Keenen Ivory Wayans
Encyclopedia
Keenen Ivory Wayans is an American
actor
, comedian
, director
and writer
known as the host and creator of the FOX sketch comedy series In Living Color
, which also starred Jim Carrey
, Jamie Foxx
, brothers Damon Wayans
, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans
, sister Kim Wayans
, David Alan Grier
, Tommy Davidson
and featured Rosie Perez
, Jennifer Lopez
, and Laurie Ann Gibson
. Wayans is the director/creator of Scary Movie
, the highest grossing movie ever directed by an African-American. Keenan briefly hosted his own show called The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show
.
, son of Howell Wayans, a supermarket
manager, and his wife Elvira, a homemaker and social worker. His dad was a devout Jehovah's Witnesses. Wayans attended Tuskegee University
, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity through the Gamma Psi chapter. However, he dropped out in his final year to become a comedian. Wayans is one of several family members who have become famous in Hollywood, including his siblings Damon
, Kim
, Nadia, Shawn and Marlon
. He is an uncle of Craig Wayans
, Damon Wayans, Jr.
, Michael Wayans
, Cara Mia Wayans
, Kyla Wayans, Damien Dante Wayans
and Chaunté Wayans
.
Wayans is a vegetarian and a supporter of the animal rights
group, PETA.
In 2003, Wayans filed for divorce from his wife of 3 years and he sought joint custody of their five children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and writer
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
known as the host and creator of the FOX sketch comedy series In Living Color
In Living Color
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
, which also starred Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
, Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
, brothers Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans
Damon Kyle Wayans is an American stand-up comedian, writer and actor, one of the Wayans brothers.-Early life:Wayans was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager...
, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans
Marlon Wayans
Marlon L. Wayans is an American actor, model producer, comedian, writer, and director of movies, beginning with his role as a pedestrian in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988...
, sister Kim Wayans
Kim Wayans
Kim Wayans is an American actress, comedian, producer, writer and director. She is also a member of the Wayans family.-Early life:...
, David Alan Grier
David Alan Grier
David Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:...
, Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson is an American comedian, film and television actor.Born in Washington, D.C., Davidson was adopted when he was 2-years-old. He was a child of an interracial adoption, with his parents being Caucasian and he being African-American. He attended high school at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High...
and featured Rosie Perez
Rosie Perez
Rosa María "Rosie" Pérez is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, director and community activist.- Early life :...
, Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, and Laurie Ann Gibson
Laurie Ann Gibson
Laurie N. Jibsen is a creative director, VMA-winning choreographer, and Emmy-nominated director best known for her work with Lady Gaga, Diddy and Keri Hilson. She rose to public prominence as the star of MTV's Making the Band and P. Diddy and Mark Burnett’s Starmaker series...
. Wayans is the director/creator of Scary Movie
Scary Movie
Scary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres...
, the highest grossing movie ever directed by an African-American. Keenan briefly hosted his own show called The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show
The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show
The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show was a late night syndicated television talk show hosted by Keenen Ivory Wayans. The show premiered August 4, 1997 and was cancelled in March 1998. The show had an opening monologue and comedy sketches. His in house band was an all girl band called Ladies of the Night...
.
Biography
Wayans was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, son of Howell Wayans, a supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
manager, and his wife Elvira, a homemaker and social worker. His dad was a devout Jehovah's Witnesses. Wayans attended Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity through the Gamma Psi chapter. However, he dropped out in his final year to become a comedian. Wayans is one of several family members who have become famous in Hollywood, including his siblings Damon
Damon Wayans
Damon Kyle Wayans is an American stand-up comedian, writer and actor, one of the Wayans brothers.-Early life:Wayans was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager...
, Kim
Kim Wayans
Kim Wayans is an American actress, comedian, producer, writer and director. She is also a member of the Wayans family.-Early life:...
, Nadia, Shawn and Marlon
Marlon Wayans
Marlon L. Wayans is an American actor, model producer, comedian, writer, and director of movies, beginning with his role as a pedestrian in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988...
. He is an uncle of Craig Wayans
Craig Wayans
-External links:...
, Damon Wayans, Jr.
Damon Wayans, Jr.
Damon Kyle Wayans, Jr. is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian. He is the oldest son of actor-comedian Damon Wayans. Wayans currently stars as Brad Williams on the ABC comedy series Happy Endings.-Early life:...
, Michael Wayans
Michael Wayans
Michael Richard Wayans is an American actor.He is the son of actor and comedian Damon Wayans and part of the Wayans family.-Life and career:...
, Cara Mia Wayans
Cara Mia Wayans
Cara Mia Dianne Wayans is an American actress. She is the daughter of actor and comedian Damon Wayans and part of the Wayans family.-Career:...
, Kyla Wayans, Damien Dante Wayans
Damien Dante Wayans
Damien Dante Wayans is an American actor, writer, producer and director. He is a member of the Wayans family.-Early life:Wayans was born in New York City, he is the nephew of the Wayans Brothers, which consists of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Kim Wayans, Elvira Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and...
and Chaunté Wayans
Chaunté Wayans
Chaunté Wayans is an American actress, comedienne, writer and editor.-Life and career:Wayans is a member of the Wayans Family, whose more notable members are brothers Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Kim Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Marlon Wayans, and her brother Damien Dante Wayans. She is the...
.
Wayans is a vegetarian and a supporter of the animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
group, PETA.
In 2003, Wayans filed for divorce from his wife of 3 years and he sought joint custody of their five children.
Characters
- Death Row Comic (Prison Cable Access)
- Frenchie
- Ice Man (Homeboy Shopping Network)
- Tom Brothers (The Brothers Brothers)
- Wes (Wes & Less)
Impressions
- Arsenio HallArsenio HallArsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
- Billy Dee WilliamsBilly Dee WilliamsWilliam December "Billy Dee" Williams, Jr. is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer.-Early life:Williams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Loretta...
- Don CorneliusDon CorneliusDonald Cortez "Don" Cornelius is an American television show host and producer who is best known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance/music franchise Soul Train, which he hosted from 1971-1993...
- Jesse JacksonJesse JacksonJesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
- Little RichardLittle RichardRichard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
- Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
- Marsha WarfieldMarsha WarfieldMarsha Warfield is an American actress and comedienne best known for her 1986–1992 role of Roz on the popular NBC sitcom Night Court. Roz, a tough, no-nonsense bailiff in Judge Stone's court, acted primarily as a straightwoman to the other bailiff character, Bull . She also starred in the sitcom...
- Milli (Rob PilatusRob PilatusRobert "Rob" Pilatus was a German-American model, dancer and singer. Pilatus was best known as half of the pop music duo Milli Vanilli.-Early life:...
) of Milli Vanilli - Morgan FreemanMorgan FreemanMorgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
(such as Hoke Colburn from Driving Miss Daisy, Principal Joe Clark from Lean On Me) - Rick JamesRick JamesJames Ambrose Johnson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. James was a popular performer in the late 1970s and 1980s, scoring four number-one hits on the U.S. R&B charts performing in the genres of funk and R&B...
- Steve HarveySteve HarveyBroderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
- Carl WeathersCarl WeathersCarl Weathers is an American actor, as well as former professional football player in the United States and Canada. He is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky series of films...
(as Apollo CreedApollo CreedApollo Creed is a fictional character from the Rocky films, initially portrayed as the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. He was played by Carl Weathers. Many believe his character was modeled after Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali while Rocky Balboa was based on relatively unknown...
)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Cheers (TV Series) | Customer #1 |
| 1983 | CHiPs CHiPs CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol... (TV Series) |
Roberts |
| 1983 | Star 80 Star 80 Star 80 is a 1983 American film about the true story of Playboy Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten, who was murdered by her estranged husband Paul Snider in 1980... |
Comic |
| 1983 | For Love and Honor For Love and Honor For Love and Honor is a 2007 Turkish drama film, written by Yavuz Turgul and directed by Ömer Vargı, starring Şener Şen as a retired gangster who learns that he has a son in need of protection... (TV Series) |
Pvt. Duke Johnson |
| 1986 | Benson Benson (TV series) Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986, on ABC. The series was a spin-off from the soap opera parody Soap ; however, Benson discarded the... (TV Series) |
Benson "Clete" Hawkins, (Benson's nephew) |
| 1987 | Hollywood Shuffle Hollywood Shuffle Hollywood Shuffle is a 1987 comedy film that satirizes 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... |
Donald/Jheri Curl |
| 1987 | Hill Street Blues Hill Street Blues Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ... |
Raymond Jackson |
| 1987 | A Different World (TV Series) | Professor Lawrence |
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka I'm Gonna Git You Sucka I'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a 1988 blaxploitation parody film written by, directed by and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. Featured in the film are several black actors who were part of the blaxploitation phenomenon; including Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas and Isaac Hayes... |
Jack Spade |
| 1989–1994 | In Living Color In Living Color In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century... (TV Series) |
Various |
| 1994 | A Low Down Dirty Shame A Low Down Dirty Shame (film) A Low Down Dirty Shame is a 1994 action-comedy film, written, directed by, and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. The film also stars Charles S. Dutton, Jada Pinkett, and Salli Richardson.-Plot:... |
Shame |
| 1996 | The Glimmer Man The Glimmer Man The Glimmer Man is a 1996 American action film directed by John Gray and starring Steven Seagal, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bob Gunton and Brian Cox.-Plot:... |
Det. Jim Campbell |
| 1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood is a 1996 parody film by Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Similarly to I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, the film spoofs a number of black, coming-of-age, 'hood films' such as Juice, Jungle Fever, South Central, Higher Learning, Do the Right... |
Mailman |
| 1997 | Most Wanted | Sergeant James Dunn |
| 2000 | Scary Movie Scary Movie Scary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres... |
Slave (Amistad II) |
| White Chicks White Chicks White Chicks is a 2004 American film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written and produced by Keenen Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios... |
||
| 2009 | Dance Flick Dance Flick Dance Flick is a 2009 American comedy directed by Damien Dante Wayans, written by his uncles, the Wayans Brothers, and starring Damon Wayans, Jr., and Shoshana Bush. The film is a spoof of the popular dance film genre... |
Mr. Stache |
Writing/producing/directing credits
- Hollywood ShuffleHollywood ShuffleHollywood Shuffle is a 1987 comedy film that satirizes 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...
(1987) (and writer) - Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) (producer)
- I'm Gonna Git You SuckaI'm Gonna Git You SuckaI'm Gonna Git You Sucka is a 1988 blaxploitation parody film written by, directed by and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. Featured in the film are several black actors who were part of the blaxploitation phenomenon; including Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas and Isaac Hayes...
(1988) (writer and director) - In Living ColorIn Living ColorIn Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
(1989–1994; 2012- ) (executive producer, director and creator/writer) - The Five HeartbeatsThe Five HeartbeatsThe Five Heartbeats is a 1991 musical drama film directed by Robert Townsend, who co-wrote the script with Keenan Ivory Wayans. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film's main cast includes Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon Robinson, Harry J. Lennix, Tico Wells, Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas...
(1991) (writer) - A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994) (writer and director)
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the HoodDon't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the HoodDon't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood is a 1996 parody film by Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Similarly to I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, the film spoofs a number of black, coming-of-age, 'hood films' such as Juice, Jungle Fever, South Central, Higher Learning, Do the Right...
(1996) (producer) - The Keenen Ivory Wayans ShowThe Keenen Ivory Wayans ShowThe Keenen Ivory Wayans Show was a late night syndicated television talk show hosted by Keenen Ivory Wayans. The show premiered August 4, 1997 and was cancelled in March 1998. The show had an opening monologue and comedy sketches. His in house band was an all girl band called Ladies of the Night...
(1997) (executive producer) - Most Wanted (1997) (executive producer and writer)
- Scary MovieScary MovieScary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres...
(2000) (actor and director) - Scary Movie 2Scary Movie 2Scary Movie 2 is a 2001 parody film. It is the second film of the Scary Movie franchise. Though part of the first Scary Movies tagline read "...No sequel," this film's tagline compensated by adding "We lied"....
(2001) (director) - White ChicksWhite ChicksWhite Chicks is a 2004 American film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written and produced by Keenen Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios...
(2004) (producer, director) - Little ManLittle Man (film)Little Man is a 2006 American comedy film, directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. It stars Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kerry Washington, and Tracy Morgan. Little Man was released on DVD on November 7, 2006.- Plot :...
(2006) (producer, writer, director) - Dance FlickDance FlickDance Flick is a 2009 American comedy directed by Damien Dante Wayans, written by his uncles, the Wayans Brothers, and starring Damon Wayans, Jr., and Shoshana Bush. The film is a spoof of the popular dance film genre...
(2009) (producer, writer) - It Takes A Village (TBA) (writer, director)