• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Celebrity

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family

It seems everyone in this Hollywood family is destined to do great things. 
By Sydney Scott · Updated October 26, 2020
5543950754001

The Wayans family is one of Hollywood’s biggest and funniest celebrity dynasties with each member carving their own path, working on various projects. And, Marlon Wayans is the latest to launch something new.

His new series, Marlon, premiered recently on NBC and his Netflix film Naked, co-starring Regina Hall, dropped earlier this month.

But, if you’ve forgotten about his previous accomplishments and those of his siblings and extended family, then here’s a quick refresher on their many achievements and the things they have on the horizon.

And, this isn’t even the entire family.

01
Keenen Ivory Wayans

The Primetime Emmy-winning actor, writer, director, and producer has taken a step back from the spotlight, but with his brother Damon by his side, Keenen launched the iconic variety show In Living Color in 1990. He also wrote, directed, and starred in I’m Gonna Get You Sucka. Back in 2011, it was rumored that FOX had plans to reboot In Living Color with Keenan attached, however that never came to fruition. Keenen’s last acting role was in Real Husbands of Hollywood in 2013.

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Charley Gallay/NBC
02
Daphne Wayans

The ex-wife of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Daphne is a star in her own right. She serves on the board of New Village Leadership Academy, a private elementary school founded by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, co-produced the standup comedy documentary Dying Laughing, and appears as a guest blogger on The Huffington Post, giving parenting and relationship advice. 

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Gabriel Olsen
03
Damon Wayans

Currently starring on FOX’s Lethal Weapon, Damon has appeared in a string of successfull film and television shows, including My Wife And Kids, The Underground, both of which he created, as well as Bamboozled, Major Payne, and Damon, another series he co-created.

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Gary Gershoff
04
Kim Wayans

One of the funniest women in comedy, Kim is a Hollywood renaissance woman, writing, directing, and starring in a number of her siblings projects. She also co-wrote a series of children’s books, Amy Hodgepodge, with her husband Kevin Knotts.

 

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Todd Williamson
05
Shawn Wayans

Who could forget Shawn starring alongside his brother Marlon in the hilarious hit show The Wayans Bros.? Or his turn as FBI agent Kevin Copeland in White Chicks? Like the rest of his talented family, Shawn has written, directed, produced, and starred in a number of things. Now, he’s hitting the stage and performing stand up at various spots around the country.

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Johnny Nunez
06
Damon Wayans Jr.

Damon Jr. is keeping up the family tradition, pursuing comedy and starring in projects like New Girl, Big Hero 6, Let’s Be Cops, and Happy Endings.

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Getty Images
07
Damien Wayans

Like his aunt, uncles, and cousins, Damien has created his own path in comedy, making his feature directorial debut with 2009’s Dance Flick. 

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Alberto E. Rodriguez
08
Craig Wayans

Craig has a consulting producer credit on his uncle Marlon’s new show, Marlon, as well as Damon Wayans’ My Wife and Kids. He was also a writer for the 2010 BET Awards. 

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Chelsea Lauren
09
Chaunté Wayans

You can catch Chaunté in Dance Flick and 50 Shades of Black, but she’s also a stand up comedian. She’s currently touring and recently told The Huffington Post, “My idea of success is being able to show people that it’s possible. And if I can change one person’s life in this world for the better, than I truly feel like I’ve done my job.” She’s also a writer on CBS’s Diversity Showcase 2017.

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Michael Schwartz
10
Summer Wayans

Summer didn’t enter comedy like many of her family members, instead choosing to focus on her career as a plus szie model and getting a Ph.D in Multicultural Psychology. 

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Summer Wayans/Instagram
11
Nala Wayans

Nala Wayans has also decided to enter the modeling game, vlogging her experiences, travel, and day-to-day routine along the way. 

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Todd Williamson
12
Gregg Wayans

Gregg is currently attached to the upcoming films Urban Myths and The Time Capsule. He starred in Bounce TV’s 2013 comedy My Crazy Roommate, as well as a few Wayans family productions, Fifty Shades of Black and A Haunted House 2.  

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Paul Archuleta
13
Michael Wayans

MIchael worked as a composer for the 2006 series The Underground and also had a regular role on My Wife and Kids. In 2014, he and Vanessa Simmons welcomed a daughter,  Ava Marie Wayans.

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
Amy Graves
14
Marlon Wayans and Regina Hall

Marlon currently stars in the NBC sitcom Marlon, which is based on the comedian and actor’s life. You can also catch him, alongside Regina Hall, in Netflix’s new Naked. 

Comedy Dynasty: The Incredibly Talented Wayans Family
getty images
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now