Chandra Wilson

Chandra Wilson Headshot

Actress • Director

Birth Date: August 27, 1969

Age: 54 years old

Birth Place: Houston, Texas

Diminutive in stature, but possessing a powerful onscreen presence, actress Chandra Wilson worked sporadically in New York with a number of small feature parts before being cast in her breakthrough role as the tough-talking Dr. Miranda Bailey on the popular ABC medical soap opera, "Grey's Anatomy" (2005- ). Prior to that series' long-running popularity, Wilson struggled to find steady footing in the acting world and even held onto a 9-5 job while appearing wherever and whenever she could. She was cast in the CBS Schoolbreak Special "Sexual Considerations" (1991), and had bit parts in "Mad Dog and Glory" (1993) and "Philadelphia" (1993), before landing a moderately larger part in John Sayles' acclaimed "Lone Star" (1996). Following her Broadway debut in "On the Town" (1998), Wilson landed her first regular series role on the short-lived sitcom "Bob Patterson" (ABC, 2001). She continued to struggle until finally scoring her big break when mid-season replacement "Grey's Anatomy" emerged in 2005 and landed in the Nielsen Top Ten right out of the gate, allowing the former unknown to become an Emmy-nominated actress who suddenly found herself a bankable star.

Credits

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

The Jennifer Hudson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2022

Stand Up to Cancer

Self
Show
2021

Celebrity Wheel of FortuneStream

Guest
Game Show
2021

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

The Story of Soaps

Actor
Show
2020

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

Tamron HallStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Admiral BL: Dein Verein

Actor
Dr. Miranda Bailey
Show
2018

People Features

Actor
Show
2018

Station 19Stream

Actor
Dr. Miranda Bailey
Series
2018

Station 19Stream

Guest Star
Miranda Bailey
Series
2018

Christmas Harmony

Actor
Karen
Movie
2018

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Riley and Abella - Beste Freundinnen

Actor
Dr. Miranda Bailey
Movie
2016

Celebrity Family FeudStream

Guest
Game Show
2015

Autism in America

Narrator
Movie
2015

PRISM Awards 2014

Guest
Show
2014

The ABC's of Schoolhouse Rock

Host
Show
2014

Muted

Actor
Lena Gladwell
Movie
2014

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Steve Harvey

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

ScandalStream

Director
Series
2012
93%

Anderson

Guest
Show
2011

Grey's Anatomy: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

Guest
Show
2010

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Frankie & Alice

Actor
Maxine
Movie
2010
21%

A Single Woman

Actor
Coretta Scott King
Movie
2009

The Doctors

Guest
Talk
2008

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Accidental Friendship

Actor
Yvonne
Movie
2008

Private PracticeStream

Guest Star
Dr. Miranda Bailey
Series
2007

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

The Martha Stewart Show

Guest
Show
2005

Grey's AnatomyStream

Actor
Dr. Miranda Bailey
Series
2005
84%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Director
Series
2005
84%

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Show
2005

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Bob Patterson

Actor
Series
2001
6%

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Rachel Sorannis
Series
1999
78%

The SopranosStream

Guest Star
Evelyn Greenwood
Series
1999
92%

Sex and the CityStream

Guest Star
Police Officer
Series
1998
70%

The ViewStream

Guest
Talk
1997

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Sesame StreetStream

Guest Star
Herself
Franchise
1969

General HospitalStream

Guest Star
Soap
1963

News about
Chandra Wilson

Grey's Anatomy Season 19

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 20 Cast: Who Is Returning, Plus Ellen Pompeo Update

Scott Speedman and Ellen Pompeo (R) in the 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 19 finale

Meredith & Nick Reunite in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 19 Finale (PHOTOS)

Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez
Preview

‘General Hospital’: Prepare for Spencer & Trina to Heat Up at the Nurses Ball (VIDEO)

Anthony Geary and Genie Francis getting married - 'General Hospital'
Preview

60 Sizzling Years of ‘General Hospital’: Looking Back on the Soap’s Endless Thrills

Ellen Pompeo on 'Grey's Anatomy'

See How the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Cast Has Changed Since Their First Seasons (PHOTOS)

Grey's Anatomy Season 19 Episode 1 Bailey
Spoiler Alert

Will Bailey Ever Return to Grey Sloan? ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Boss Explains

Niko Terho, Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, James Pickens Jr., Harry Shum Jr., Alexis Floyd on Grey's Anatomy set
Fall Preview

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Boss on Meredith’s Absence, Owen & Teddy’s Return, New Interns & More

Ellen Pompeo as Meredith in Grey's Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Promo: Bailey Reacts to Meredith’s Job Offer (VIDEO)

David Duchovny Will Arnett Sarah Michelle Gellar

13 Big Names Who Guest-Starred on ‘Sex and the City’

James Pickens Jr as Richard, Chandra Wilson as Bailey in Grey's Anatomy
Fall Preview

Where We Pick Up With Meredith/Hayes & More ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Pairs in Season 18

Grey's Anatomy Season 17 Premiere Derek Shepherd

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Dream Beach Appearances Ranked, From Derek to Cormac

Chandra Wilson in Grey's Anatomy as Miranda Bailey - Season 17

Will ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ End With Season 17? Chandra Wilson Offers Fans Hope

Grey's Anatomy Season 17 Episode 4 George
Spoiler Alert

‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Another Original Character Gets Resurrected (RECAP)

Ellen Pompeo Grey's Anatomy Meredith Grey Gallery Season 16

Will ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ End With Season 17? Ellen Pompeo Teases Possibility

Grey's Anatomy Cast Surprising Roles

Kate Middleton? ‘General Hospital’? 13 Surprising Roles for the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Cast

Uzo Aduba Peter Gallagher Iain Glen TV Stars Broadway Musical

19 TV Stars You Didn’t Know Had a Musical Background (PHOTOS)

Grey's Anatomy Babies Ellen Pompeo Daughter

How Many ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Babies Have Been Born Since the Show Premiered?

Grey's Anatomy Next Cast Exit Odds

Who’s the Next Doc to Go on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’? See Our Odds (PHOTOS)

Grey's Anatomy Season 16 Episode 10, Richard Webber, Amelia Shepherd, Tom Koracick, Miranda Bailey
Spoiler Alert

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 16 Episode 10: A Bad Night to Be a Resident (RECAP)

Untitled design - 2019-10-17T170015.622

8 Side Acting Gigs of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Stars (PHOTOS)

Chandra Wilson
Exclusive

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Chandra Wilson Checks Into ‘General Hospital’

Untitled design (6)
Exclusive

WGN America’s ‘Law & Order’ Marathon: See Jennifer Garner & Ellen Pompeo Before They Were Famous

ER - George Clooney

Miranda Bailey, Doug Ross, and More of Our Favorite TV Doctors

GREY'S ANATOMY - Ellen Pompeo

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Cast and Producers Pick Their Favorite Episodes

Greys Anatomy - Jason George - Celebration for the 300th episode

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ 300th Episode: Jason George Is Worried About Ben and Bailey (VIDEO)