Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name (as used here) | Keenen Ivory Wayans Jr. |
| Date of birth | June 8, 1958 |
| Place of birth | New York City, NY |
| Primary occupations | Actor, comedian, writer, director, producer |
| Breakthrough TV show | In Living Color (1990–1994) |
| Notable films (selected) | Hollywood Shuffle (1987, co-writer), A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994, director), Scary Movie (2000, director), White Chicks (2004, director), Little Man (2006, director) |
| Reported net worth | Approximately $65 million |
| Children | Five (reported names: Jolie, Nala, Keenen Jr., Bella, Daphne/Ivory) |
| Marital/partnership notes | Married Daphne Polk (2001–2006); other partnered relationships reported in public profiles |
| Recent honors | Inducted into NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame (2025, family recognition) |
Career & Milestones
I like to think of Keenen Ivory Wayans Jr. as a kind of lightning rod for a certain kind of American funny — electric, mischievous, and dangerous enough to reshape a room. Born June 8, 1958, he climbed from the comedy clubs of the late 1980s to a TV revolution in the early 1990s: In Living Color (1990–1994) — the show that launched careers, changed sketch comedy’s visual vocabulary, and put the Wayans name on the marquee in bold neon.
A compact timeline of signature work:
| Year | Project | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Hollywood Shuffle | Co-writer |
| 1990–1994 | In Living Color | Creator, host, performer |
| 1994 | A Low Down Dirty Shame | Director, actor |
| 2000 | Scary Movie | Director/producer |
| 2004 | White Chicks | Director/producer |
| 2006 | Little Man | Director/producer |
| 2025 | NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame | Inductee/Family honor |
Those dates read like a pulse: a steady beat from sketch television into studio comedy, and—importantly—into the director’s chair. The numbers matter: In Living Color ran for four seasons and created a pipeline of stars (think: a young Jennifer Lopez as a Fly Girl choreographer in the show’s orbit), while box-office success for films like Scary Movie and White Chicks helped cement the Wayans brand as commercially viable and culturally loud.
When I look at Keenen’s career, I see rhythm—sketches that snap like snare hits, feature films that lean into physical comedy and parody, and an eye for casting family as a kind of repertory company. He made the family into a franchise; he made mischief into an industry.
Family & Personal Relationships
The Wayans family reads like a small improv troupe crossed with a Hollywood dynasty—nine siblings, multiple generations of performers, writers, directors, and producers. I’ll introduce the key players like they’re walking onto a stage.
| Family Member | Relationship & Short Intro |
|---|---|
| Howell Stouten Wayans (1936–2023) | Father; raised the family in New York and anchored the household that produced a creative brood. |
| Elvira Alethia Wayans (1938–2020) | Mother; homemaker and social worker who supported a loud, talented household. |
| Dwayne Wayans | Older sibling; contributed to family projects behind the scenes. |
| Diedra Wayans | Sibling; involved in writing and production work with the family. |
| Damon Wayans Sr. | Sibling; acclaimed comedian/actor known for stand-up and TV work (a major name in his own right). |
| Kim Wayans | Sibling; actress and director who appeared on In Living Color and in various family projects. |
| Elvira Wayans (sibling) | Sibling credited on family creative efforts; shares a given name with the matriarch. |
| Nadia Wayans | Sibling; former actress who appeared in family-led productions. |
| Devonne Wayans | Sibling; involvement in family writing and production. |
| Shawn Wayans | Sibling; frequent collaborator in films and comedy sketches. |
| Marlon Wayans | Sibling; actor/comedian who often teams with Shawn and other family members. |
| Damon Wayans Jr. | Nephew; second-generation performer known for TV roles (e.g., Happy Endings, New Girl). |
| Damien Dante Wayans, Chaunté Wayans, Craig Mikel Wayans | Next-generation cousins; continue the family tradition in acting, writing, and producing. |
| Daphne Sharmaine Denise Polk (Daphne Wayans) | Ex-wife (married 2001, divorced 2006); mother to Keenen’s children and a public figure in family narratives. |
| Children (Jolie, Nala, Keenen Jr., Bella, Daphne/Ivory) | Five children reported in public profiles; occasionally featured in family milestones and coverage. |
There’s a delicious theatricality to this clan: a revolving cast, sibling rivalries that feel like stage banter, and collaborations that read like family rehearsals. I often picture their family gatherings as writers’ rooms—no script required, only instincts.
Cultural Reach & Recent Notes
Keenen’s fingerprints are all over late 20th- and early 21st-century pop culture: sketch comedy that redefined representation, films that trafficked in parody and broad physicality, and the strategic use of family as both cast and creative engine. Reported net worth figures—hovering around $65 million—reflect both decades of TV and film revenue and the residual value of hits that became cultural shorthand.
Even in recent years, the Wayans name keeps surfacing—honors like the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame recognition in 2025, social-media moments where family members reminisce, and the periodic rumor mill that asks whether In Living Color’s vibe might come back in some rebooted form. And because family is both brand and blood, each new project, each public appearance, is also a chapter in a continuing family drama—equal parts business meeting, reunion, and roast.
FAQ
Who is Keenen Ivory Wayans Jr.?
Keenen Ivory Wayans Jr. is an American comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer best known for creating In Living Color and directing mainstream comedies in the 1990s–2000s.
When was he born?
He was born on June 8, 1958.
What are his most famous projects?
His signature projects include In Living Color (1990–1994), A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), Scary Movie (2000), White Chicks (2004), and Little Man (2006).
How many siblings does he have?
He is one of nine siblings in the Wayans family—a famously large and creative household.
What is his reported net worth?
Public profiles commonly report his net worth at around $65 million.
Is he married?
He was married to Daphne Polk from 2001 until their divorce in 2006; other partnerships have been reported in the public record.
How many children does he have?
He is reported to have five children.
Has he received recent honors?
Yes—the Wayans family, including Keenen, received recognition at the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame in 2025.
Why is the Wayans family influential?
They created a multi-decade creative network that launched careers, reshaped sketch comedy, and kept family collaboration at the center of a successful entertainment brand.
Where did his career begin?
His rise began in the comedy club circuit and independent film collaborations in the late 1980s, culminating in In Living Color in 1990.
