In Living Color

Background:

American actress and comedian hailed from one of the largest and busiest families in entertainment industry Kim Wayans made a name for herself as the first female among her nine siblings to make her mark in television. Gaining her first break as a stand-up comedian, Kim rose to fame along side brothers Keenen, Damon, Marlon and Shawn on the Fox comedy sketch show “In Living Color,” where during 1990 to 1993 she impersonated numerous pop culture figures, including Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston, and created such original characters as Benita Butrell and Mrs. Brooks. Since then, the charismatic comic player has worked with them in various combinations in movies like “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka” (1988), “A Low Down Dirty Shame” (1994), “Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” (1996) and more recently, the “Thugaboo” TV movie series (2006). She jointly received BET Comedy nominations for her direction and writing work on Damon's sitcom “My Wife and Kids,” which ran on ABC from 2001-2005).

On her own, Kim also has collected numerous credits under her belt. Among them are a recurring role on “A Different World” (1987-1988), a regular gig on the sitcom “In the House” (1995-1998) and roles in the motion pictures “Talking About Sex” (1994) and “Juwanna Mann” (2002). She also acted in the TV film “What News?” (2007).

The Wayans

Childhood and Family:

Kim Wayans was born on October 1, 1961, in New York City, New York, to Howell Wayans and Elvira. She was raised in the Chelsea section of NYC, along with her nine siblings, Dwayne Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Nadia Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans Elvira, Diedre and Vonnie. After graduating from Seward Park High School, she won a scholarship at the Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She penned a book of short stories as her senior thesis.

My Wife and Kids

Career:

Member of a unique family of comedians, Kim Wayans followed in the footsteps of her older brothers, Keenen and Damon, to pursue a showbiz career in Hollywood. Relocated in 1987, she was soon booked to do stand-up comedy at such clubs like The Improv, and went on to make her feature acting debut with a bit part as a customer in chair in Robert Townsend's “Hollywood Shuffle” (1987). Later that same year, she broke into television playing the recurring role of one of the collegians, Allison, in the NBC sitcom “A Different World.” Six months after leaving the show, she played Cameo Candette on two episodes of the drama/war series “China Beach” (1988).

It was also in 1988 that Kim teamed up with Keenen for the the comedy film “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka,” in which her brother cast her as a nightclub singer, opposite other Wayans family like Damon and Marlon. There she also served as a production assistant. Two years later, Kim enjoyed the television spotlight when she joined the cast of the groundbreaking television comedy sketch show “In Living Color,” which was created by Keenen and also featured bothers Damon, Shawn and Marlon. During her tenure on the Fox show, she parodied several popular celebrities such as Whitney Houston, Vanessa L. Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Della Reese, as well as originated characters like Benita Butrell, Mrs. Brooks and Laquita (I Love Laquita). She left the Emmy award-winning series in 1993, shortly before the show came to its demise in 1994.

Next, Kim starred as Andie Norman in the independent film “Talking About Sex” (1994), made a cameo appearance in Peter McCarthy's comedy, “Floundering” (1994), and played the supporting role of Diane in the action/comedy “A Low Down Dirty Shame” (also 1994), which was directed and written by and starring Keenen. She also appeared as Mrs. Johnson in the comedy “Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” (1996), in which Marlon and Shawn co-written the script and starred as Loc Dog and Ashtray, respectively, and portrayed Bettina in the indie-drama “Critics and Other Freaks” (1997).

In late 1995, Kim returned to the small screen with a recurring role on the NBC sitcom “In the House,” playing a business partner of ex-pro athlete Marion Hill (played by LL Cool J), and when the show moved to UPN in the fall of 1996 in a renewed format, her role was evolved into a regular part. She remained with the show until March 1998. From 1996 to 1997, she also provided the voice of mom in the cartoon series “Waynehead,” produced by Damon and also featured Marlon and Shawn.

After departing “In the House,” Kim guest starred as Rhonda in the sitcom “Getting Personal” and as Cousin Sheila in the Shawn/Marlon vehicle “The Wayans Bros.” (both 1998). She revisited film after a five-year absent in the basketball flick “Juwanna Mann” (2002), opposite Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Kevin Pollak and Vivica A. Fox. It was also in 2002 that Kim joined the ABC comedy series “My Wife and Kids” (2001-2005), starring and created by Damon, as a story editor. From then, she also directed, wrote and produced several episodes of the show. For her work on the series, she jointly nabbed BET Comedy nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (both 2005).

In 2006, Kim voiced Momma/Joyce in the Shawn-directed animated TV films “The Wayans Family Presents: Thugaboo - Sneaker Madness” and “Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street.” She followed it up with a part as Pearl 'Lightning' Davis in the made-for-TV film “What News?” (2007), a comedy written by Bruce McCoy and Todd Milliner. Among her costars in the telefilm were Chris Dougherty, John Farley, Kevin McDonald and Heather McDonald.

Awards:
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