# Kristen Wilson
**Kristen Wilson** (born 1969 in [Chelmsford](https://www.edgepedia.org/chelmsford), Massachusetts) is an American former actress and dancer, best known for playing Lisa Dolittle, the wife of [Eddie Murphy](https://www.edgepedia.org/eddie-murphy)'s title character in the *Dr. Dolittle* film series, and Miranda DuBaer in the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) films *Twitches* (2005) and *Twitches Too* (2007).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933723/) • [2](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/31029)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969, Chelmsford, Massachusetts; some sources cite 1970, and other dates such as November 11 appear on secondary sites[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933723/) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wilson-kristen-1969) • [4](https://www.nndb.com/people/027/000131631/) |
| Training | Four years with the Boston Ballet; BFA in musical theater from Syracuse University[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) |
| Stage | National tour of *West Side Story* during her junior year; appeared on Broadway as Delli, waitress and understudy, in *Nick & Nora* (Marquis Theatre, 1991)[6](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/kristen-wilson) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wilson-kristen-1969) |
| Signature role | Lisa Dolittle in *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), *Dr. Dolittle 2* (2001), and *Dr. Dolittle 3* (2006)[7](https://www.fandango.com/people/kristen-wilson-729116/film-credits) |
| Other film roles | Traci Flynn in *Bulletproof* (1996), Norda in *Dungeons & Dragons* (2000), Michelle Vaughn in *[Walking Tall](https://www.edgepedia.org/walking-tall-2004-film)* (2004)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933723/) |
| Television | Recurring role as press secretary Kendall Truman on *The District* (2002–2003); guest roles on *New York Undercover*, *Crossing Jordan*, and *My Wife and Kids*[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wilson-kristen-1969) |
| Active years | Screen credits from *Prototype* (1992) to *Mega Python vs. Gatoroid* (2011)[6](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/kristen-wilson) • [4](https://www.nndb.com/people/027/000131631/) |
## Training and early career
Wilson was born and raised in Massachusetts and trained as a dancer, performing with the Boston Ballet for four years.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933723/) She attended [Syracuse University](https://www.edgepedia.org/syracuse-university), where she received her BFA in musical theater and began acting, but left during her junior year to join a national tour of *West Side Story*.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) An Encyclopedia.com profile lists a Broadway stage appearance in 1991 as Delli, a waitress and understudy, in the musical *Nick & Nora* at the Marquis Theatre in New York City.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wilson-kristen-1969)
Her screen career began with small parts in the films *Prototype* (1992), *Who's the Man?* (1993), and *Dead Funny* (1994), along with soap opera and episodic television work.[6](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/kristen-wilson) In 1995 she played actress [Robin Givens](https://www.edgepedia.org/robin-givens) in the HBO television movie *Tyson*, about the life of [Mike Tyson](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-tyson); she then moved to New York and, according to her IMDb biography, this led to her first feature film role in the [Adam Sandler](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-sandler) and Damon Wayans action comedy *Bulletproof* (1996).[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933723/) The same year she appeared in two Spike Lee films, *Girl 6* and *Get on the Bus*.[8](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/kristen-wilson-5144/biography/)
## The Dr. Dolittle franchise and later work
**Dr. Dolittle.** In 1998 Wilson won the role of Lisa Dolittle, wife of Eddie Murphy's title character, in the Disney franchise film *[Doctor Dolittle](https://www.edgepedia.org/doctor-dolittle-1998-film)*, and she reprised the role in the sequels *Dr. Dolittle 2* (2001) and *Dr. Dolittle 3* (2006).[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) • [7](https://www.fandango.com/people/kristen-wilson-729116/film-credits)
While working in that franchise she also took recurring television work, playing press secretary Kendall Truman on the Washington, D.C.-set police series *The District* in 2002 and 2003, and guest roles as Kim Watkins on *Crossing Jordan* (2001–2002) and Dr. Cooper Madison on *My Wife and Kids* (2002).[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wilson-kristen-1969)
**Later films.** Wilson played the elf archer Norda in the fantasy film *Dungeons & Dragons* (2000) and appeared in the comedy-drama *The Photographer* the same year.[8](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/kristen-wilson-5144/biography/) She appeared opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Michelle Vaughn in the 2004 action remake *Walking Tall*.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) Later credits include *Twitches* (2005), *Crossover* and *Dr. Dolittle 3* (2006), *Twitches Too* (2007), *Soccer Mom* (2008), and *Mega Python vs. Gatoroid* (2011).[2](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/31029) • [6](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/kristen-wilson) • [4](https://www.nndb.com/people/027/000131631/)
## Personal life
Wilson was raised by adoptive parents in the Boston suburbs.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/) She married lighting technician and cinematographer Michael Marzovilla in 1997; the marriage ended in divorce, with a daughter, Ruby, from that marriage. In June 2000 she married special effects makeup artist Martin Astles, with whom she has two children.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wilson-kristen-1969)
## References
1. [Kristen Wilson (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0933723/)
2. [Kristen Wilson, FilmNoir App (TMDB)](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/31029)
3. [Wilson, Kristen 1969(?)–, Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television via Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/wilson-kristen-1969)
4. [Kristen Wilson, NNDB](https://www.nndb.com/people/027/000131631/)
5. [Kristen Wilson, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kristen-wilson/)
6. [Kristen Wilson Movies on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/kristen-wilson)
7. [Kristen Wilson Filmography, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/kristen-wilson-729116/film-credits)
8. [Kristen Wilson Biography, Showtimes](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/kristen-wilson-5144/biography/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Wh to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license