The Wayans Family is a well-known African American family in American show business.
They’ve become a major influence in entertainment, especially in comedy.
Elvira Wayans, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager, are their parents.
The Wayans family is famous for creating and starring in various productions like the Scary Movie series, The Wayans Bros., In Living Color, White Chicks, My Wife and Kids, and Little Man, among others.
They’ve made a big impact on the entertainment world.
While his siblings embraced the spotlight in show business, Dwayne, now a retired composer, didn’t share the same enthusiasm for on-screen attention.
Throughout his career, Dwayne served as the music composer for numerous Hollywood projects.
Notable among his achievements are the soundtracks for Dance Flick and Little Man.
Interestingly, his son has followed in his footsteps as a film soundtrack composer, gaining recognition for composing the music for My Wife and Kids and Underground.
Fun Fact: Before his composing career, Dwayne worked as a production assistant and occasionally took on background roles in his brothers’ shows.
Keenen Ivory Wayans was born on June 8, 1958, and is the second oldest among the Wayans siblings.
He’s not just an actor and comedian but also a filmmaker.
Keenen Ivory Wayans wrote, directed, and produced many movies, including big hits like the Scary Movie series and White Chicks.
His ticket to fame came with the Fox sketch comedy series, In Living Color, where he wrote and starred in the show.
The series won several awards, including the prestigious Emmy award in 1990.
Besides his projects, Keenen Ivory Wayans collaborated with his siblings on various ventures.
Did you know that in the 90s, Keenen Ivory Wayans had his talk show called “The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show,” which received high praise and maintained good ratings throughout its time on air?
#WayanswaybackWednesday @keeneniwayans & Usher at The 34th Annual An Evening Of Stars! pic.twitter.com/c27WTdHPEj
— I LOVE THE WAYANS (@ILOVETHEWAYANS) August 21, 2013
Marlon Wayans
Marlon Wayans is the youngest among the Wayans siblings.
He has been in show business for many years, doing acting, comedy, and writing for the screen.
In one of his first roles, he played a pedestrian in his sister’s project, “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” But his more famous roles are in the Scary Movie series and the successful film, “White Chicks,” where he starred alongside his older brother Shawn Wayans.
He also appeared on the Wayans Bros show on WB with Shawn Wayans.
Some other projects he worked on include Dance Flick, Little Man, Sextuplets, Naked, and Fifty Shades of Black.
Fun fact: Marlon Wayans is worth around $40 million.
He was also good friends with the famous rapper Tupac Shakur until Tupac died in 1996.
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Shawn Wayans
Born on January 19, 1971, Shawn Wayans is the second youngest among the Wayans siblings.
Unlike his sisters Vonnie and Nadia, Shawn leads a more public life, frequently appearing on TV shows and in movies.
One of his early TV gigs was as the DJ on Fox’s comedy sketch, In Living Color.
Collaborating with his siblings, Shawn co-created and co-starred in the popular show, The Wayans Bros, alongside his younger brother, Marlon Wayans.
Another noteworthy role was in the Scary Movie series, which marked a turning point in Shawn Wayans’ career, as the film became a huge success.
Beyond Scary Movie, Shawn has worked on various projects, including the well-received movie, White Chicks.
Did You know: that Shawn Wayans is the wealthiest among the Wayans siblings, boasting a net worth of just over $30 million?
Diedre Wayans
Diedre Wayans, born on August 17, 1959, is a renowned scriptwriter in the United States.
While the Wayans family is widely recognized for their onscreen presence across America, Diedre stands out for her behind-the-scenes contributions rather than her onscreen roles, unlike her siblings.
She has earned a reputation for her work in writing and co-writing scripts for numerous well-known projects.
In addition to her role as a screenwriter, Diedre Wayans is also a film producer, collaborating on various Hollywood ventures alongside her siblings.
Notably, she is the proud mother of seven children, one of whom is the acclaimed actor, writer, and producer, Craig Wayans.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that Craig Wayans, Diedre Wayans’ son, served as a production assistant on the popular film “Major Payne” and played a part in the scriptwriting process for “Scary Movie 2”?
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Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans, born on September 4, 1960, is the fourth oldest among the Wayans siblings.
Like his brothers and sisters, he has been part of various Hollywood projects, both as an actor and a writer.
Damon is mainly a standup comedian and actor.
He became well-known for his roles in TV shows such as In Living Color, Beverly Hills Cops, and My Wife and Kids.
He also made appearances on the popular comedy show, Saturday Night Live.
Did you know
Damon was once married to Lisa Thorner, a former American actress and model.
His son, Damon Wayans Jr., played a significant role in the famous TV show, New Girl.
LOUISVILLE, LETS GOOOO!
Lots of laughs shall be had 🤌🏾https://t.co/ihEgwTxnbS https://t.co/bKSWFwCvHR— Damon Wayans Yunior? (@wayansjr) December 2, 2023
Kim Wayans
Kim Wayans, born on October 16, 1961, is also known as Kimberly Nichole Wayans.
She has been actively involved in various on-screen projects as an actress and holds the role of the matriarch in the Wayans family.
One of Kim’s notable on-screen achievements is her frequent appearances on Fox’s comedy sketch show, In Living Color.
Additionally, she has starred in several other projects, including the sitcom, The House.
Kim Wayans has been part of some well-known movie projects like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.
Fun Fact: Kimberly Nichole Wayans’ brother, Keenen Ivory Wayans, directed her famous film appearances.
Elvira Wayans
Born in 1964, Elvira Wayans has worked as a screenwriter on various solo and collaborative projects with her siblings.
Unlike her brothers and sisters, she’s the only one named after a parent.
She played a significant role in crafting the sitcom “My Wife and Kids,” led by her brother, Damon Wayans.
While Elvira is now somewhat active on social media, she prefers to keep her life private, in contrast to her more public siblings.
Consequently, there’s limited information about her personal and married life online, except for the fact that she has two children.
Fun fact: Elvira Wayans runs a YouTube channel called “Elvers Kitchen,” showcasing her recipes and those inherited from her mother.
Nadia Wayans
Nadia Wayans, the third daughter in the Wayans family, has mostly kept her life private, unlike her more spotlighted relatives in show business.
Her IMDb page briefly mentions her sole role in the movie “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” a project by her sibling Kim Wayans, where she starred alongside her brother Marlon Wayans.
Nadia Wayans’ net worth is slightly above $1 million.
Fun Fact:
Despite not being strongly connected to show business, Nadia Wayans often shows up on the red carpet with her siblings.
Vonnie Wayans
Similar to her sister Nadia, Devonne, also known as “Vonnie” Wayans, lives a private life, and not much is known about her. She has worked as a screenwriter on many projects with her siblings and currently holds a position at Continental Airlines, Inc.
Like her siblings, Vonnie graduated from Louis D. Brandeis High School.
According to records, her net worth is estimated to be around $100,000.
One interesting fact about Vonnie is that she has a daughter named Lauren.
Due to her privacy preference, there are only a few personal details available about her life.
Compendium
The Wayans Family, comprising ten siblings, has left a lasting impact on American show business, excelling in comedy and entertainment through TV shows like “In Living Color” and hit films such as the “Scary Movie” series.
Each sibling’s unique contributions, both on and off-screen, highlight their versatile talent and collective legacy.
The family’s enduring influence solidifies them as a dynamic force in shaping American entertainment.
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