In 1984, Wilcox made her film debut in Gimme an 'F'. From 1985 to 1987, Wilcox guest starred on the television series Hardcastle and McCormick (1985), You Again? (1986), CBS Schoolbreak Special (1987), Valerie's Family: The Hogans (1987), Mr. Belvedere (1987), and MacGyver (1987). In 1988, Wilcox guest starred on the television series It's a Living and Hotel before portraying Alice Johnson in the fantasy horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. In 1989, Wilcox had a recurring role on Knots Landing as Ellen and guest starred on Something Is Out There before reprising her role as Alice in A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. The same year, Wilcox portrayed Yuta in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation called "The Vengeance Factor".