There are many, many Wayans out there. In fact, physicists have calculated that there are more Wayans than there are atoms in the known universe. They don't seem to age and the family resemblance is strong, so, following Damon Wayans' casting in the new Lethal Weapon TV series, we thought you might appreciate a guide to one of Hollywood's most successful clans.
HOWELL AND ELVIRA WAYANS
Most famous for: Their children
Supermarket manager Howell Wayans and social worker Elvira Wayans had ten children, five boys and five girls. As strict Jehovah's Witnesses, they discouraged the kids from playing out in the neighbourhood, so they came up with comic riffs to amuse each other. The rest is movie history.
KEENEN IVORY WAYANS, 57
Most famous for: In Living Color, Scary Movie
Keenan led the way to Hollywood for his family with small roles in Cheers and CHiPs. He also wrote and directed I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, starring Damon and Kim, and went on to create In Living Color and Scary Movie.
Wayans will I see you again? Nothing currently lined up.
DAMON WAYANS SR, 55
Most famous for: The Last Boy Scout, My Wife & Kids
Given that he appeared in Earth Girls Are Easy with Jeff Goldblum and Jim Carrey, and starred opposite Bruce Willis in The Last Boy Scout, we're saying that Damon has had most success on the big screen. Recently he has had a bit less success off-screen, however.
Wayans will I see you again? He's due to star in McG's TV movie version of Lethal Weapon.
DAMON WAYANS JR, 33
Most famous for: Happy Endings, New Girl, Let's Be Cops, Big Hero 6
Probably the most successful Wayans right now, Jr is just coming off two successful sitcoms and quietly launching a big-screen career. He's the family member most likely to sign up for a big-budget action franchise right now.
Wayans will I see you again? He's in How To Be Single, which is out this week, and he'll pop up as a voice in the planned Big Hero 6 sequel one day.
ELVIRA WAYANS, never ask a lady's age
Most famous for: My Wife & Kids
Elvira Jr's only showbusiness credits are as a writer on her brother Damon Sr's show, My Wife & Kids. But as mother to Damien Dante and stand-up comic Chaunté Wayans, we imagine she's still been pretty busy.
Wayans will I see you again? No time soon; she stays off screen.
DAMIEN DANTE WAYANS, 35
Most famous for: Dance Flick, Malibu's Most Wanted
A actor turned writer/director, Damien Dante got his acting breakthrough in Malibu's Most Wanted, opposite Jamie Kennedy, who was once a leading man (remember those brief days?). Then Damien became a writer-director on Dance Flick. Lately he's had a role on TV show Single Ladies as a bit of lady killer.
Wayans will I see you again? We can only wait and see what's next.
KIM WAYANS, 54
Most famous for: In Living Color, Pariah
Kim is at the more serious end of the Wayans acting spectrum, critically acclaimed for her work on Pariah. But she too turned up for the family get-togethers that were In Living Color, My Wife & Kids and Dance Flick.
Wayans will I see you again? She appeared in Hawaii 5-0 last year, but there's nothing listed for the future.
SHAWN WAYANS, 45
Most famous for: White Chicks, Scary Movie
A screenwriter and actor primarily, Wayans is responsible for two of the family's biggest hits, White Chicks and Scary Movie – both in front of the camera and on the script.
Wayans will I see you again? He's voicing a character in HBO sitcom Animals, produced by another Hollywood clan, the Duplass brothers.
MARLON WAYANS, 43
Most famous for: White Chicks, Dance Flick, Requiem For A Dream
The youngest of the first generation of acting Wayanses, Marlon Wayans briefly forayed into deadly serious drama with Darren Aronofsky's depress-fest Requiem For A Dream. You'd react by making White Chicks too.
Wayans will I see you again? He's playing Mr Black in parody romance 50 Shades Of Black on March 11.
Shyvonne Thomas
Photo Director, Hearst UK
Shyvonne (she/her) has over 10 years' experience as a photo editor and entertainment journalist with NCTJ accreditation and an honours degree in Journalism. In 2021, Shyvonne was shortlisted for the PPA Unsung Hero Award.
Having started her career as a shopping assistant for parenting magazines Mother & Baby and Pregnancy and Birth, Shyvonne moved over to the world of pictures working for Heat magazine, and online websites for newspapers Daily Star and Daily Express, before joining Digital Spy in 2016 as Picture & Multimedia Editor.
While Shyvonne looks after Digital Spy's and Hearst's digital brand visuals across the board, she also writes and conducts interviews for DS – specialising in the Power universe, anything Beyoncé, as well as championing content across Black TV shows and movies. Shyvonne is also a proud mum.
