Biography

African-American "renaissance" man Keenan Ivory Wayans is but one member of a large and excessively talented performing family. His siblings include Damon, Kim, Shawn, and Marlon, all of whom have worked with Keenen in some capacity during his brief but spectacular career. A graduate of the Tuskegee Institute, Wayans' entree into the comedy world was as a standup performer, then as a scenarist for Hollywood Shuffle (1987) and Eddie Murphy Raw (1987). Wayan's big-screen breakthrough was I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), a rollicking parody of 1970s blaxploitation flicks which he wrote, directed, and acted in. In 1988, Wayans produced and starred in the Fox Network's iconoclastic, influential, cutting-edge comedy/variety series In Living Color, which proved not only a boost for Wayans and his entire family, but also solidified the stardom of white comedian Jim Carrey. Keenen Ivory Wayans' projects of the early 1990s haven't maintained the quality or profitability of his earlier work, though he remains a powerhouse performing presence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmography

Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (2002) (TV) .... Himself
Scary Movie (2000) .... Slave
Most Wanted (1997) .... Sergeant James Dunn
"Keenen Ivory Wayans Show, The" (1997) TV Series .... Host
Glimmer Man, The (1996) .... Detective Jim Campbell
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) .... Mailman
... aka Don't Be a Menace (1996)
Low Down Dirty Shame, A (1994) .... Shame
... aka Mister Cool (1994)
Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America (1993) (TV) (archive footage) .... Himself
6th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, The (1992) (TV) .... Himself/presenter
Real Malcolm X, The (1992) (TV) .... Himself (actor)
Party for Richard Pryor, A (1991) (TV) .... Himself
18th Annual American Music Awards, The (1991) (TV) .... Himself/Host
"In Living Color" (1990) TV Series .... Various (1990-1992)
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) .... Jack Spade
Hollywood Shuffle (1987) .... Donald/Jerry Curl
... aka Robert Townsend's Hollywood Shuffle (1987) (USA: video title)
"For Love and Honor" (1983) TV Series .... Pvt. Duke Johnson
Star 80 (1983) .... Comic
For Love and Honor (1983) (TV)