Marlon Wayans is a versatile and prolific entertainer who has made his mark in a variety of comedy genres.
He is an actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer who has worked with his siblings on many successful projects.
He is also known for his solo work, such as the sitcom Marlon and the Netflix films Naked and Sextuplets.
contour
- Full name: Marlon Lamont Wayans
- Date of Birth: July 23, 1972
- Age: 52
- Sex: Male
- Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
- Country: United States
- Occupation: Actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer
- Height: 6 feet 0.5 inches (184 cm)
- Parents: Elvira Alethia (green) and Howell Stouten Wayans
- Siblings: Keenen Ivory, Damon, Kim, Shawn, Nadia, Dwayne, Elvira, Diedre and Vonnie
- Spouse: No
- Children: Amei Zachary Wayans and Sean Howell Wayans
- Relationship status: Single
- Net worth: $40 million
Early life and education
Marlon Wayans, 52, was born in New York City on July 23, 1972. He is the youngest of ten children of Elvira Alessia (Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager.
He was born in the Chelsea section of Manhattan to a poor but creative family. He is African American and has a large family of entertainers, including his brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews and nieces.
He attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts where he developed his skills in drama and comedy.
He then attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., but dropped out after two years to pursue a career in Hollywood.
personal life
Marlon Wayans was in a long-term relationship with Angela Zachary from 1992 to 2013.
They have two children: a daughter, Amai Zackery Wayans, born in 2000, and a son, Shawn Howell Wayans, born in 2002.
He named his son after his brother and frequent collaborator Shawn Wayans. He and Angela never married and split amicably in 2013.
He has since dated other women including Essence Atkins, Salli Richardson, and Angelica Zachary, but is still single as of 2024.
Profession
Marlon Wayans’ career began in 1988 when he played a pedestrian in the film I’m Going to Get You, directed by his brother Keenan Ivory Wayans. In 1992, he joined the cast of the sketch comedy show In Living Color, which was created by Keenan.
He has collaborated with his siblings in several comedy films, such as Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Juice on the Block (1996), Scary Movies (2000), Scary Movies 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004) and Little Men (2006). He also starred in the sitcom The Wayans Brothers from 1995 to 1999 alongside Sean.
He also experimented with other comedy genres such as parody, spoof, and satire. He co-wrote and starred in the film “Dancing Movie” (2009), “House of the Damned” (2013), “House of the Damned 2” (2014), “Fifty Shades Darker” (2016).
He also created and starred in the comedy competition show Funniest Wins (2014) and the urban comedy web show What the Funny (2013-2015).
He also showed his acting skills in more serious and dramatic roles, such as playing Tyrone C. Love in the film Requiem for a Dream (2000), directed by Darren Aronofsky.
He also played Richard Pryor in the Bill Condon-directed biopic Richard Pryor: Did I Say That? (2011). He also starred in the Netflix films Naked (2017) and Sextuplets (2019), in which he played various roles.
He also created and starred in the NBC sitcom Marlon (2017-2018), based on his life as a divorced father of two, and produced and hosted the Netflix talk show special Marlon Wayans: Awakening (2018).
He also starred in the Sofia Coppola-directed film On the Rocks (2020) and the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (2021).
Awards
Marlon Wayans has received several awards and nominations for his work in comedy and film. Some of them are:
- Won the BET Comedy Award for Best Box Office Motion Picture Writing for White Chicks (2005).
- Won the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Anna Faris) for Scary Movie 2 (2002).
- Won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple (with Shawn Wayans) for Little People (2007).
- Won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay for “The Amityville Horror Series” (2015) (shared with Rick Alvarez and Mike Tiddes).
- Won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor for his role in Fifty Shades Darker (2017).
- Sextuplets (2020) won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Ensemble (shared with him).
net worth
Marlon Wayans has an estimated net worth of $40 million. He has earned his wealth through various comedy, film, television, and online media ventures.
He also owns a production company called Wayans Bros. Entertainment, which he runs with his brother Sean.
dispute
Marlon Wayans has been involved in several controversies during his career, such as:
- was sued by Pierre Daniel, an extra on Haunted Mansion 2, for making fun of Daniel’s appearance in a social media post. Wayans posted a photo of Daniel on Instagram and Twitter comparing him to Cleveland Brown, a character from the animated series Family Guy. Daniel claimed Wayans’ posts caused him emotional distress and harmed his reputation. In 2015, a judge dismissed the case, ruling that Wayans’ posts were protected by the First Amendment.
- Wayans has been accused of plagiarizing jokes from other comedians, such as Katt Williams, Dave Chappelle, and Kevin Hart. Wayans has denied the allegations and said that he respects other comedians and does not need to plagiarize their material. He also said that he has been in the comedy industry for a long time and has enough original jokes to make people laugh.
- He was criticized for playing a gay character in the film White Chicks, in which he and his brother Sean played two FBI agents disguised as white women. Some critics and viewers found the film offensive and stereotypical, especially the scene in which Marlon’s character kisses another man.
Wayans defended the film, saying it was not meant to be homophobic or racist, but rather a satire of social and cultural differences between races and genders. He also said he had nothing against homosexuals and that he was just playing a role.
social media
- Instagram: @marlonwayans
- Twitter: @MarlonWayans
Filmography
- I’m gonna get you.
- Vivid colors
- More Money
- Wayans Brothers
- Don’t be a threat to South Central while drinking juice on the block
- The Sixth Person
- Meaningless
- Requiem for a Dream
