From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Keenen Ivory Wayans (born June 8, 1958) 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. Wayans is the director of Scary Movie, the highest grossing movie ever directed by an African-American.

Biography

Wayans was born in Harlem, New York City, son of Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager, and his wife Elvira, a homemaker and social worker. His parents were devout Jehovah's Witnesses.^[1][2][3] Wayans attended Tuskegee University, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans. 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, Jon and Marlon. He is an uncle of Craig Wayans, Damon Wayans, Jr., Michael Wayans, Cara Mia Wayans, Kyla Wayans, and Damien Dante Wayans.

Wayans is a vegetarian and a supporter of the animal rights group, PETA.^[4]

Wayans married in 2001. He has five children However, Wayans and wife Daphne separated and have filed for divorce.

In Living Color

Characters

• Death Row Comic (Prison Cable Access)
• Frenchie
• Ice Man (Homeboy Shopping Network)
• Tom Brothers (The Brothers Brothers)
• Wes (Wes & Less)

Impressions

• Arsenio Hall
• Billy Dee Williams
• Don Cornelius
• Jesse Jackson
• Little Richard
• Ian Mackaye
• Mike Tyson
• Marsha Warfield
• Milli (Rob Pilatus) of Milli Vanilli
• Morgan Freeman
• Rick James

Filmography

Writing/producing/directing credits

• Hollywood Shuffle (1987) (and writer)
• Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) (producer)
• I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) (writer and director)
• In Living Color (1989–1994) (executive producer, director and creator/writer)
• The Five Heartbeats (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 Hood (1996) (producer)
• The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show (1997) (executive producer)
• Most Wanted (1997) (executive producer and writer)
• Scary Movie (2000) (actor and director)
• Scary Movie 2 (2001) (director)
• White Chicks (2004) (producer, director)
• Little Man (2006) (producer, writer, director)
• White Chicks 2 (2011) (producer, director)

References

External links

• Keenen Ivory Wayans at the Internet Movie Database