Shawn Wayans
Shawn Wayans | |
|---|---|
 Wayans in 2004 | |
| Born | Shawn Mathis Wayans January 19, 1971 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
| Children | 3 |
| Family | Wayans 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 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]On Fox's In Living Color, he began as DJ SW-1 and later became a featured performer, working with brothers Dwayne, Keenan (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 | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Pedestrian | |
| 1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Central | Ashtray | |
| 1999 | New Blood | Valentine | |
| 2000 | Scary Movie | Ray | |
| 2001 | Scary Movie 2 | Ray | |
| 2004 | White Chicks | Kevin Copeland | |
| 2006 | Little Man | Darryl | |
| Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness | Slim (voice) | TV movie | |
| Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street | Slim (voice) | TV movie | |
| 2009 | Dance Flick | Mr Moody |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–93 | In Living Color | Himself/Cast Member | Recurring Cast: Season 2-5 |
| 1991 | MacGyver | Robo | Episode: "The 'Hood" |
| 1993 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Dominique | Episode: "PMS: Post Moving in Syndrome" |
| 1995–99 | The Wayans Bros. | Marlon Williams | Main Cast |
| 1996 | The Parent 'Hood | Himself | Episode: "Ode to Billy Shankbreath" |
| 1996–97 | Waynehead | Toof (voice) | Main Cast |
| 1999 | Hollywood Squares | Himself/Panelist | 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 | Himself/Host | Main Host | |
| 2001 | Mad TV | Himself | Episode: "Episode #6.25" |
| 2016 | Animals. | Tommy (voice) | Episode: "Squirrels Part I" |
Documentary
[edit]| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 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". PBS. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016.
- ^ Marlon Wayans – TIME
- ^ The Movie Chicks - Interview - Marlon Wayans
External links
[edit]- Shawn Wayans at IMDb
- Shawn Wayans on Twitter
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1971 births
- American people of Malagasy descent
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- African-American male comedians
- African-American comedians
- American male comedians
- African-American male actors
- 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
- Comedians from Manhattan
- 20th-century American comedians
- 21st-century American comedians
- Film producers from New York (state)
- People from Chelsea, Manhattan
- 20th-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American people