Keenen Ivory Wayans mini-bio: The trail-blazing linchpin of a sprawling African-American family of
comic entertainers, it was multi-talented writer/director/producer Keenen
Ivory Wayans (born June 8, 1958, in New York City) who was the first to
achieve national prominence by successfully creating, launching and
hosting a landmark 1990s black-oriented comedy satire on Fox TV. That, in
turn, ignited and/or advanced the careers of not only his younger
siblings Damon Wayans, Kim Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, but
others of his extended family as well.
The second of ten children of Howell Wayans, a grocery store manager, and
Elvira Wayans, a social worker, Keenan attended Seward Park High School,
then majored in engineering at Alabama's Tuskegee University. He dropped
out during his senior year when the comedy bug hit him full force. Heavily
influenced by Richard Pryor, he found only lukewarm success on the New
York standup stage, deciding later to relocate to Los Angeles in order to
pursue film and TV opportunities. After being glimpsed in bit parts in
such TV shows as "CHiPs" (1977) and "Cheers" (1982) and movies as Star 80
(1983), in which he played a standup comic, he found his first real break
in a sudsy TV drama--the short-lived military series "For Love and Honor"
(1983), in which he had a recurring role as Pvt. Duke Johnson, who aspired
to become a professional boxer.
After hooking up with comedian Eddie Murphy and earning writing credit on
the star's raunchy live performance feature Eddie Murphy Raw (1987),
Keenen's visibility rose. Partnering with actor/director Robert Townsend,
he had his first film hit with Hollywood Shuffle (1987), a pointed satire
highlighting the plight of the black actor in Hollywood. Done in
hilariously stereotypical fashion, one great bit had detective Townsend
battling a blaxploitation villain named Jerry Curl (Wayans). Following
this came another similar 1970s blaxploitation parody, the even bigger hit
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) in which Keenen had the starring role and
made his directorial debut. He played the revenge-minded, but not
particularly macho Jack Spade alongside such icons of 1970s blaxploitation
cinema as Jim Brown, Isaac Hayes and Bernie Casey. The film also featured
several members of his family.
The sketch-oriented, Emmy-winning variety series "In Living Color" (1990)
was Keenen's creative baby and ultimate pièce de résistance. He also
turned the show into a family act as well with Damon, Kim, Marlon and
Shawn all appearing on the irreverent series that showcased the deviously
scathing social humor Keenen was infamous for. As host of the show he
graciously spotlighted the comedy ensemble more than himself. Not only did
the show introduce the public to a number of terrific black comedians, it
made superstars out of brother Damon, as well as Jamie Foxx and Jim
Carrey, the latter being one of the show's few white regulars. Jennifer
Lopez also got her start as one of the original hip-hop dancing, sexy "Fly
Girls." Ironically, Keenen would be one of the first of the cast to leave
the show over creative issues and contract disputes with the network. He
felt Fox was overexposing the show, which would have reduced its monetary
value once it turned to syndication. He abruptly left in 1992 and, by next
season's end, the rest of the Wayans clan had bailed as well. Nearly half
of the regular cast on the show's final season were white.
This unfortunately bitter and acrimonious incident led the one-time
driving force to become more selective in his projects, while retreating
more and more behind the scenes. In 1997, however, he produced "The Keenen
Ivory Wayans Show" (1997), a party-themed talk show in which he served as
the cool, urban-styled host. The set resembled a nightclub and the
atmosphere was rowdy and jaunty. The show wasn't cool enough, apparently,
as it was canceled before year's end. Keenen also tried to turn buff
action star with the films A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994), which he wrote
and directed, The Glimmer Man (1996), pairing up with Steven Seagal, and
Most Wanted (1997), but the attempt backfired and he dropped, big time,
out of the limelight.
When it comes to outrageous satire Keenen has few peers. Come the
millennium he directed the hilarious horror spoof Scary Movie (2000),
which prominently displayed brothers Shawn and Marlon and is one of the
most successful feature films ever directed by an African-American. He
also directed its first sequel, Scary Movie 2 (2001). Keeping things more
or less a family affair these days, he recently directed Shawn and Marlon
in White Chicks (2004), and is helming Damon's upcoming feature _Homey the
Clown (2007)_, based on Damon's famous mean-spirited ghetto character from
the "In Living Color" days.
On the personal side, Keenen married wife Daphne in June 2001, and had
five children, but the couple have been separated since 2004. Older
brother Dwayne Wayans is a composer/musician who served as a production
assistant on "In Living Color," while various nephews and cousins have
since gotten into the act thanks to Keenen and his groundbreaking
accomplishments.
mamabearsueposted 797 days ago
