Keenen Ivory Wayans

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Keenen Ivory Wayans
Keenen Ivory Wayans (33906703098) (cropped).jpg
Wayans in 2019
Born
Keenen Ivory Desuma Wayans

(1958-06-08) June 8, 1958 (age 66)
Education Tuskegee University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • filmmaker
Years active1979–present
Spouse
(m. 2001;div. 2006)
Partner Brittany Daniel (2007–2014)
Children5
Relatives Dwayne Wayans (brother)
Diedre Wayans (sister)
Damon Wayans (brother)
Kimberly Nichole Wayans (sister)
Elvira Wayans (sister)
Nadia Wayans (sister)
Vonnie Wayans (sister)
Shawn Wayans (brother)
Marlon Wayans (brother)
Damon Wayans Jr. (nephew)
Family Wayans family
Awards1990–Emmy Award Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
In Living Color (as executive producer)

Keenen Ivory Desuma Wayans (born June 8, 1958) [1] is an American actor, comedian, director and filmmaker. He is a member of the Wayans family of entertainers. Wayans first came to prominence as the host and creator of the 1990–1994 Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color . He has produced, directed or written several films, starting with Hollywood Shuffle , which he cowrote, in 1987. Most of his films have included him and one or more of his siblings in the cast.

Contents

One of these films, Scary Movie (2000), which Wayans directed, was the highest-grossing movie directed by an African American until it was surpassed by Tim Story's Fantastic Four in 2005. From 1997 to 1998, he hosted the talk show The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show . [2] In 2014, he was a judge for the eighth season of Last Comic Standing .

Life and career

Wayans was born in Harlem, New York City, son of Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager, and his wife Elvira Alethia (Green), a homemaker and social worker. [3] He is the second of ten children. [4] Genealogical TV show Finding Your Roots revealed that his paternal line traced back to Madagascar. [4] His father was a devout Jehovah's Witness. [5] [6] The family later moved to Manhattan's Fulton housing projects, [7] where he primarily grew up. He attended Seward Park High School during his teenage years, and attended Tuskegee University on an engineering scholarship. [7] He entertained his friends at college with made-up stories about life in New York. [8] One semester before graduation, he dropped out of school to focus on comedy. [9]

During his first set performing at The Improv in New York, Wayans met Robert Townsend, who helped him learn about the comedy business. [8] Townsend and Wayans drove to Los Angeles together when Wayans moved to Los Angeles in 1980. [8] Wayans worked there as an actor. He had a regular role as a soldier on the television series For Love and Honor [8] and appeared on Hill Street Blues as an NFL wide receiver.

Townsend wrote, directed, and starred in the movie Hollywood Shuffle ; Wayans was costar and cowriter. [8] The movie's success allowed him to raise the money to make I'm Gonna Git You Sucka . [8] Fox Broadcasting Company approached Wayans to offer him his own show. [10] Wayans wanted to produce a variety show similar to Saturday Night Live , with a cast of people of color that took chances with its content. [7]

Fox gave Wayans a lot of freedom with the show, although Fox executives were a bit concerned about the show's content before its debut. [10] Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the show, In Living Color , a sketch comedy television series that originally ran on Fox from 1990 to 1994.

Personal life

Wayans married Daphne Polk in 2001, but the couple filed for divorce in 2004, and their divorce was finalized in December 2006. [11]

In Living Color

Characters

Impressions

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducer
1987 Hollywood Shuffle NoYesNo
Eddie Murphy Raw NoYesYes
1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka YesYesNo
1991 The Five Heartbeats NoYesNo
1994 A Low Down Dirty Shame YesYesNo
1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood NoNoYes
1997 Most Wanted NoYesexecutive
2000 Scary Movie YesNoNo
2001 Scary Movie 2 YesNoNo
2004 White Chicks YesYesYes
2006 Little Man YesYesYes
2009 Dance Flick NoYesYes

Acting roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983 Star 80 Comic
1987 Hollywood Shuffle Donald/Jheri Curl
1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Jack Spade
1994 A Low Down Dirty Shame Andre Shame
1996 Don't Be a Menace Mailman
The Glimmer Man Lieutenant Jim Campbell
1997 Most Wanted Gunnery Sergeant James Anthony Dunn
2000 Scary Movie Slave
2009 Dance Flick Mr. Stache

Television

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerCreatorNotes
1990-1992 In Living Color YesYesexecutiveYes
1997 The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show NoNoexecutiveNo
2017 The Boo Crew NoYesYesYes
2020 The Last O.G. NoYesNoNo8 episodes

Acting roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 An Evening at the Improv HimselfEpisode: "Episode #2.16"
1982 Cheers Customer #1Episode: "Sam's Women"
CHiPs RobertsEpisode: "Meet the New Guy"
1983 The Renegades Lloyd WayneEpisode: "Back to School"
For Love and HonorDukeTV movie
1983–84For Love and HonorPvt. Duke JohnsonMain Cast
1986 Benson Clete HawkinsEpisode: "Summer of Discontent"
1987 Hill Street Blues Raymond JacksonEpisode: "The Runner Falls on His Kisser"
A Different World Professor LawrenceEpisode: "War of the Words"
1990–93 In Living Color HimselfMain Host: Season 1-4
1991 American Music Awards HimselfMain Host
1997–98 The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show HimselfMain Host
1998 Viva Variety HimselfEpisode: "Episode #3.7"
2001 My Wife and Kids KenEpisode: "A Little Romance"
2013 Happily Divorced TonyEpisode: "The Biggest Chill"
Real Husbands of Hollywood HimselfEpisode: "Tisha & Duane"
2014–15 Last Comic Standing HimselfMain Judge: Season 8-9
2018 The History of Comedy HimselfRecurring Guest: Season 2
2020This Is Stand-UpHimselfEpisode: "Episode #1.2"

Related Research Articles

<i>In Living Color</i> American sketch comedy television series

In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series that originally ran on Fox from April 15, 1990, to May 19, 1994. Keenen Ivory Wayans created, wrote and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Television and was taped at stage 7 at the Metromedia Square on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

<i>Scary Movie</i> 2000 film by Keenen Ivory Wayans

Scary Movie is a 2000 American parody comedy horror film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written by Marlon and Shawn Wayans, alongside Buddy Johnson, Phil Beauman, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Starring Jon Abrahams, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller, Regina Hall, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, and Dave Sheridan, it follows a group of teenagers who accidentally hit a man with their car, dump his body in a lake, and swear to secrecy. A year later, someone wearing a Ghostface mask and robe begins hunting them one by one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damon Wayans</span> American comedian, actor, producer and writer

Damon Kyle Wayans Sr. is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He performed as a comedian and actor throughout the 1980s, including a year-long stint on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live. He later became a writer and performer on Fox's sketch comedy show In Living Color (1990–1992), on his animated series Waynehead (1996–1997) and on his TV series Damon (1998). Since then, he has starred in a number of films and television shows, some of which he has co-produced or co-written, including Mo Money, The Last Boy Scout, Major Payne, Bulletproof, and the sitcom My Wife and Kids. From 2016 to 2019, he starred as Roger Murtaugh in the Fox television series Lethal Weapon. He is a member of the Wayans family of entertainers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlon Wayans</span> American actor, writer and producer

Marlon Lamont Wayans is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for his work with his brother Shawn Wayans on The WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. (1995–1999) and the comedy films Don't Be a Menace (1996), Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004), Little Man (2006), and Dance Flick (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Wayans</span> American actress

Kimberly Nichole Wayans is an American actress. She is the sister of Keenen Ivory, Damon Sr., Marlon, Shawn, and Nadia Wayans and aunt of Damien Dante among others. She is best known for her numerous roles on the Fox sketch comedy show In Living Color (1990–94), and Tonia Harris on In the House (1995–98). Wayans has also directed episodes for several series, including Bunk'd, The Neighborhood, and My Wife and Kids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Wayans</span> American actor and comedian (born 1971)

Shawn Mathis Wayans is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He made his debut on the comedy television series In Living Color (1990–1993). He went on to work with his brother Marlon Wayans on The WB sitcom The Wayans Bros.(1995–1999) and the comedy films Don't Be a Menace (1996), Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004), Little Man (2006), and Dance Flick (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Alan Grier</span> American comedian and actor (born 1956)

David Alan Grier is an American actor and comedian. Known for his roles on stage and screen, Grier gained popularity playing multiple roles in the American sketch comedy television series In Living Color (1990–1994) and Reverend Leon Lonnie Love on the Fox comedy series Martin (1993–1997). In 2004, Grier was ranked no. 94 on Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.

<i>Im Gonna Git You Sucka</i> 1988 film by Keenen Ivory Wayans

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a 1988 American blaxploitation parody film written, directed by and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans in his directorial debut. Featured in the film are several noteworthy African-American actors who were part of the genre of blaxploitation: Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas and Isaac Hayes. It co-stars John Vernon, Kadeem Hardison, Ja'net Dubois, John Witherspoon, Damon Wayans, Clarence Williams III and Chris Rock, and acts as the film debuts of comedian Robin Harris and brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans.

<i>The Five Heartbeats</i> 1991 film by Robert Townsend

The Five Heartbeats is a 1991 musical drama film directed by Robert Townsend, who co-wrote the script with Keenen Ivory Wayans. Produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film's main cast includes Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon Robinson, Harry J. Lennix, Tico Wells, Harold Nicholas, and Diahann Carroll. The plot of the film follows the three decade career of the rhythm and blues vocal group The Five Heartbeats. The film depicts the rise and fall of a Motown inspired soul act through the eyes of one of the Heartbeats, Donald "Duck" Matthews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Witherspoon (actor)</span> American actor (1942–2019)

John Witherspoon was an American actor and comedian who performed in various television shows and films. He played Willie Jones in the Friday series, and starred in films such as Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Boomerang (1992), The Five Heartbeats (1991), and Vampire in Brooklyn (1995). In addition, Witherspoon made appearances on television shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1994), The Wayans Bros. (1995–1999), The Tracy Morgan Show (2003), Barnaby Jones (1973), The Boondocks (2005–2014), and Black Jesus (2014–2019). He wrote a film, From the Old School, in which he played an elderly working man who tries to prevent a neighborhood convenience store from being developed into a strip club.

<i>Hollywood Shuffle</i> 1987 film by Robert Townsend

Hollywood Shuffle is a 1987 American satirical comedy film about the racial stereotypes of African Americans in film and television. The film tracks the attempts of Bobby Taylor to become a successful actor and the mental and external roadblocks he encounters, represented through a series of interspersed vignettes and fantasies. Produced, directed, and co-written by Robert Townsend, the film is semi-autobiographical, reflecting Townsend's experiences as a black actor when he was told he was not "black enough" for certain roles.

Damien Dante Wayans is an American actor, screenwriter, producer and director. He is a member of the Wayans family.

Craig Mikel Wayans is an American writer, television producer and actor. He is the nephew of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Kim Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans.

Dwayne Howell Wayans is an American writer and film score composer. He is a member of the Wayans family.

Leroy Casey is an American actor who served as DJ for the sketch comedy series In Living Color, from 1991 until 1994.

The Wayans family is an American show-business family. Family members include Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Kim Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Damien Dante Wayans, and Chaunté Wayans. Works created by Wayans family members include the Scary Movie film series, The Wayans Bros., In Living Color, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, White Chicks, My Wife and Kids, and Little Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jheri curl</span> Hairstyle

The Jheri curl is a permanent wave hairstyle that was popular among Black Americans during the 1980s and early 1990s. Invented by the hairdresser Jheri Redding, the Jheri curl gives the wearer a glossy, loosely curled look. It was touted as a "wash and wear" style that was easier to care for than the other popular chemical treatment of the day, the relaxer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daphne Wayans</span> American television personality

Daphne Sharmaine Denise Wayans is an American television personality. She is the former wife of Keenen Ivory Wayans, creator of the FOX sketch comedy In Living Color.

References

  1. "Keenen Ivory Wayans". PBS. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. Braxton, Greg (August 3, 1997). "Will 'Hip' Equal 'Hit'?". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  3. Stated on Finding Your Roots , January 19, 2016, PBS
  4. 1 2 Johnson, Martin (January 18, 2016). "Finding Your Roots: Shonda Rhimes, Maya Rudolph and Keenen Ivory Wayans Learn Shocking Facts About Their Families". The Root. G/O Media Inc. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  5. Stein, Joel (September 11, 2000). "Marlon Wayans". Time. Archived from the original on November 4, 2007.
  6. The Movie Chicks – Interview – Marlon Wayans
  7. 1 2 3 Laurence, Robert P. (April 13, 1990). "Is prime time ready for rudeness? Fox's new comedy 'In Living Color' will offend some, tickle others". The San Diego Union. p. E1.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hughes, Mike (April 13, 1990). "Laughing with 'Living Color'". USA Today.
  9. McIntyre, Mike (February 16, 1989). "Keenen Wayans gambles and wins on an offbeat 'Sucka'". The San Diego Union. p. E3.
  10. 1 2 "New Fox Show Pokes Fun at Black Stereotypes". Greensboro, North Carolina: Greensboro News & Record. Associated Press. April 12, 1990. p. B6.
  11. "Keenen Ivory Wayans files for divorce". Today. NBC. May 7, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2024.