Wilma Flintstone
The Flintstones character
First appearance"The Flagstones" (1959)
Created byWilliam Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Portrayed byElizabeth Perkins (1994 film)
Kristen Johnston (2000 film)
Voiced byJean Vander Pyl (1959–1999)
B. J. Baker (1962)
Julie McWhirter/Elizabeth Lyn Fraser (The Flintstone Kids)
Tress MacNeille (2000–present)
Amy Sedaris (Bedrock)
In-universe information
SpeciesCavewoman
GenderFemale
OccupationHousewife
Newspaper reporter[1]
Caterer[2]
FamilyPearl Slaghoople (mother)
Ricky Slaghoople (father)[3]
Mica Slaghoople (sister)[3]
Mickey Slaghoople (sister)[3]
Jerry Slaghoople (brother)[4]
Roxy Rubble (granddaughter)[5]
Chip Rubble (grandson)[5]
Bamm-Bamm Rubble (godson/son-in-law)
SpouseFred Flintstone (husband)
ChildrenPebbles Flintstone (daughter)
Stony Flintstone (adopted son)[6]

Wilma Flintstone is a fictional character in the television animated series The Flintstones. Wilma is the red-headed woman married to caveman Fred Flintstone, daughter of Pearl Slaghoople, and mother of Pebbles Flintstone. Her best friend is her next door neighbor, Betty Rubble.[7]

Wilma's personality is based on that of Alice Kramden, married to Ralph Kramden on the 1950s television series The Honeymooners. Much like Alice, Wilma plays the strong-willed, level-headed person in her marriage, often criticizing Fred for pursuing his various ill-fated schemes. Wilma is often the one to bail out Fred when one of his schemes lands him in trouble or brings up the problem.

Fictional character biography

Similar to Fred Flintstone's family, Wilma came from "Arkanstone". As a young adult, Wilma worked with Betty as a cigarette girl at a resort. There, they first met and fell in love with their future husbands, Fred and Barney, who were working there as bellhops.[8]

Wilma and Fred eventually married, and Wilma became a homemaker, keeping house with such prehistoric aids as a baby elephant vacuum cleaner and pelican washing machine. Wilma is a good cook; one of her specialties is "gravelberry pie", the recipe for which she eventually sold to the "Safestone" supermarket chain.[9] Wilma also enjoys volunteering for various charitable and women's organizations in Bedrock, shopping, and occasionally getting to meet the celebrities of their world, including Stony Curtis,[10] Rock Quarry,[11] and Jimmy Darrock.[12] Despite her petite appearance Wilma is quite capable of causing havoc when angry, at times knocking a prizefighter out with one blow,[13] knocking out crooks with her stone purse[14] or striking Fred Flintstone with a club[15] or a frying pan.[16] Wilma is a truly modest woman however her obvious beauty and attractiveness has been referenced from time to time, especially in the season 2 episode "The Beauty Contest", where she and Betty entered a beauty contest.

In the original series' third season, Wilma becomes pregnant and gives birth to the couple's only child, Pebbles.

When Pebbles is a teenager, Wilma gains employment as a reporter for one of Bedrock's newspapers, the Daily Granite (a spoof of the Daily Planet of Superman fame), under editor Lou Granite (a parody of The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Lou Grant). While employed there, Wilma shares various adventures with prehistoric superhero Captain Caveman, who, in a secret identity, also works for the newspaper.[1]

Later still, after Pebbles grows up and leaves home, Wilma starts a successful catering business with her neighbor and friend Betty, before becoming a grandmother to Pebbles' twin children, Chip and Roxy.[5]

Maiden name

Wilma and Fred Flintstone figurines at the Ankara Amusement Park

Wilma's maiden name is the subject of a continuity error. Several early episodes in the original series clearly stated Wilma's maiden name was "Pebble". In the second-season episode "The Entertainer", Wilma's old friend Greta Gravel remembers her as "Wilma Pebble", and in the third-season episode "Dial S for Suspicion", one of Wilma's old boyfriends, calls her "Wilma Pebble".

However, later episodes and spin-offs firmly state her maiden name is indeed "Slaghoople", based upon the name of Wilma's mother in the original series, Pearl Slaghoople. Flintstones' writer Earl Kress explained the discrepancy as such: "Unfortunately, it's just as simple as [Hanna-Barbera] not caring about the continuity."[17]

Wilma figurine

Portrayal

Jean Vander Pyl was the original voice artist of Wilma until her death in 1999.[18] Since then, Tress MacNeille has taken over as Wilma's voice.

In The Flintstone Kids, Wilma was voiced by Julie McWhirter Dees and Elizabeth Lyn Frasier at different points.

In the live-action film The Flintstones, Wilma was played by Elizabeth Perkins, although Vander Pyl made a cameo at Fred's surprise party (in the conga line behind Dino). In the prequel film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Wilma was played by Kristen Johnston.

In the upcoming series Bedrock, Wilma will be voiced by Amy Sedaris.[19]

Additional voice actors

Parodies

Animated media

Television shows

Films and specials

References

  1. 1 2 The Flintstone Comedy Show Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, 1980-1982, NBC
  2. ↑ I Yabba Dabba Do, 1993, ABC
  3. 1 2 3 The Flintstone Kids Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, 1986-1988, ABC
  4. ↑ The Flintstones (1994 movie)
  5. 1 2 3 Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby, 1993, ABC
  6. ↑ A Flintstone Family Christmas, 1993, ABC
  7. ↑ "Meet Jean Vander Pyl, the Real Voice Behind Wilma Flintstone". The Los Angeles Times. 1989-09-29. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  8. ↑ "Bachelor Daze", The Flintstones, season 4
  9. ↑ "The Gravelberry Pie King", The Flintstones, season 6
  10. ↑ "The Return of Stony Curtis", The Flintstones, season 6
  11. ↑ "The Rock Quarry Story", The Flintstones, season 2
  12. ↑ "Surfin' Fred", The Flintstones, season 5
  13. ↑ ""The Engagement Ring" season 1
  14. ↑ "The Soft Touchables" Season 2
  15. ↑ "The Flintstone Flyer" season 1
  16. ↑ "Hot Lips Hannigan" season 1
  17. ↑ "Wilma Flintstone: A fox in leopard clothing?". Canada.com. May 28, 2007. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Jean Vander Pyl; Cartoon Voice of Wilma Flintstone". The Los Angeles Times. 1999-04-15. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  19. ↑ "Elizabeth Banks Leads Voice Cast of 'The Flintstones' Animated Series 'Bedrock' as Comedy Scores Pilot Presentation at Fox". 10 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "1967 Busch Advertising 1of2". YouTube. Retrieved April 28, 2022. This was specifically created for a late 1966 Busch sales meeting (previewing Busch's 1967 ad campaign), and never seen by the general public. Jean Vander Pyl was unavailable to record the soundtrack, so Gerry Johnson doubled as Wilma's AND Betty's voices. Gerald Mohr is the narrator.
  21. ↑ ""Why Aren't These the Real Cartoon Voices?"". cartoonresearch.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022. Also agree about Jean Vander Pyl, it's not a matter of being snide and nasal. Probably the most skillful "cover" I recall from records is the Peter Pan one — not the later "Even Steven/Primeval" LP (that isn't even written to character), but the 1972 LP with four stories including one focusing on Wilma. My guess is it is Corinne Orr.
  22. ↑ "Funky Fred & The Bedrock Rappers – The Flintstones Present: Bedrock Hop (1994, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  23. ↑ "The 1st 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Awards Show Program Special". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  24. ↑ "Deborah Sale Butler". voices.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022. When asked to sing again, Deborah provided the speaking and singing voice for Wilma Flintstone in an online Fruity Pebbles campaign, "Bedrock Superstar."
  25. ↑ "Deborah Sale Butler". voice123.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  26. ↑ "The New Show (1984) Host Penny Marshall". YouTube. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  27. 1 2 3 "Voice(s) of Wilma Flintstone in Robot Chicken". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  28. ↑ "Voice of Wilma Flintstone in Family Guy". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
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