Born in Memphis and raised in Philadelphia, Wendy started making student films in the summer of 1969 as a means to an end, with the ultimate goal of writing for and directing other actors. This initial foray into filmmaking sparked a lifelong passion for acting, but it wasn't until Jonathan Demme came to town to work on a groundbreaking drama about AIDS starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington that she began to pursue acting as a full-time career.
Although she was ultimately cut from the movie "Philadelphia," the experience granted her a SAG card and convinced her to leave behind her career as an arts administrator, which had included co-founding CineKyd, serving as executive director of The Clay Studio, and holding various managerial positions at People's Light and Theatre Company.
Within two weeks of arriving in Los Angeles, Wendy was cast in a new musical, "Lulu," for which she received a Drama-Logue Award, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious career in the entertainment industry.
She continued to work regularly in television and theatre, helping to found Theatre Neo with Kathryn Joosten, Josh Schiowitz, and others, which eventually evolved into Neo Ensemble Theatre, a membership company that produces monologue festivals and plays in small theatres across the city.
Wendy's stage credits include performances in "The Guardsman" at A Noise Within, "Man of La Mancha" with Jason Alexander's now-defunct company Reprise, and the world premiere of Charles Busch's "Die! Mommy! Die!"
She also joined the National Tour of "Wicked," playing Madame Morrible for over 1.3 million audience members in 20 cities across the country over 65 weeks, before returning to Los Angeles.
In television, Wendy has appeared in a wide range of roles, including the murderous Lunch Lady on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," a recurring role as the formidable Margaret Camaro on "Ally McBeal," "Foodzilla" on "Even Stevens," and Miss Westmore, teacher to the Olsen Twins on their last TV series, "So Little Time."
She has also made numerous appearances on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and returned to the diner on "Bones" as a resident waitress five times.
In addition to her acting work, Wendy is an experienced theatre director and a published writer, with short stories included in several anthologies, including "Death on a Cold Night," "Death and a Cup of Tea," "Thoroughly Modern Monsters," and "Immanence."
Although she grew up in Philadelphia, Wendy does not have a native Philadelphia accent, but she can do one on request.
