Wendie Malick was born on December 13, 1950, in Buffalo, New York, to Gigi, a former model, and Kenneth Malick, a sales executive. Her paternal grandfather, Ayad Malick, was an Egyptian from a Coptic Christian family, and her paternal grandmother, Sarah Belle Float, was a Pentecostal missionary.

Her other ancestry includes French, German, and English roots. She graduated from Williamsville South High School in 1968 and later attended Ohio Wesleyan University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in 1972.

Wendie Malick began her career as a fashion model with the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency but soon transitioned to acting. Her first acting role was in the 1982 film "A Little Sex," and she later auditioned for the role of Diane Chambers in the NBC sitcom "Cheers," though she did not get the part.

Undeterred, she secured a regular role in the ABC medical drama series "Trauma Center," marking her entry into television. Throughout the late 1980s, she appeared in various television comedies, including a recurring role on "Kate & Allie" and a supporting role in the 1988 film "Scrooged."

In 1990, Wendie Malick was cast in the HBO comedy series "Dream On" as Judith Tupper Stone, a role that earned her four CableACE Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

She later starred as Nina Van Horn in the NBC sitcom "Just Shoot Me!" from 1997 to 2003, earning two Primetime Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. She also had a recurring role as Victoria Chase in the TV Land comedy series "Hot in Cleveland" and as Ronee Lawrence in the final season of "Frasier."

Her film credits include "The American President" (1995), "Scrooged" (1988), "Racing Stripes" (2005), and "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009). She has also made over 50 guest appearances on television shows and starred in numerous made-for-television films.

In animation, she has voiced characters on shows such as "BoJack Horseman" and "The Owl House."

On a personal note, she has been married twice. Her first marriage was to actor and screenwriter Mitch Glazer from 1982 until their divorce in 1989. In 1995, she married Richard Erickson, with whom she shares a passion for philanthropy and animal welfare.

The couple lives in Topanga Canyon, where they enjoy an eco-friendly lifestyle on their 50-acre property.