Vikee Waltrip, who grew up in the backyard of Hollywood during the sixties, joined many of her classmates entering the entertainment industry workforce after high school. She became a make-up artist.
In 1981, Beyond Sound, a Deaf television production company based in Hollywood, California was Vikee's first entry into the Deaf entertainment industry.
A year later, she joined Silent Network, a national Deaf television network, as a make-up artist. She worked with them off and on through the years, in various positions including OFF-HAND with Herb Larson and Lou Fant which aired on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles.
Self-taught, Vikee took the "hard work" approach which gave her nearly three decades of experience, and hands-on training in all aspects of television and theater.
In 1985, she was hired to tour with the National Theatre of the Deaf as a wardrobe supervisor and Little Theater of the Deaf as an actress. She traveled to various international places such as China, India, Nepal and Mexico. After that experience, she returned home to California and immersed herself in television work and community theater. She returned to touring when Cleveland SignStage Theater hired her as an actress/educator from 1998-2000.
Having worked in several Deaf schools around the nation since 1997, Vikee recognized the limited training opportunities for Deaf actors and performers. She has since been working on developing theater workshops much more ideally suited to the Deaf actor, imparting all of her experiences and expertise.
Vikee continues to travel around the nation as a stand-up comedienne, guest artist at Deaf schools, and motivational speaker. She likes to sculpt and sew in her free time.
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