film and television, including the family-oriented feature No More Baths released in 1998, where she appeared alongside . She secured a recurring television role as the character , a barmaid, in the sitcom , which aired for two seasons from 2000 to 2001 and centered on the chaotic operations of a suburban . Jackson also featured in the teen sitcom Romeo!, playing a supporting role across the 2003 and 2004 seasons, which followed the exploits of a young rapper and his family. In the mid-2000s, Jackson appeared in the comedy (2004), a film depicting aspiring stand-up performers navigating the New York comedy scene. Her later film work shifted toward independent and faith-based productions, including the romantic comedy The Matchmaker, the Christian drama Saving Faith, the inspirational Heaven Bound, and the holiday-themed —though the latter title may refer to seasonal variants like Get Him to the Dancefloor or similar festive entries—maintaining her presence in niche entertainment markets through the 2010s. Parallel to her acting, Jackson ventured into entrepreneurship with her cosmetics brand, initially launched in 1986 but expanded via pioneering infomercials starting in 1989, which aired extensively in the 1990s and emphasized natural, color-coordinated application techniques. These half-hour television spots, among the first for a cosmetics line, generated substantial revenue—reportedly in the millions—by directly demonstrating products to viewers and driving direct sales, marking a commercial pivot before her later focus shifted elsewhere.

Political Views and Activism

Awakening to Conservatism

Jackson's transition to overt political conservatism in the mid-2000s stemmed from accumulating frustrations with Hollywood's prevailing cultural norms, which she perceived as increasingly at odds with her personal values rooted in her Baptist upbringing. After leaving Saturday Night Live in 1992 and pursuing subsequent projects in entertainment, she encountered an industry environment dominated by liberal ideologies that marginalized dissenting views. This disillusionment culminated in 2007 when she joined Friends of Abe, an informal, secretive network founded by actor Gary Sinise to foster camaraderie and professional support among conservative entertainers wary of reprisals for their beliefs. A deepening commitment to her Christian faith, influenced by family priorities and scriptural study, further propelled her rejection of what she viewed as leftist cultural encroachments on traditional norms. Jackson has attributed this period to a personal reevaluation prioritizing biblical principles over secular Hollywood conventions, marking a shift from relative professional reticence to principled outspokenness. Her political engagement intensified during the 2008 U.S. presidential election, when she launched initial blog posts scrutinizing Barack Obama's background, associations, and proposed policies—such as wealth redistribution and —which she interpreted through a lens of historical communist ideologies. Jackson explicitly warned of Obama's potential alignment with such frameworks, drawing on analyses of his mentors and platform to argue against his candidacy on ideological grounds. This marked her entry into public political commentary, blending policy critique with appeals to and .

Endorsements and Public Stances

Jackson publicly endorsed as the Republican vice-presidential nominee in the 2008 election, aligning with the McCain-Palin ticket's emphasis on challenging entrenched political elites. She has repeatedly voiced support for starting with his 2016 presidential campaign, praising his outsider status and resistance to establishment norms, and reaffirmed this backing through the 2024 election cycle via posts urging votes for him. Jackson has opposed the , known as Obamacare, arguing it enables government overreach, including unsubstantiated claims that it authorizes a presidential "" to target political opponents, reflecting her broader skepticism of federal expansion into healthcare based on concerns over centralized control and inefficiency. On , she maintains a pro-life position, asserting that fetal development constitutes human life from conception—citing biological markers like heartbeat detection around six weeks—and opposing exceptions even in cases, where she has stated she would carry the to term. In defending free speech, Jackson has criticized perceived biases in media and entertainment that suppress conservative viewpoints, drawing from her experiences on where she felt marginalized for her beliefs. She advocates for traditional marriage as a union between one man and one woman, rooted in her interpretation of biblical principles and assertions of its role in fostering family structures linked to lower rates of social issues like and instability, as evidenced by studies on two-parent households.

Advocacy on Cultural Issues

Jackson has vocally opposed the normalization of homosexuality, characterizing it as a biblically prohibited sin. On April 11, 2023, at a Franklin, Tennessee city council meeting debating a proposed LGBTQ Pride festival, she testified that "God hates homosexuality" and "sexual immorality," citing Leviticus 18:22 ("You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination"), Leviticus 20:13, and Romans 1:26-27 to argue that such public celebrations endorse behaviors divine scripture condemns as detestable and contrary to natural order. She further referenced Proverbs 16:18 and Proverbs 6:16-19, linking pride—one of the seven deadly sins—to the event's theme, asserting that endorsing homosexuality invites divine judgment and societal decay. Her critiques extend to media representations that she perceives as indoctrinating audiences, particularly youth, into accepting progressive sexual norms. In a 2011 HLN appearance, Jackson lambasted an episode of the television series Glee featuring a same-sex kiss between characters, describing it as that desensitizes viewers to and undermines traditional rooted in heterosexual norms and biblical ethics. Jackson promotes a as essential for personal virtue and cultural stability, contending that adherence to scriptural principles—rather than secular —fosters genuine human flourishing by aligning behavior with divine design and empirical observations of moral order's consequences. Raised in a conservative Christian environment where informed all decisions, she has shared in interviews that this framework sustained her amid Hollywood's pressures, enabling resilience against cultural decay she attributes to abandoning biblical causality. Through her online content and public testimonies, she urges adoption of this perspective to counteract progressive ideologies, emphasizing its role in preserving biological realities and parental authority over child-rearing against institutional overreach.

Controversies and Criticisms

Hollywood Blacklisting Claims

Victoria Jackson has asserted that her outspoken and Christian faith led to a blacklisting in Hollywood, resulting in diminished mainstream opportunities following her vocal shift around 2008. After departing in 1992, Jackson experienced sporadic roles in lesser-known films and television, but she claims that her public endorsements of conservative causes—particularly after the 2008 presidential election—correlated with a sharp decline in industry offers, despite her established SNL pedigree. She attributes this to an ideological purge favoring left-leaning viewpoints, noting that conservative actors often self-censor or face exclusion to sustain careers. In a prominent 2015 incident tied to the SNL 40th anniversary special, Jackson alleged political bias when she was the only former cast member relegated to an overflow room rather than the main live audience, interpreting it as retribution for her views. A source close to the production denied any ideological motivation, stating that seating was logistical and that Jackson had been offered a main-room spot but declined due to travel constraints. Nonetheless, Jackson framed the exclusion as emblematic of broader industry intolerance, contrasting it with the sustained prominence of liberal-leaning SNL alumni such as and , whose careers flourished without similar ideological hurdles. Jackson's experiences with , a secretive conservative networking group she joined in 2007, further underscored her narrative of industry discrimination. The organization, named after and aimed at supporting right-leaning entertainment professionals, operated underground to evade backlash in a predominantly liberal Hollywood environment. Jackson has described attending these meetings as a turning point that amplified her activism but exacerbated professional isolation, with peers facing risks for associating with conservatives. This aligns with reports of the group's clandestine nature, driven by fears of career sabotage amid empirical patterns where outspoken conservatives, unlike their ideological counterparts, encounter fewer high-profile roles post-peak fame.

Reactions to Social and Political Statements

In February 2013, Victoria Jackson published an article on her website calling for a "White History Month" to express gratitude for white contributions to American society, including inventions, founding principles, and cultural achievements, which she framed as a counterbalance to identity-based observances. The post, which referenced "God-hating communists" and urged recognition of white historical figures, provoked immediate backlash from progressive media and commentators, who described it as racially provocative and emblematic of white grievance politics. Jackson subsequently deleted the article amid the outcry, but defenders argued it highlighted inconsistencies in selective historical commemorations rather than promoting supremacy. Jackson's April 2023 public testimony at a city council meeting, where she opposed a proposed festival by reciting passages such as and stating "the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness," elicited widespread condemnation from LGBTQ+ organizations and outlets like The Advocate, which characterized her words as a "homophobic rant" promoting hate. Her remarks, delivered without alteration from scriptural texts emphasizing prohibitions on same-sex acts, were defended by supporters as faithful adherence to amid cultural shifts, though critics, including local activists, accused her of inciting division in a debating event permits. The incident amplified accusations of against Jackson, with some media framing her as incompatible with modern pluralism. In February 2025, Jackson responded to a "" 50th anniversary sketch in which reprised a MAGA supporter role implying racial insensitivity among Trump backers, initially calling the portrayal "stupid" and inaccurate via social media shares. She later clarified in statements to outlets that she was not personally attacking Hanks but critiquing the writers' depiction, rejecting narratives that equate Trump support with and noting the skit's reliance on outdated stereotypes. This drew rebuttals from entertainment media portraying her as defensive of purported , yet Jackson maintained the comments underscored media distortions of conservative voters, consistent with her prior defenses against similar characterizations.

Media and Public Backlash

Media outlets have frequently portrayed Victoria Jackson's shift to conservative activism as a personal unraveling, framing her post-SNL career as a decline from comedic viability into . A 2014 Uproxx article compiled a timeline explicitly titled "A Comprehensive Timeline Of A Descent Into Madness," chronicling her political statements from 2007 onward while juxtaposing them against her earlier entertainment roles, implying an abrupt and irrational transformation despite her prior success on from 1986 to 1992. Similarly, a July 2014 opinion piece accused her of "falling for wild fibs about Obama," dismissing her critiques of his policies as gullible acceptance of unfounded rumors rather than engaging with her stated ideological concerns rooted in opposition to expanded government roles. Such coverage often overlooks the continuity in Jackson's worldview, which emerged publicly around 2007 through involvement with conservative groups like Friends of Abe, predating more intense media scrutiny but aligning with her expressed Christian conservatism. Critics in mainstream sources rarely contextualize her warnings about socialism and cultural shifts—such as her 2011 characterization of Obama as advancing communist-leaning policies—as part of a broader framework that echoed longstanding conservative apprehensions about fiscal expansion and social engineering, elements later debated in policy retrospectives on initiatives like the Affordable Care Act. Public discourse in online forums has amplified dismissals, with Reddit threads and comment sections frequently labeling Jackson as "irrelevant" or a relic of outdated views, reducing her activism to punchlines without addressing the substance of her positions on issues like government overreach. This rhetoric sidesteps instances where her early predictions, such as resistance to socialist-leaning reforms under Obama, resonated with subsequent conservative analyses of policy outcomes, including increased federal spending and regulatory growth documented in fiscal reports from that era. In contrast, Jackson's supporters among conservative audiences regard her as a forthright exposing cultural and political decay, valuing her persistence in advocating biblical principles against prevailing narratives in Hollywood and media. They cite her unfiltered commentary on topics like and —such as her 2023 public opposition to LGBTQ events—as principled stands that challenge institutional biases favoring progressive , positioning her not as fringe but as a consistent voice for traditional values amid shifting societal norms.

Personal Life and Faith

Marriages and Family

Jackson married fire-eating magician and fellow performer Nisan Mark Eventoff on August 5, 1984; they had a daughter, Scarlet Eventoff, before divorcing in 1990. She reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Paul Wessel—a helicopter pilot for the Miami-Dade Police Department—whom she married on September 4, 1992; the marriage has endured, with Wessel adopting Scarlet and the couple welcoming a second daughter, , in 1994. After leaving in 1992, Jackson stepped back from entertainment to focus on raising her daughters in suburbs, emphasizing family stability amid her public career. Upon Wessel's retirement in 2013, the family moved from to , citing the state's conservative values and community as key factors in the relocation.

Health Challenges and Religious Conversion

In October 2015, Victoria Jackson was diagnosed with shortly before a scheduled stand-up performance. She underwent a double and additional treatments, achieving remission following successful intervention. Jackson chronicled her ordeal in the 2017 book Lavender Hair: 21 Devotions for Women with Breast Cancer, framing the experience through biblical reflections that emphasized spiritual endurance amid physical suffering. The cancer recurred in 2024, manifesting as an inoperable tumor in her windpipe linked to the original . Despite the terminal , Jackson reported deriving comfort from auditory perceptions of divine reassurance, stating she heard affirm, "It's ok," which mitigated fear and fostered acceptance. This response aligns with her longstanding attribution of to Christian beliefs, which she described as enabling focus on legacy concerns, such as witnessing grandchildren, rather than despair. Raised in a conservative Christian household where and scripture were central, Jackson identified as a born-again Christian by the mid-1980s, coinciding with her entry into Hollywood via Saturday Night Live (1986–1992). As the sole cast member openly professing evangelical faith during her tenure, she viewed this commitment as a bulwark against industry temptations, including and moral compromises prevalent among peers. This period marked an intensification of her convictions, transforming passive upbringing into active , as she later recounted relying on to counter career uncertainties and ethical pressures. Jackson has consistently linked her to tangible recovery mechanisms, positing it as a causal factor in sustaining during crises—evident in her post-diagnosis writings and statements where spiritual practices supplanted anxiety with purpose-driven coping. Empirical markers include her completion of treatments without reported relapses until 2024 and public expressions of non-fearful acceptance, contrasting with secular narratives of dread in similar diagnoses. This faith-health interplay underscores her portrayal of conversion not as a singular event but as an evolving anchor forged amid professional isolation and bodily trials.

Writings and Media Commentary

Authored Books

Is My Bow Too Big? How I Went from to the Tea Party, published in 2012 by White Hall Press, serves as Jackson's primary . The book details her recruitment to in 1986, her tenure as a cast member through 1992, and the personal and ideological evolution that led her to align with the Tea Party movement amid perceptions of cultural divergence from Hollywood norms. Jackson attributes her political awakening to scriptural study and disillusionment with progressive influences in entertainment, framing the narrative as a rejection of elite consensus in favor of individual conviction. In 2017, BroadStreet Publishing released Lavender Hair: 21 Devotions for Women with , a collection of short devotional pieces drawn from Jackson's 2015 diagnosis and treatment for stage-four . Blending comedic anecdotes from her performance background with biblical reflections, the book emphasizes resilience through faith, recounting specific experiences like sessions and tumor removal on October 8, 2015, prior to a stand-up routine. Jackson uses humor to underscore themes of , positioning the work as an advisory resource for others facing similar health trials while maintaining an unfiltered voice outside mainstream publishing channels. Earlier, in 1993, Warner Books issued Redefining Beauty: Discovering Your Individual Beauty, Enhancing Your , an advisory text leveraging Jackson's public persona to promote beyond superficial standards. These publications collectively highlight her shift from entertainment-focused content to integrations of , personal testimony, and faith-based critique, often via independent or niche outlets to preserve authorial autonomy.

Blogs, Videos, and Online Presence

Jackson has maintained an active online presence through her personal website, victoriajackson.com, and channels since the early 2010s, where she shares original ukulele-accompanied songs, personal commentary on cultural and political issues, and guest interviews. Her content often blends humor, faith-based reflections, and critiques of progressive social movements, attracting a dedicated conservative bypassing traditional media outlets. Notable videos include ukulele performances of original tracks like those from her Use Me collection, which chronicles personal life events through 53 songs, and rants addressing topics such as and events, which garnered significant online attention for their unfiltered biblical references. In April 2023, footage of her public testimony against LGBTQ at a city council meeting, citing verses on , spread widely online, amplifying her voice in debates. From 2023 to 2025, Jackson's posts emphasized faith and political relevance, including Bible study videos on Genesis and Matthew chapters, family updates like her grandson's birth in April 2025, and commentary tying conservative activism to Christian principles, such as a September 2025 video referencing Charlie Kirk's role in youth outreach. These efforts sustained her visibility among alternative media followers, with her secondary YouTube channel (@TheUkulelegal) accumulating over 5,400 subscribers by 2025 through consistent uploads of personal and devotional content.

Legacy and Reception

Comedic Achievements and Influence


Victoria Jackson joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1986 for its twelfth season, contributing significantly to the show's recovery from a mid-1980s ratings slump. As a versatile performer alongside , , , and , she provided cartoonish energy through her distinctive high-pitched voice and physical antics, serving as a reliable "go-to" for sketches requiring a ditzy blonde . Her presence helped stabilize and reinvigorate the program during a transitional period, with self-written bits adding original content to the repertoire. Jackson's most enduring contributions included segments where she recited poetry, sang songs like "I Am Not a Bimbo," and performed handstands or backbends while commenting on topics such as the miniseries Amerika. These displays showcased her impeccable comedic timing, gymnastic versatility, and ability to blend whimsy with topical humor, often incorporating playing or home video parodies. She also supported recurring sketches, portraying Brenda Clark in Toonces the Driving Cat and Jenny Baker in Church Chat, roles that highlighted her ensemble adaptability and skills. Prior to SNL, Jackson demonstrated entrepreneurial acumen by appearing over 20 times on , parlaying stand-up routines featuring upside-down poetry and into national exposure that led to her casting. Her bubbly, eccentric female characters influenced later portrayals of energetic, voice-driven personas, with clips of her segments maintaining pop culture relevance through ongoing online viewership and references in comedy retrospectives.

Balanced Assessment of Career and Views

Victoria Jackson garnered acclaim for her distinctive comedic style on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992, particularly through physical feats like handstands during segments and satirical musical numbers that showcased her squeaky-voiced, ditzy persona to effective humorous effect. Yet her career faced marginalization after she publicly articulated conservative positions, including criticisms of and secular , which clashed with Hollywood's dominant ideological currents; Jackson has stated that her religious convictions and resultant views prompted , limiting mainstream opportunities post-SNL. Critiques of Jackson's commentary often emphasized ad hominem dismissals, portraying her as a "rabid right" figure or ideological outlier rather than substantively rebutting her claims on topics like cultural or Islamist extremism. Her ability to maintain a platform via conservative outlets, such as co-hosting PolitiChicks, represents an empirical success in sustaining influence despite institutional exclusion, underscoring resilience amid pressures that favor conformity over dissent. The industry's political homogeneity, evidenced by 99.7% of top executives' federal donations going to Democrats, illustrates systemic underrepresentation of conservative viewpoints, imposing costs that Jackson's trajectory exemplifies as a cautionary case of causal trade-offs between ideological alignment and professional viability. This correlates with marginalization of nonconformists, prioritizing subjective ideological filters over empirical diversity in perspectives, which Jackson's persistent output challenges by prioritizing substantive critique.

References

  1. https://victoriajackson.com/about-victoria/
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0414130/
  3. https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/victoria-jackson-funny-begins-faith-0
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0414130/bio/
  5. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/18/victoria-jackson-conservative-values/6585043/
  6. https://www.nickiswift.com/1997835/what-happened-saturday-night-live-victoria-jackson/
  7. https://pagesix.com/2014/08/08/former-snl-star-fails-in-bid-for-tennessee-county-seat/
  8. https://www.facebook.com/entertainmentweekly/posts/saturday-night-live-alum-and-donald-trump-supporter-victoria-jackson-is-clarifyi/1011522717498583/
  9. https://nypost.com/2024/08/16/entertainment/snl-alum-victoria-jackson-65-has-34-8-months-to-live-after-cancer-returns/
  10. https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/victoria-jackson-shares-saturday-night-live-memories/
  11. https://www.geni.com/people/Victoria-Jackson/6000000015592692246
  12. https://www.beliefnet.com/celebrity-faith-database/j/victoria-jackson.aspx
  13. https://mabumbe.com/people/victoria-jackson-age-net-worth-career-family-and-more/
  14. https://cbn.com/person/victoria-jackson
  15. https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2014/10/snl-alum-victoria-jackson-loved-auburn-auburn-didnt-love-her-back-war-eagle/
  16. https://www.vulture.com/2011/11/saturday-nights-children-victoria-jackson-1986-1992.html
  17. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-comedians/victoria-jackson-net-worth/
  18. https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/victoria-jackson-comedy-missionary
  19. https://kevinandsteph.com/epis202-victoria-jackson/
  20. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/victoria-jackson-goes-from-comedy-heights-to-being-the-tea-partys-princess-6452038/
  21. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/victoria_jackson
  22. https://www.schooloflaughs.com/victoria-jackson-handstands-to-hollywood-ep-211/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203189/
  24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJXBsXtFplc
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVHIYKSq6ak
  26. https://snltranscripts.jt.org/91/91tpregnant.phtml
  27. https://victoriajackson.com/
  28. https://www.fandango.com/people/victoria-jackson-316045/biography
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0227956/
  30. https://www.tvinsider.com/people/victoria-jackson/
  31. https://officialvictoriajackson.com/
  32. https://cew.org/beauty_news/victoria-jackson-brings-no-makeup-makeup-into-a-new-era/
  33. https://www.startribune.com/snl-veteran-victoria-jackson-shares-how-religious-beliefs-got-her-blacklisted-in-hollywood/600195280
  34. https://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/23/hollywood.conservatives/index.html
  35. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/victoria-jackson-obama-is-a-communist/
  36. https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/celebrities-support-john-mccain-sarah-palin
  37. https://deadline.com/gallery/donald-trump-celebrity-endorsements-kid-rock-jon-voight/
  38. https://www.justjared.com/2024/11/04/celebrities-endorsing-donald-trump-for-president-in-2024-including-an-snl-alum-a-first-time-voter-more-but-1-star-revoked-his-endorsement/8/
  39. https://www.mediamatters.org/worldnetdaily/victoria-jackson-thinks-obamas-private-army-might-kill-her
  40. https://www.thedailybeast.com/obamacare-fear-mongering-hall-of-fame-death-panels-and-more/
  41. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/victoria-jackson-todd-akin-rape-abortion_n_1847852
  42. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni35291239/
  43. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/snl-actress-victoria-jackson-political-775080/
  44. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/victoria-jackson-gay-marriage-support-god_n_1971316
  45. https://nypost.com/2023/04/12/ex-snl-star-victoria-jackson-rips-homosexuality-at-meeting/
  46. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-04-13/victoria-jackson-snl-star-anti-lgbtq-pride
  47. https://www.aol.com/snl-alum-victoria-jackson-condemns-220956556.html
  48. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/snl-victoria-jackson-tennessee-gay-pride-b2318762.html
  49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzoPtdG-aoo
  50. https://www.youtube.com/victoriajackson
  51. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/snl-actress-victoria-jackson-calls-417426/
  52. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/victoria-jackson_b_2619464
  53. https://www.ibtimes.com/victoria-jackson-snl-alum-wants-white-history-month-immediately-deletes-controversial-essay-1056886
  54. https://www.advocate.com/people/victoria-jackson-snl-homophobic-rant
  55. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/former-snl-star-victoria-jackson-190143954.html
  56. https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/18/snl-alum-victoria-jackson-slams-tom-hanks-maga-skit/
  57. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/snl-alum-victoria-jackson-denies-151553161.html
  58. https://www.newsnationnow.com/entertainment-news/victoria-jackson-tom-hanks-snl/
  59. https://ew.com/saturday-night-live-alum-victoria-jackson-denies-slamming-tom-hanks-maga-sketch-11683502
  60. https://uproxx.com/viral/victoria-jackson-a-comprehensive-timeline-of-a-descent-into-madness/
  61. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-victoria-jackson-20140708-story.html
  62. https://www.reddit.com/r/NormMacdonald/comments/qjac1y/victoria_jackson_comments_on_norm/
  63. https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2005/10/30/former-snl-actor-finds-niche/51214895007/
  64. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/10/former-saturday-nigh-live-star-moves-tennessee/
  65. https://cbn.com/book/lavender-hair-21-devotions-women-breast-cancer
  66. https://people.com/snl-alum-victoria-jackson-shares-cancer-update-8696404
  67. https://people.com/saturday-night-live-victoria-jackson-inoperable-cancer-exclusive-8701712
  68. https://www.thethings.com/victoria-jackson-cancer/
  69. https://ew.com/victoria-jackson-snl-tumor-cancer-death-8704638
  70. https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/dailycupofwellness/2024/08/snl-alum-faces-terminal-cancer-diagnosis-with-unwavering-faith-and-optimism.html
  71. https://www.abebooks.com/9781467502566/Bow-Big-SNL-Tea-Party-1467502561/plp
  72. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16091422-is-my-bow-too-big-how-i-went-from-snl-to-the-tea-party
  73. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/is-my-bow-too-big-how-i-went-from-saturday-night-live-to-the-tea-party-victoria-jackson/1113061626
  74. https://www.amazon.com/Lavender-Hair-Devotions-Breast-Cancer/dp/1424555620
  75. https://broadstreetpublishing.com/lavender-hair/9781424555628/
  76. https://victoriajackson.com/lavender-hair/
  77. https://www.paperbackswap.com/Victoria-Jackson/author/
  78. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B073HG6F78/about
  79. https://victoriajackson.com/category/videos/
  80. https://victoriajackson.com/use-me/
  81. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCotK_pzl6y2sCy2Y5ZrlcUg
  82. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnubkW9qF7A
  83. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmLTzoP7lic
  84. https://snl.fandom.com/wiki/Victoria_Jackson
  85. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/victoria-jackson-snl-cast-hollywood-conservatives_n_1971262
  86. https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/victoria-jackson-went-from-snl-to-the-rabid-right-6347204/
  87. https://www.salon.com/2013/03/10/can_victoria_jackson_return_from_the_fringe/
  88. https://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2011/12/victoria-jacksons-conservative-view-107195
  89. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/top-hollywood-execs-give-99-percent-political-donations-democrats-midterms-1151392/
  90. https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-01021550/document
  91. https://www.dhillonlaw.com/employee-discrimination-in-hollywood/
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