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The Wayans family (/ˈweɪənz/) 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.

Family members

Parents

Howell Stouten Wayans (August 26, 1936 – April 1, 2023), a supermarket manager, and his wife Elvira Alethia (née Green, July 23, 1938 – July 22, 2020), a homemaker and social worker, resided in Chelsea, New York City when they had their first child.

Children

• Dwayne Howell Wayans (born August 22, 1956) is a writer and film-score composer.
• Keenen Ivory Desuma Wayans (born June 8, 1958) is an actor, comedian, director, and writer.
  • Daphne Sharmaine Denise Polk, married in 2001 and divorced in 2005.
• Diedre Wayans (born August 17, 1959) is a screenwriter.

• Craig Mikel Wayans (born March 27, 1976) is an actor, writer, and television producer.

• Damon Kyle Wayans (born September 4, 1960) is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer.

• Damon Kyle Wayans, Jr. (born November 18, 1982) is an actor and comedian.

• Kimberly Nichole Wayans (born October 16, 1961) is a television and film actress.
• Elvira Wayans (born January 4, 1964) is a screenwriter.

• Damien Dante Wayans (born April 29, 1980) is an actor, screenwriter, producer and director.
• Chaunté Wayans (born May 24, 1982) is an actress and stand-up comedian.

• Nadia Wayans (born January 20, 1965) is a former actress.
• Vonnie Wayans (born April 25, 1966) is a former screenwriter.
• Shawn Mathis Wayans (born January 19, 1971) is an actor, comedian, writer, and producer.
• Marlon Lamont Wayans (born July 23, 1972) is an actor, comedian, writer, and producer.

Works

Film and television productions with the involvement of more than one member of the Wayans family include:

• Hollywood Shuffle (1987), a film co-written by Keenen and featuring Keenen, Damon and Kim
• Eddie Murphy Raw (1987), a stand-up comedy film produced by Keenen also featuring Damien (opening sketch) and Kim (un-credited)
• I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), a film by Keenen also featuring Damon, Kim, Shawn and Marlon
• In Living Color (1990–1994), a sketch comedy show created by Keenen and Damon also featuring Kim, Shawn and Marlon
• Mo' Money (1992), a film written by Damon and starring Damon and Marlon
• Blankman (1994), a superhero parody film starring and co-written by Damon, featuring cameos by Damon's children
• A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), a film by Keenen starring Keenen, also featuring Kim
• Major Payne (1995), co-written by, co-produced by and starring Damon and featuring Damien Dante Wayans
• The Wayans Bros. (1995–1999), a situation comedy starring brothers Shawn and Marlon, Kim appears on a few episodes.
• Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), co-written by and starring Shawn and Marlon, produced by Keenen (who also appears in the film)
• Waynehead (1996–1997), a short-lived animated series created by Damon with Shawn, Marlon and Kim
• Scary Movie (2000–2013), a film franchise created by Keenen, Shawn, and Marlon; the first installment was the most profitable movie ever to be directed by an African American, until the release of Fantastic Four in 2005. The Wayans were only involved with the first two films, but are still credited for the subsequent movies.
• My Wife and Kids (2001–2005) with Damon Wayans, which included Kim, Damien, Craig, Damon Jr. and Elvira among its writers, and featured many family members in guest roles
• White Chicks (2004), a film directed by Keenen, co-written and co-produced by Keenen, Shawn and Marlon, and starring Shawn and Marlon
• Little Man (2006), a film directed by Keenen, written and co-produced by Keenen, Shawn and Marlon, and starring Shawn and Marlon
• Thugaboo (2006), animated children's TV specials
• The Underground (2006), a sketch comedy show created by and starring Damon, featuring Damon Wayans Jr., with music by Dwayne Wayans
• Dance Flick (2009), a film directed by Damien Dante Wayans, written by many members of the family, and starring Damon Wayans Jr. and other Wayans family members
• Second Generation Wayans (2013), a TV show co-produced by and co-starring Damien and Craig
• A Haunted House (2013) and A Haunted House 2 (2014), a comedy film duology written and directed by Marlon, that satirizes the "found footage" horror genre.
• Poppa's House (2024), a sitcom starring Damon and Damon, Jr. that airs on CBS. Multiple Wayans are in the writing room.

References

1. Finding Your Roots, January 19, 2016, PBS

• Wayans family
• African-American families