Marlon Wayans

Marlon Lamont Wayans ( ; born July 23, 1972) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for his work with his brother Shawn Wayans on The WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. (1995–1999) and the comedy films Don't Be a Menace, Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004), Little Man (2006), Dance Flick (2009), and Scary Movie (2026).

Wayans' other film credits include Above the Rim (1994), The 6th Man (1997), Norbit (2007), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), The Heat (2013), A Haunted House (2013) and its sequel A Haunted House 2 (2014), Naked (2017), Fifty Shades of Black (2016), Sextuplets (2019), and On the Rocks (2020). He also had several dramatic roles, including the psychological drama film Requiem for a Dream (2000), the biographical musical drama Respect (2021), and the supernatural horror Him (2025).

Wayans partnered with Randy Adams to create What the Funny, an online destination for urban comedy. He created the comedy competition television show Funniest Wins, which aired on TBS in 2014. In 2014, Wayans and his brothers traveled the United States with "The Wayans Brothers Tour". In 2017, he co-wrote and starred in the NBC sitcom Marlon, which ran for two seasons.

Early life Wayans was born in New York City, the son of Elvira Alethia (Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager. He was raised in Fulton Houses, a housing project in New York City, the youngest of ten siblings. He is the brother of Dwayne, Keenen Ivory, Damon Sr., Kim, Elvira, Nadia, and Shawn. His family were Jehovah's Witnesses. Wayans went to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City, the school made famous in Fame. After graduating from high school, he attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., but dropped out after two years.

Career Between 1992 and 1993, Wayans appeared with his siblings on the sketch comedy show In Living Color. From 1995 until 1999, he co-starred in the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. with his brother Shawn Wayans. He was originally considered for the role of Robin in the 1992 film Batman Returns, but it was felt that the film featured too many characters, so his character was omitted. Wayans was then formally signed to the role in the 1995 sequel Batman Forever to play opposite Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face, but the mid-production change in directors from Tim Burton to Joel Schumacher resulted in both parts being recast and Wayans being paid out (Williams was not yet signed on, but received a penalty fee as his contract for Batman allowed him the option of reprise), and he still receives royalty payments. He was replaced by Chris O'Donnell. In August 2021, a comic book adaptation of the original concept, Batman '89, began publication, by DC Entertainment, using Wayans's likeness for Robin with his permission, their civilian identity renamed Drake Winston.

Wayons film roles include the comedies Don't Be a Menace (1996), Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), White Chicks (2004), Little Man (2006), Dance Flick (2009), and Scary Movie (2026), and other films including Above the Rim (1994), The 6th Man (1997), Norbit (2007), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), The Heat (2013), A Haunted House (2013) and its sequel A Haunted House 2 (2014), Naked (2017), Fifty Shades of Black (2016), Sextuplets (2019), and On the Rocks (2020). Wayans produced the first two films of the Scary Movie series, in which he and Shawn were credited writers and co-stars, and returned to the same duties in the sixth film of the series. In 2000, he appeared as Tyrone C. Love in Requiem for a Dream and as Snails in Dungeons & Dragons. That same year, he and Shawn hosted the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

In 2006, Wayans produced the Nickelodeon cartoon series Thugaboo. In 2017, NBC gave him his own sitcom, Marlon; it was canceled after two seasons.

In September 2017, Variety announced that Wayans would partner with LA-based entertainment company Shots Studios to launch a YouTube channel. He has appeared in videos alongside creators such as Anwar Jibawi and Hannah Stocking. In 2020, Wayans signed a deal with HBO Max.

Personal life Wayans was in a long-term relationship with Angela Zackery from 1992 to 2013, and although he once called her his "ex-wife", he said in 2021 that he had never married. They have two children, one of whom is transgender. In 2023, Wayans expressed support for his trans son and the LGBTQ community. Wayans also shares a child with his former girlfriend, Brittany Moreland. Wayans was a close friend of rapper Tupac Shakur. He is also a longtime friend of actor Omar Epps.

Filmography + Key Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Film Year Movie Character Notes 1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Pedestrian 1992 Mo' Money Seymour Stewart 1994 Above the Rim Bugaloo 1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Loc Dog Also co-writer 1997 The 6th Man Kenny Tyler 1998 Senseless Darryl Witherspoon 2000 Requiem for a Dream Tyrone C. Love Scary Movie Shorty Meeks Also co-writer The Tangerine Bear Louie Blue Voice; direct-to-video Dungeons & Dragons Snails 2001 Scary Movie 2 Shorty Meeks Also co-writer 2004 The Ladykillers Gawain MacSam White Chicks Marcus Anthony Copeland II / Tiffany Wilson Also co-writer and producer 2006 Behind the Smile Danny Styles Little Man Calvin "Baby-face" Sims Also co-writer and producer 2007 Norbit Buster "Bust-A-Move" Perkin 2009 Dance Flick Mr Moody Also co-writer and producer G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Rip Cord 2010 Marmaduke Lightning Voice 2013 A Haunted House Malcolm Johnson Also co-writer and producer The Heat Special Agent Levy 2014 A Haunted House 2 Malcolm Johnson Also co-writer and producer 2016 Fifty Shades of Black Christian Black 2017 Naked Rob Anderson 2019 Sextuplets Alan Spellman Daniels/Russell Spellman/Dawn Spellman/Jasper Spellman/Ethan Spellman/Baby Pete Spellman/Lynette Spellman 2020 On the Rocks Dean 2021 Respect Ted White Back Home Again Mr. Tortoise Short film 2022 The Curse of Bridge Hollow Howard Gordon Also producer 2023 Air George Raveling 2025 Him Isaiah White 2026 Scary Movie Shorty Meeks / Joe Jackson / Tiffany Wilson / Count Brolock Also co-writer and producer

Television Year Title Role Notes 1992–1993 In Living Color Himself Cast member; 17 episodes (Season 3–4) 1995–1999 The Wayans Bros. Marlon Williams 101 episodes; also co-creator and sketch writer 1996 The Parent 'Hood Himself Episode: "Ode to Billy Shankbreath" Mr. Show with Bob and David KKK Member Episode: "The Biggest Failure in Broadway History" 1996–1997 Waynehead Blue Voice; 6 episodes 1999 Hollywood Squares Himself Recurring panelist Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Bad Bobby Voice; episode: "The Bremen Town Musicians" 2000 Comedy Central Canned Ham Himself Episode: "Scary Movie" 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Main host 2001Mad TV Episode: "Episode #6.25" 2005 Episode: "Episode #11.1" 2006 The Boo Crew Dirty Voice; television specials Six Degrees Homeless Guy Episode: "The Puncher" 2011 Childrens Hospital Dr. Black Episode: "The Black Doctor" 2013 Sidewalks Entertainment Himself Host; episode: "Marlon Wayans" Anderson Live Co-host; episode: "Episode #2.77" Second Generation Wayans 2 episodes; also executive producer Legit Doctor Episode: "Fatherhood" 2014 Funniest Wins Himself Host; 8 episodes Deal with It Episode: "Marlon Wayans & Mo Mandel" 2015 Lip Sync Battle Competitor; episode: "Queen Latifah vs. Marlon Wayans" I Can Do That Main host America's Got Talent Guest judge; episode: "Judge Cuts 3" 2016 Hollywood Game Night Player; episode: "Way-ans to Go!" The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore Panelist; episode: "Rand Paul Talks Donald Trump's Candidacy" Givit Wednesday Episode: "Puppies & Tattoos - Marlon Wayans/Alison Eastwood" Big Boy's Big Brawl Episode: "Pilot" Animals. Ry-Ry Voice; episode: "Squirrels Part I" 2017 Safeword Himself Episode: "Kevin Hart vs. Damien Dante Wayans" 2017–2018 Marlon Marlon Wayne 20 episodes; also co-creator and executive producer 2018 Do or Dare Himself Episode: "Marlon Wayans vs. Naomi" Drop the Mic Episode: "Episode #2.3" The Hollywood Puppet Show Episode: "Marlon Wayans and Bow Wow" 2019 Sherman's Showcase Episode: "Enemies" 2022 To Tell the Truth Episode: "Marlon Wayans, Arsenio Hall, and Joel McHale" Oh Hell No! with Marlon Wayans Host; 6 episodes 2022–2024 Bel-Air Lou 3 episodes 2023 The Daily Show Himself Recurring host; season 28 2025 Poppa's House Melvin

Comedy specials Year Title Notes 2018 Marlon Wayans: Woke-ish Netflix-stand-up comedy special 2021 Marlon Wayans: You Know What It Is HBO Max-stand-up comedy special 2022 Marlon Wayans Presents: The Headliners HBO Max-stand-up comedy special; with Tony Baker, Sydney Castillo, DC Ervin, Esau McGraw, and Chaunté Wayans 2023 Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me HBO Max-stand-up comedy special 2024 Marlon Wayans: Good Grief Amazon Prime-stand-up comedy special

Documentary Year Title 1991 The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime 2003 Tupac: Resurrection 2005 Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow 2009 Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy 2012 Venus and Serena

Music videos Year Song Artist 1992 "The Best Things in Life Are Free" Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson 2018 "Just My Type" Tiana

Awards and nominations