Shawn Wayans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shawn Wayans
Wayans in 2004
Born
Shawn Mathis Wayans

(1971-01-19) January 19, 1971 (age 53)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1988–present
Children3
FamilyWayans family

Shawn Mathis Wayans (born January 19, 1971)[1] is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, 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 in 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).

Early life[edit]

Wayans, the ninth of ten siblings, was born in New York City, the son of Elvira Alethia (Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager.[2][3][4] His family were once Jehovah's Witnesses.[5][6] Wayans grew up in the Fulton Houses in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea and is a 1989 graduate of the Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities.

Career[edit]

On Fox's In Living Color, he began as DJ SW-1 and later became a featured performer, working with brothers Dwayne, Keenen (the show's creator), Damon, Marlon and sister Kim.

Along with Marlon, Shawn Wayans created and starred in the sitcom The Wayans Bros. (The WB, 1995–99) and co-wrote, co-executive produced, and starred in the 1996 feature Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, in which Keenen also acted. Wayans guest starred on episodes of MacGyver and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and provided the voice of Toof for the animated children's series Waynehead (based on brother Damon's real life childhood experiences).

After a supporting stint in the 1999 gang drama New Blood, Wayans's film fortunes improved dramatically when he co-starred with his brother Marlon in a hit film directed by their older brother Keenen: Scary Movie (1999–2000), a comic satire (which he also co-wrote) of the then-recent trend of horror films like Scream.

Wayans played the apparently closeted Ray Wilkins, a role he reprised for the similarly popular 2001 sequel Scary Movie 2. He has been involved with subsequent sequels.

Shawn and Marlon Wayans starred in the 2004 Keenen-directed comedy White Chicks, playing FBI agents forced to masquerade as spoiled white blonde heiresses. Shawn also received a share of story and screenplay credit on the film. He teamed up with Marlon and Keenen again for the 2006 comedy Little Man, which he acted in, co-wrote, and co-produced.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Film Role Notes
1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Pedestrian
1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Ashtray Also writer and co-executive producer
1999 New Blood Valentine
2000 Scary Movie Ray Wilkins Also writer and uncredited producer
2001 Open Mic Himself
Scary Movie 2 Ray Wilkins Also writer and co-executive producer
2004 White Chicks Kevin Copeland Also writer and producer
2006 Little Man Darryl Edwards
Bicentennial Himself
2007 For the Bible Tells Me So
2009 Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Dance Flick Father of baby Also writer
2012 Vanilla Ice Archive Himself

Television[edit]

Year Television Role
1991 The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime Various
MacGyver Robo
1990–1993 In Living Color Various, DJ SW1
1993 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Dominique
1995-1999 The Wayans Bros. Shawn Williams (also creator, executive consultant, producer, writer and director)
1996–1997 Waynehead Toof/Kid
1996 The Parent 'Hood Himself
1998 Comics Come Home 4
1999 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Itch (voice)
2000 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Host
2006 Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness Slim (voice)
Legends Ball Himself
Thugaboo: Miracle on D-Roc's Street Slim, Cheapie
2016 Animals Tommy

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rose, Mike (January 19, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 19, 2023 includes celebrities Dolly Parton, Jodie Sweetin". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Shawn Wayans Biography (1971-)
  3. ^ Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 19, 2016, PBS
  4. ^ "Keenen Ivory Wayans' Interactive Family Tree | Finding Your Roots | PBS". PBS. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016.
  5. ^ Marlon Wayans – TIME
  6. ^ The Movie Chicks - Interview - Marlon Wayans

External links[edit]