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Marlon Wayans

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Marlon Wayans
Wayans in 2018
Born
Marlon Lamont Wayans

(1972-07-23) July 23, 1972 (age 52)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active1988–present
Partner(s)Angela Zackery
(1992–2013)
Children3
FamilyWayans family

Marlon Lamont Wayans[1] (born July 23, 1972) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work with his brother Shawn 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).

Wayans has appeared in other films, including Above the Rim (1994), The 6th Man (1997), Norbit (2007), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), The Heat (2013), A Haunted House (2013) and its sequel A Haunted House 2 (2014), Naked (2017), Fifty Shades of Black (2016), Sextuplets (2019), and On the Rocks (2020). He also had several dramatic roles, including the 2000 psychological drama film Requiem for a Dream.

Wayans partnered with Randy Adams to create What the Funny, an online destination for urban comedy.[2][3] He created the comedy competition television show Funniest Wins, which aired on TBS in 2014.[4] In 2014, Wayans and his brothers traveled the U.S. with "The Wayans Brothers Tour".[5] In 2017, he co-wrote and starred in the NBC sitcom Marlon, which ran for two seasons.[6]

Early life

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Wayans was born in New York City, the son of Elvira Alethia (Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager.[7] He was raised in Fulton Houses, a housing project in New York City, the youngest of ten siblings. He is the brother of Nadia, Shawn, Keenen Ivory, Damon, Dwayne, and Kim. His family were Jehovah's Witnesses.[8][9] Wayans went to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City, the school made famous in Fame. After graduating from high school, he attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., but dropped out after two years.[10]

Career

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Between 1992 and 1993, Wayans appeared with his siblings on the sketch comedy show In Living Color. From 1995 until 1999, he co-starred in the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. with his brother Shawn Wayans. He was originally considered for the role of Robin in the 1992 film Batman Returns,[11] but it was felt that the film featured too many characters, so his character was omitted. Wayans was then formally signed to the role in the 1995 sequel Batman Forever to play opposite Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face, but the mid-production change in directors from Tim Burton to Joel Schumacher resulted in both parts being recast and Wayans being paid out (Williams was not yet signed on, but received a penalty fee as his contract for Batman allowed him the option of reprise), and he still receives royalty payments. He was replaced by Chris O'Donnell. In August 2021, a comic book adaptation of the original concept, Batman '89, began publication, by DC Entertainment, using Wayans's likeness for Robin with his permission, their civilian identity renamed Drake Winston.[12]

Wayans produced the first two films of the Scary Movie series, in which he and Shawn were credited writers and co-stars. Those films were released in 2000 and 2001. In 2000, Wayans appeared as Tyrone C. Love in Requiem for a Dream and as Snails in Dungeons & Dragons. That same year, he and Shawn hosted the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Wayans also produced the Nickelodeon cartoon series Thugaboo. In 2017, NBC gave him his own sitcom, Marlon; it was canceled after two seasons.[13][14][15]

In September 2017, Variety announced that Wayans would partner with LA-based entertainment company Shots Studios to launch a YouTube channel.[16] He has appeared in videos alongside creators such as Anwar Jibawi and Hannah Stocking. In 2020, Wayans signed a deal with HBO Max.[17]

Personal life

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Wayans was in a long-term relationship with Angela Zackery from 1992 to 2013, and although he once called her his "ex-wife", he said in 2021 that he had never married.[18][19] They have two children.[20][21] Wayans also shares a child with his former girlfriend, Brittany Moreland.[22] Wayans was a close friend of rapper Tupac Shakur.[23] He is also a longtime friend of actor Omar Epps.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Pedestrian
1992 Mo' Money Seymour Stewart
1994 Above the Rim Bugaloo
1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central Loc Dog
1997 The 6th Man Kenny Tyler
1998 Senseless Darryl Witherspoon
2000 Requiem for a Dream Tyrone C. Love
Scary Movie Shorty Meeks
The Tangerine Bear Louie Blue (voice)
Dungeons & Dragons Snails
2001 Scary Movie 2 Shorty Meeks
2004 The Ladykillers Gawain MacSam
White Chicks Marcus Copeland
2006 Behind the Smile Danny Styles
Little Man Calvin "Baby-face" Sims
Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness (voice) TV movie
Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street Dirty, Money (voice) TV movie
2007 Norbit Buster "Bust-A-Move" Perkin
2009 Dance Flick Mr Moody
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Rip Cord
2010 Marmaduke Lightning (voice)
2013 A Haunted House Malcolm Johnson
The Heat Special Agent Levy
2014 A Haunted House 2 Malcolm Johnson
2016 Fifty Shades of Black Christian Black
2017 Naked Rob Anderson
2019 Sextuplets Various Roles
2020 On the Rocks Dean
2021 Respect Ted White
Back Home Again Mr. Tortoise Short
2022 The Curse of Bridge Hollow Howard Gordon [24]
2023 Air George Raveling

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992–93 In Living Color Himself/Cast Member Recurring Cast: Season 3-4
1995–99 The Wayans Bros. Marlon Williams Main Cast
1996 The Parent 'Hood Himself Episode: "Ode to Billy Shankbreath"
Mr. Show with Bob and David KKK Member Episode: "The Biggest Failure in Broadway History"
1996–97 Waynehead Blue (voice) Recurring 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"
2005 Mad TV Himself Episode: "Episode #11.1"
2006 Six Degrees Homeless Guy Episode: "The Puncher"
2011 Childrens Hospital Dr. Black Episode: "The Black Doctor"
2013 Sidewalks Entertainment Himself/Host Episode: "Marlon Wayans"
Anderson Live Himself/Co-Host Episode: "Episode #2.77"
Second Generation Wayans Himself Recurring Cast
Legit Doctor Episode: "Fatherhood"
2014 Funniest Wins Himself/Host Main Host
Deal with It Himself Episode: "Marlon Wayans & Mo Mandel"
2015 Lip Sync Battle Himself/Competitor Episode: "Queen Latifah vs. Marlon Wayans"
I Can Do That Himself/Host Main Host
America's Got Talent Himself/Guest Judge Episode: "Judge Cuts 3"
2016 Hollywood Game Night Himself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Way-ans to Go!"
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore Himself/Panelist Episode: "Rand Paul Talks Donald Trump's Candidacy"
Givit Wednesday Himself Episode: "Puppies & Tattoos - Marlon Wayans/Alison Eastwood"
Big Boy's Big Brawl Himself Episode: "Pilot"
Animals. Ry-Ry (voice) Episode: "Squirrels Part I"
2017 Safeword Himself Episode: "Kevin Hart vs. Damien Dante Wayans"
2017–18 Marlon Marlon Wayne Main Cast
2018 Do or Dare Himself Episode: "Marlon Wayans vs. Naomi"
Drop the Mic Himself Episode: "Episode #2.3"
The Hollywood Puppet Show Himself Episode: "Marlon Wayans and Bow Wow"
2019 Sherman's Showcase Himself Episode: "Enemies"
2022 To Tell the Truth Himself Episode: "Marlon Wayans, Arsenio Hall, and Joel McHale"
Marlon Wayans Presents: The Headliners Himself/Host Main Host
Oh Hell No! with Marlon Wayans Himself/Host Main Host
2023 The Daily Show Himself/Host [25] Recurring Host: Season 28
2022–24 Bel-Air Lou Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 3

Comedy specials

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Year Title
2018 Marlon Wayans: Woke-ish
2021 Marlon Wayans: You Know What It Is
2023 Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me
2024 Marlon Wayans: Good Grief

Documentary

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Year Title
1991 The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime
2003 Tupac: Resurrection
2005 Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow
2009 Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
2012 Versus and Serena

Music videos

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Year Song Artist
1992 "The Best Things in Life Are Free" Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson
2018 "Just My Type" Tiana

References

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  1. ^ "Marlon Wayans: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me". usmagazine.com. April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "Marlon Wayans Launching Urban Funny or Die (Exclusive)". Hollywoodreporter.com. June 26, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "What The Funny". What The Funny. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "Marlon Wayans' TBS series 'Funniest Wins' unveils comedian competitors". laughspin.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  5. ^ "The Wayans Brothers Kick Off Brand-New Comedy Tour in U.S." goodblacknews.org. July 21, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  6. ^ Ausiello, Michael (December 21, 2018). "Marlon Cancelled at NBC". TVLine. Archived from the original on December 22, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "Keenen Ivory Wayans' Interactive Family Tree - Finding Your Roots - PBS". PBS. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  8. ^ Stein, Joel. (September 11, 2000) Marlon Wayans. Time. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
  9. ^ Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 19, 2016, PBS
  10. ^ "Marlon Wayans". Biography.com. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  11. ^ Rabin, Nathan. (February 25, 1998) Marlon Wayans. The A.V. Club. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
  12. ^ Mueller, Matthew (March 9, 2016). "Batman '89 Series Would Have Picked Up Where Tim Burton Left Off". Yahoo!. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  13. ^ Pedersen, Erik (March 17, 2017). "NBC Sets Summer Premieres: 'Marlon,' 'Midnight, Texas,' 'Carmichael Show,' Reality & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 28, 2017). "'Marlon' Renewed For Season 2 By NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  15. ^ "'Marlon' canceled by NBC after two seasons". The Grio. December 23, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  16. ^ Spangler, Todd (September 7, 2018). "Marlon Wayans Launches YouTube Sketch-Comedy Channel With Shots Studios (Watch)". Variety. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  17. ^ "Marlon Wayans Inks Overall Deal With HBO Max | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. June 25, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ Victoria Uwumarogie (March 1, 2018). ""I Got You": Marlon Wayans's B-Day Message For Former Wife Shows What A Healthy Relationship With Your Ex Can Be". MadameNoire. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  19. ^ Brande Victorian (August 19, 2021). "Marlon Wayans On 'RESPECT' And Why He Never Married: 'I Knew My Mom Needed Me'". Essence. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  20. ^ Falen Hardge (November 13, 2023). "Marlon Wayans Shares How He Learned To Embrace His Trans Son, Kai". BET. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  21. ^ Stephanie Kaloi (November 15, 2023). "All About Marlon Wayans' Two Kids and His 'Unconditional Love' for Them". Parade. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Danielle Young (March 21, 2024). "Marlon Wayans Slams 'Entitled' Baby Mother After New Paternity Suit". BET. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  23. ^ Thompson, Stephen (June 17, 2020). "Marlon Wayans and Snoop Dogg Honor Tupac on What Would Have Been His 49th Birthday". news.amomama.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  24. ^ "New movies coming to Netflix in fall". whats-on-netflix.com. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  25. ^ "The Daily Show Guest Host Lineup". Comedy Central. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
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