// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Shawn Wayans go to the store? He needed Way-ans to pay.
Shawn Wayans | |
|---|---|
 Wayans in 2004 | |
| Born | Shawn Mathis Wayans January 19, 1971 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Notable work | In Living Color, Scary Movie |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives |
|
| Family | Wayans family |
Shawn Mathis Wayans (/ˈweɪ.ənz/ WAY-ənz; born January 19, 1971)[1] is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer.
Early life and education
[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]Wayans 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 to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004), Little Man (2006), and Dance Flick (2009).
After an extended hiatus from acting, it was announced in February 2025 that Wayans would star in the sixth installment of the Scary Movie franchise, titled Scary Movie (2026), and would also star in the upcoming sequel film White Chicks 2 (TBA).[7]
Filmography
[edit]| † | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | 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 co-writer |
| 1999 | New Blood | Valentine | |
| 2000 | Scary Movie | Ray Wilkins | Also co-writer |
| 2001 | Scary Movie 2 | ||
| 2004 | White Chicks | Kevin Copeland | Also co-writer and producer |
| 2006 | Little Man | Darryl Edwards | |
| 2009 | Dance Flick | Baby Daddy | |
| 2026 | Scary Movie | Ray Wilkins | |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1993 | In Living Color | Himself | Main cast; 67 episodes (season 2–5) |
| 1991 | MacGyver | Robo | Episode: "The 'Hood" |
| 1993 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Dominique | Episode: "PMS: Post Moving in Syndrome" |
| 1995–1999 | The Wayans Bros. | Shawn Williams | 101 episodes; also co-creator |
| 1996 | The Parent 'Hood | Himself | Episode: "Ode to Billy Shankbreath" |
| 1996–1997 | Waynehead | Toof | Voice; 13 episodes |
| 1999 | Hollywood Squares | Himself | Recurring panelist |
| Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Bad Bobby | Voice; episode: "The Bremen Town Musicians" | |
| 2000 | Comedy Central Canned Ham | Himself | Episode: "Scary Movie" |
| 2000 MTV Video Music Awards | Main host | ||
| 2001 | Mad TV | Episode: "Episode #6.25" | |
| 2006 | The Boo Crew | Slim | Voice; television special |
| 2016 | Animals | Tommy | Voice; episode: "Squirrels Part I" |
Documentary
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime | |
| 2001 | Open Mic | |
| 2009 | Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy | |
References
[edit]- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Shawn Wayans Biography (1971-)
- ↑ Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 19, 2016, PBS
- ↑ "Keenen Ivory Wayans' Interactive Family Tree | Finding Your Roots". PBS. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016.
- ↑ Marlon Wayans – TIME
- ↑ The Movie Chicks - Interview - Marlon Wayans
- ↑ Najib, Shafiq (February 24, 2025). "Marlon Wayans says 'it's time' for 'White Chicks 2'". ABC News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Shawn Wayans at IMDb
- Shawn Wayans on X
- 1971 births
- American people of Malagasy descent
- 20th-century African-American male actors
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century African-American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- African-American male comedians
- American male comedians
- African-American television producers
- Television producers from New York City
- American male film actors
- Living people
- Male actors from Manhattan
- Wayans family
- American male television actors
- American sketch comedians
- American stand-up comedians
- African-American stand-up comedians
- Comedians from Manhattan
- 20th-century American comedians
- 21st-century American comedians
- Film producers from New York (state)
- People from Chelsea, Manhattan