Clerow "Flip" Wilson was a prominent black comedian in the mid-60's.

During his stint in the Air Force, Wilson was nicknamed Flip for his irreverent, flippant humor. The name stuck. The affable comedian's talents were showcased as host of television's The Flip Wilson Show from 1970 to 74. His most memorable character on the variety show was the sassy Geraldine. Flip dressed in drag to play the wisecracking Geraldine, whose "The devil made me do it" and "What you see is what you get!" became catch phrases across the country.

While breakthrough actors like Bill Cosby on "I Spy" and Diahann Carroll in "Julia" had roles that downplayed their racial identity, Wilson reveled in characters such as Leroy, pastor of the "Church of What's Happening Now," based on a preacher the comedian knew from his childhood.