Shawn Wayans

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Shawn Wayans

Wayans at Tempe Improv, October 2006
Born Shawn M. Wayans
January 19, 1971 (1971-01-19) (age 37)
New York City, New York, Flag of the United States United States
Other name(s) DJ SW-1
Years active 1988-present

Shawn M. Wayans (born January 19, 1971) is an American actor and comedian who starred in In Living Color and The Wayans Bros. He is the brother of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, and Kim Wayans.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Wayans, the second youngest of ten siblings, was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager.[1] His family was involved in the Jehovah's Witnesses religion.[2][3] Wayans grew up in the housing projects in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea and is a 1989 graduate of the High School for the Humanities.

[edit] Career

Wayans made his feature debut in older brother Keenen's I'm Gonna Get You Sucka (1988). On Fox's In Living Color (1990-93), he began as SW-1, the classy, good-looking deejay and later became a featured performer, working with brothers Dwayne, Keenen (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 feature Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), 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 little-seen gang drama New Blood (1999) Wayans' film fortunes increased dramatically when he co-starred with his brother Marlon in a hit film directed by their older brother Keenan: Scary Movie (1999-2000), a comic satire (which he also co-wrote) on 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 kept the familial team intact when he and Marlon starred in the Keenan-directed comedy White Chicks (2004), playing a pair of FBI agents forced to masquerade as a pair of spoiled white blonde heiress a la the Hilton Sisters. Shawn also received a share of story and screenplay credit on the film. Wayans teamed up with Marlon and Keenen once again for the 2006 comedy Little Man. He acted, co-wrote, and co-produced the film.

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role
1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Pedestrian
1990 In Living Color (TV Series) Various
1991 The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime (TV) Various
MacGyver (TV Series) Robo
1993 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV Series) Dominique
1995 The Wayans Bros. (TV Series) Shawn Williams
1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Ashtray
Waynehead (TV Series) Toof/Kid
The Parent 'Hood (TV Series) Himself
1998 Comics Come Home 4 (TV) Himself
1999 New Blood Valentine
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series) Bad Bobby (voice)
2000 Scary Movie Ray Wilkins
Open Mic Himself
2001 Scary Movie 2 Ray Wilkins
2004 White Chicks Kevin Copeland
2006 Little Man Darryl
Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness (TV) Slim (voice)
Thugaboo: Miracle on D-Roc's Street (TV) Slim, Cheapie

[edit] Writing credits

  1. Scary Movie 5 (2008) (announced)
  2. The Munsters (film) (2008) (announced)
  3. Little Man (2006)
  4. White Chicks (2004) (screenplay) (story)
  5. Scary Movie 2 (2001) (characters) (written by)
  6. Scary Movie (2000) (written by)
  7. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) (written by)
  8. "The Wayans Bros." (1995-1999) TV Series

[edit] Producer/director credits

  1. The Munsters (film) (2008) (announced) (producer)
  2. Little Man (2006) (producer)
  3. White Chicks (2004) (producer)
  4. Scary Movie 2 (2001) (co-executive producer)
  5. Scary Movie (2000) (producer) (uncredited)
  6. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) (co-executive producer)
  7. "The Wayans Bros." (1995) TV Series (Producer, Director & Executive Consultant)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Chris Rock
MTV Video Music Awards host
2000 (co-host with Marlon Wayans)
Succeeded by
Jamie Foxx


Persondata
NAME Wayans, Shawn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wayans, Shawn T.
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actor
DATE OF BIRTH 1971-1-19
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City, New York, Flag of the United States United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH