In Living Color

Background:

First coming to national fame as the co-star and co-writer of the critically acclaimed comedy “Hollywood Shuffle” (1987), with Robert Townsend, American actor, comedian, director and writer Keenen Ivory Wayans went on to make a name for himself as the director, writer and star of the box office hit “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka” (1988) before hitting the big time as the host and creator of Fox’s sketch comedy series “In Living Color” (1990-1992), which also launched the career of Jim Carrey and starred his brothers Damon and Shawn and sister Kim. The show won the multi-faceted Wayans one out of six Emmy nominations and a 1992 PGA Award.

Following unsuccessful attempts as an action star, starring in such vehicles as “A Low Down Dirty Shame” (1994, also as writer and director), “The Glimmer Man” (1996, with Steven Seagal) and “Most Wanted” (1997, also wrote the script), Wayans returned to TV with “The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show” (1997), a late night talk/variety show in which he served as the host and an executive producer. Unfortunately for him, the show quickly left the airwaves. Wayans next spent a few years away from the limelight and did not resurface until he directed brothers Shawn and Marlon on the hugely successful horror parody “Scary Movie” (2000), co-written by Shawn and Marlon. He also helmed “Scary Movie 2” (2001) and the successful comedy vehicle of Shawn/Marlon “White Chicks” (2004), from which he nabbed two BET Comedy Awards. For his direction in “The Little Man” (2006), which again starred Shawn and Marlon, Wayans earned a Razzie nomination.

Most recently, the three brothers entered the world of cable TV with their scripted comedy “The Life and Times of Marcus 'Felony' Brown” (2008) for VH1.

As for his private life, Wayans has filed for divorce from his wife, Daphne Polk. The marriage produced five children. Wayans is a vegan and actively supports the animal rights organization PETA. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity founded for black men.

Currently, Wayans is romantically involved with actress Brittany Daniel.

Father of 5

Childhood and Family:

The second of ten children, Keenen Ivory Wayans was born in Harlem, New York, on June 8, 1958, to Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager, and Elvira, a homemaker and social worker. His family was active in the Jehovah's Witness religion. After graduating from Seward Park High School, he studied engineering at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, but quit in his senior year to become a full-time comedian. Keenen is one of several Wayans family members who have found success in Hollywood.

Together since 1989, Keenen married Daphne Polk on June 16, 2001. They became estranged in 2004 and have formally filed for divorce. Together, the couple has five children, Nala, Jolie, Bella, Keenen Jr., and Daphne Ivory. Keenen is the cousin of producer/writer Craig Wayans and the uncle of Damon Wayans Jr., Kyla Wayans, Michael Wayans, Damien Dante Wayans and Cara Mia Wayans.

Director of Scary Movie

Career:

Keenen Ivory Wayans, who worked as a manager at a McDonald restaurant while in high school, dropped out of college in his sophomore year to pursue a professional career as a comedian. Heavily influenced by Richard Pryor, he started in the New York stand-up club circuit but found only moderate success. This led to his decision to move to Los Angeles to try his hand in film and television. Once living in L.A., he worked at the Los Angeles Improve and the Comedy Store and in 1981, finally signed a development deal with NBC.

It was also in 1981 that Wayans made his TV acting debut in the sitcom pilot “Irene.” After making guest appearances in such series as “Cheers” and “Chips” (both 1982), he made his debut as a regular performer on “For Love and Honor” (1983), a short-lived military series in which he was cast as Pvt. Duke Johnson. Also in 1983, he had his first taste in front of the film camera playing a standup comic in Bob Fosse's “Star 80,” starring Mariel Hemingway, Eric Roberts and Cliff Robertson.

Thanks to his bond with comedian Eddy Murphy, Wayans gained co-writing and producing credits for Murphy's raunchy live performance movie, “Eddie Murphy Raw” (1987), directed by Robert Townsend. Reuniting with Townsend, he scored his first film hit with “Hollywood Shuffle” (also 1987), a satiric look at African American actors in Hollywood. Wayans served as co-writer and co-producer and appeared in the film alongside Townsend. They also worked together in HBO's “The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime” (1991), in which Wayans served as an executive producer, and co-wrote the screenplay for Townsend's fictional showbiz period piece, “The Five Heartbeats” (1991).

In 1988, Wayans enjoyed a bigger hit with “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka” (1988). The successful movie also marked his solo writing and directorial debut. Several members of his family, including Damon, Shawn, Marlon and Kim, also appeared in the film.

Wayans signed an exclusive film and TV contract with 20th Century-Fox in 1990. Shortly after, he created, executive produced, wrote and became a cast member of a black sketch comedy show that would became his landmark, “In Living Color.” He made the program a showcase of his gifted family, during which time he acted opposite his brothers Damon, Dwayne, Shawn and Marlon and his sister Kim, and provided a breakthrough experience for Jim Carrey. Wayans' hard work paid off when “In Living Color” was nominated for six Emmy nominations and won one in 1990. He also took home the 1992 PGA Nova award for Most Promising Producer in Television. Despite the massive success, Wayans became one of the first members to leave the show. He quit in 1992 over creative differences and contract disputes with the Fox network. By the end of the next season, all of the Wayans had left the show. “In Living Color” finally ended its run in 1994.

After taking a short hiatus, Wayans returned to the big screen in 1994 when he directed, wrote and starred in the action film “A Low Down Dirty Shame,” a spoof of “Shaft” in which he played a smooth private detective named Andre Shame. The movie received mixed reviews and enjoyed modest box office success. He next produced and appeared with brothers Shawn and Marlon in “Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” (1996), a parody of several Afro-American movies that received a likewise reception. The same year, he also starred with Steven Seagal in “The Glimmer Man” (1996).

Wayans resurfaced on the small screen when he hosted and starred in the late-night talk show “The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show.” Debuting in August 1997, the show only had a short life but he soon bounced back with the action-thriller movie “Most Wanted” (1997), which he wrote, executive produced and starred in. Unfortunately for him, the film was a flop and he disappeared from the public eye for a few years.

When Wayans made his return in 2000, the multi-talented entertainer scored a huge box office success with his direction in the horror spoof “Scary Movie,” jointly written by brothers Shawn and Marlon. The movie went on to become one of the most successful feature films ever directed by an African-American. The brothers reunited for the similarly booming sequel “Scary Movie 2” (2001), with Wayans again sitting in the director's chair and his younger siblings writing and starring in the film. In 2004, Wayans had his next blockbuster hit with the comedy “White Chicks,” in which he directed, produced and co-penned with Marlon and Shawn. Starring Marlon and Shawn as FBI agents forced to go undercover in an attempt to protect a blonde heiresses, the successful movie brought Wayans two BET comedy awards for his direction and writing.

In 2006, Wayans directed brothers Marlon and Shawn in “The Little Man,” which he also co-wrote with them. He was nominated for Worst Director at the Razzie Awards while their script received a Worst Screenplay nomination. The same year, the brother also emerged as the creators of Nickelodeon's animated series “Thugaboo.”

Wayans is also the creator of the upcoming TV comedy series “The Life and Times of Marcus Felony Brown” (VH1, 2008), sharing the credit with brothers Marlon and Shawn.

Awards:

• BET Comedy: Outstanding Directing for a Box Office Movie, “White Chicks,” 2004

• BET Comedy: Outstanding Writing for a Box Office Movie, “White Chicks,” 2004

• PGA: Nova Award, Most Promising Producer in Television, “In Living Color,” 1992

• Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series, “In Living Color,” 1990