The Wayans household continues to be one among Hollywood’s largest and most gifted broods.
In contrast to lots of their kids, mother and father Howell and Elvira Wayans didn’t work within the leisure trade whereas they raised their 10 kids in New York Metropolis.
“There was all the time a lot love and a lot enjoyable, and there was all the time an journey, and it was by no means boring,” Marlon Wayans recalled of rising up together with his household in a January 2022 interview with Kerry Washington. “And we all the time had one another to lean on and all the time had one another to make jokes. It was stunning.”
The household stepped into the highlight when second eldest sibling Keenen Ivory Wayans created the sketch comedy sequence In Dwelling Coloration in 1990. The sequence not solely gave stars comparable to Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx their massive breaks, but in addition launched the careers of siblings Marlon, Kim Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Damon Wayans.
David Fisher/Shutterstock Marlon Wayans confirmed off his trademark humorousness when giving Us Weekly the news a few White Chicks sequel, his well-known household and extra. The 50-year-old comic — who portrayed Marcus Copeland and his white heiress alter-ego Tiffany Wilson within the iconic 2004 comedy — completely shared with Us the true cause […]
The household has gone on to work collectively in a number of notable tasks and alongside their youngsters, together with the Scary Film franchise, White Chicks, Poppa’s Home and extra. The household was inducted into the NAACP Picture Awards Corridor of Fame in February 2025.
Scroll all the way down to get to know the members of the Wayans household:
Dwayne Wayans
The oldest Wayans sibling beforehand labored as a manufacturing assistant on In Dwelling Coloration from 1990 to 1991 and on his brother Damon’s sitcom My Spouse and Children from 2002 to 2003, per IMDb. He has continued to collaborate on his siblings’ tasks over time, performing as a composer on tasks comparable to Thugaboo: Sneaker Insanity, Dance Flick, Marlon and Poppa’s Home.
Not a lot is thought about Dwayne’s private life, as he has seemingly chosen to maintain a decrease profile than a few of his relations.
Keenen Ivory Wayans
Keenen Ivory Wayans. LISA O’CONNOR/AFP through Getty Photographs
Earlier than creating In Dwelling Coloration, Keenen acted on exhibits comparable to Cheers, For Love and Honor and A Totally different World. He additionally wrote and produced tasks comparable to Hollywood Shuffle, Eddie Murphy: Uncooked and Robert Townsend and His Companions in Crime. Within the years since In Dwelling Coloration’s 1994 finish, Keenen has gone on to work as a author and producer on White Chicks, Little Man and The Final O.G., amongst different credit. He was additionally hooked up to an In Dwelling Coloration revival, although the undertaking was reportedly scrapped in 2013.
Keenen was married to Daphne Wayans from 2001 to 2006. The exes share 5 youngsters — Jolie, Nala, Keenen, Bella and Daphne.
Diedra Wayans
Like her massive brother Dwayne, Diedra seems to reside a life out of the highlight regardless of working within the leisure trade. She cofounded the Wayans Lady Productions in 2009, in addition to the Wayans Lady Basis along with her daughter, Summer season, in 2015.
“Our packages embrace offering entry to a companion, dietary plans, therapeutic providers, childcare, instructional workshops and a supportive setting to help those that are struggling and/or going by means of a disaster,” the group’s website states.
In response to her IMDb, Diedra has labored as a producer on tasks comparable to Altering Steps With Belinda Baker and A Polished Soul, and can function a producer on the upcoming TV sequence Dr. Julian Wright Present, which is in pre-production.
Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans. L. Cohen/WireImage for BET Community
Damon acquired his performing begin in exhibits and films comparable to Saturday Evening Stay, Roxanne, A Totally different World and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka earlier than making his In Dwelling Coloration debut in 1990. He went on to steer two sitcoms, 1998’s Damon and My Spouse and Children, the latter of which ran for 5 seasons from 2000 to 2005. He and his eldest baby, son Damon Wayans Jr., starred collectively within the 2006 sketch comedy sequence The Underground earlier than reuniting for the sitcom Poppa’s Home, which premiered in 2024.
Damon Sr. shares Damon Jr. and children Michael, Cara and Kyla together with his ex-wife, Lisa Thorner, to whom he was married from 1984 to 2000.
Along with establishing himself as one among Hollywood’s funniest stars, Damon Sr. has additionally confronted some controversy over time. In 2015, he made headlines for defending Invoice Cosby amid his sexual assault scandal. “I don’t consider he was raping,” he stated throughout an interview on “The Breakfast Membership” radio present on the time.
Stating that a few of Cosby’s accusers had been “unrapeable,” he continued, “I perceive fame. I’ve lived it. Girls will throw themselves at you. They only wish to be in your presence. There’s some that innocently will come up there, however not 40-something girls. They’re not that naïve.”
He later took to X to make clear his feedback, writing, “Cease twisting my phrases. Watch your complete interview earlier than u condemn me!” per CBS News. He additionally reposted a clip from the interview during which he acknowledged, “And for them, my coronary heart goes out to them. For anyone who was raped by Invoice Cosby, I’m sorry and I hope you get justice.” (Cosby was sentenced to 3 to 10 years behind bars however was released from prison in 2021 after his sexual assault costs had been overturned).
Damon Sr. made headlines once more in April 2025 after revealing he was once “in love” with a girl his nephew had dated within the early 2000s. “I acquired divorced and I used to be on my own for 2 years, after which I noticed her and I used to be like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m in love,’” he defined on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with out specifying which of his nephews he shared the reference to.
Poking enjoyable at how the shared ex has affected the household, Damon Sr. went on to quip, “Household gatherings is awkward.”
Kimberly Wayans
Kimberly has acted in plenty of her siblings’ tasks exterior of In Dwelling Coloration, together with A Low Down Soiled Disgrace, The Wayans Bros., Dance Flick, Marlon and Poppa’s Home. She has additionally racked up plenty of memorable TV appearances on exhibits comparable to Within the Home, Prison Minds, Reckless, Hawaii 5-O, New Lady, The Breaks and A Black Woman Sketch Present. She is presently married to actor and producer Kevin Knotts.
Elvira Wayans
Elvira Wayans and Chaeunte Wayans. John Heller/WireImage
Named after the siblings’ late mom, Elvira is one other of the Wayans relations who has chosen to remain out of the highlight. She labored as a author on Damon’s sequence My Spouse and Children and is the mom to youngsters Damien Dante Wayans and Chaunté Wayans, each of whom have adopted of their relations’ leisure footsteps.
Nadia Wayans
Nadia is credited with a small position in Keenen’s 1988 movie I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, although not a lot else is thought in regards to the seventh-oldest Wayans sibling.
Devonne Wayans
Just like Nadia, Devonne has stored her life personal over time. Nevertheless, she was included within the thanks of brother Marlon’s 2022 Netflix Halloween movie The Curse of Bridge Hole, per IMDb.
Shawn Wayans
Shawn Wayans. Amy Sussman/Getty Photographs
The second-to-youngest Wayans sibling has appeared in plenty of memorable TV exhibits and films, comparable to Waynehead, The Wayans Bros., Scary Film, Scary Film 2, White Chicks, Little Man and Dance Flick. His most up-to-date IMDb credit score is the 2024 podcast “Tutor Opinions.”
In October 2024, it was introduced that Shawn, Marlon and Keenen would be a part of forces on a sixth Scary Film movie, marking their return to the franchise after not being part of the sequence third, fourth and fifth films.
Shawn is a father to 3 youngsters — daughters Laila and Illia and and son Marlon — the latter of whom is called after his youthful brother.
Marlon Wayans
Marlon Wayans. Jason Mendez/Getty Photographs
Marlon is well-known for his roles on In Dwelling Coloration, The Wayans Bros., the Scary Film sequence, White Chicks, Norbit, A Haunted Home, Marlon, Respect, Air and Bel-Air. He additionally appeared in a 2025 episode of Damon Sr. and Damon Jr.’s CBS sequence Poppa’s Home.
Marlon shares his youngsters Kai and Shawn together with his ex Angela Zackery. The actor and comic opened up about Kai coming out as transgender on a November 2023 episode of “The Breakfast Club” radio show, recalling how he went from “ignorance and denial to finish, unconditional love and acceptance.”
Dwyane Wade, Khary Payton and extra celebrities have supported their LGBTQ+ youngsters’ journeys. Throughout a February 2020 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Present, Wade opened about his daughter Zaya popping out as transgender, noting that he takes his “roles and tasks” as her father “very critically.” Thank You! You might have efficiently subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters […]
He shared, “I believe there’s a number of mother and father on the market that must have that message. And I do know I’m coping with it. It was a really painful scenario for me, however man, it’s among the finest, funniest hours I in all probability may ever think about.”
Marlon welcomed his youngest baby, daughter Axl, with ex Brittany Moreland in December 2022 and signed a declaration of parentage in the future after her delivery. Moreland filed for full custody of their baby in March 2024, along with requesting elevated baby help. Marlon, for his half, filed for joint custody of Axl that July.
