Shawn Wayans
Birthdate: Jan 19, 1971
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Shawn Wayans (birthname: Shawn Mathis Wayans) enjoyed a terrific comedy run alongside brother Marlon during the 1990s and 2000s in their hit comedy series, In Living Color (1990-1993) and The Wayans Bros. (1995-1999), but before this Wayans made his feature debut in a minor role in brother Keenen’s (as star/director/writer) blaxploitation parody, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), with Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas, Isaac Hayes and Jim Brown, and delivering a very profitable (based on estimated costs) $13 million return for MGM/UA.
Wayans began a thirteen-year of seven comedies mainly with Marlon and a variety of his brothers as co-star/co-writer of Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), featuring Vivica A. Fox, Lahmard Tate, Bernie Mac, Omar Epps under Paris Barclay’s direction, produced by brother Keenen (under his Ivory Way Productions shingle) with Island Pictures, and grossing a terrific $20 million gross (based on estimated costs) for distributor Miramax Films.
Wayans joined the cast of a non-Wayans brothers movie and his first non-comedy in director/writer Michael Hurst’s Canada-U.K. thriller, New Blood (1999), with John Hurt, Nick Moran, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano, and released by Lionsgate Films/Screenland Pictures. Wayans was co-writer/co-star of the Wayans brothers’ first blockbuster hit, Scary Movie (2000), starring Marlon (who co-wrote), Jon Abrahams, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller and Regina Hall under Keenen’s direction, and which earned a knockout $278 million box office (based on estimated costs) for distributor Dimension Films; Wayans followed this hit up as co-writer/co-star of the sequel, Scary Movie 2 (2001), with new cast members Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Kathleen Robertson, James Woods, Tim Curry, Tori Spelling and Chris Elliott under Keenen’s direction, and which grossed $141 million for Dimension.
Shawn Wayans again partnered with Marlon (as co-writer/co-lead producer/co-star) and Keenen (as director/co-story writer/co-lead producer) for the buddy cop comedy, White Chicks (2004), co-starring Jaime King, Frankie Faison, Lochlyn Munro and John Heard and which delivered an excellent $113 million return (based on estimated costs) for lead producers Columbia Pictures/Revolution Studios and Sony Pictures Releasing. Shawn’s next comedy project (as co-writer/co-lead producer/co-star) was the widely panned Little Man (2006), directed/co-written/co-lead produced by Keenen, co-written/co-produced/co-starring Marlon, and which featured Kerry Washington, Tracy Morgan, Lochlyn Munro, Chazz Palminteri, Molly Shannon, and David Alan Grier, and grossing $105 million for Columbia Pictures/Sony Releasing.
Wayans was again co-writer/co-lead producer/co-star of the parody and the brothers’ first commercial disappointment, Dance Flick (2009), with Shoshana Bush, Damon Wayans Jr., Essence Atkins, Marlon (who also co-wrote and co-produced), Keenen (who also co-wrote and co-produced), David Alan Grier, Chris Elliott, Lochlyn Munro, Kim Wayans and Amy Sedaris under co-writer Damien Dante Wayans’ direction (in his feature debut) but made only $32 million (based on estimated costs) for distributors Paramount Pictures/MTV Films. Wayans returned to the big screen after a 17-year absence as co-writer/co-lead producer/co-star of the sixth edition in the franchise, Scary Movie (2026), co-starring Marlon (who again co-wrote/co-produced), Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Kenan Thompson, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Kim Wayans, Cheri Oteri, Elliott, Damon and Heidi Gardner and which was released wide by Paramount Pictures.
Personal life
Shawn Wayans was born and raised in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City by his parents, Elvira (a social worker) and Howell. Wayans is the ninth of ten sisters and brothers, including Keenen, Damon, Dwayne, Kim, Nadia, Marlon, Elvira, Diedra, and Devonne. Wayans graduated in 1989 from Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities. Wayans is married with three children, Laila, Illia, and Marlon. Wayans’s height is 6’ 1”. Wayans’s estimated net worth is $30 million.
Shawn Wayans Movies
actor
Upcoming (1)
- 2026 |
Scary Movie
asRay
Two friends find themselves caught up in mayhem involving killers, monsters and supernatural creatures once again.
Facts About Shawn Wayans
Family Faith: Shawn Wayans was raised in the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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