Quick Facts
Biography
Shawn Mathis Wayans (born January 19, 1971) is an American actor, DJ, producer, writer and comedian who starred in In Living Color, The Wayans Bros., and White Chicks. He is the brother of Keenen Ivory, Damon Sr., Marlon, Kim, Elvira, and Nadia Wayans.
Early life
Wayans, the ninth of ten siblings, was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira Alethia (Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager. His family were once Jehovah's Witnesses. Wayans grew up in the Fulton Houses in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea and is a 1989 graduate of the Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities.
On Fox's In Living Color, he began as DJ SW-1 and later became a featured performer, working with brothers Dwayne, Keenen (the show's creator), Damon, Marlon and sister Kim. Along with Marlon, Shawn Wayans created and starred in the sitcom The Wayans Bros. (The WB, 1995–99) and co-wrote, co-executive produced and starred in the feature Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), in which Keenen also acted. Wayans guest-starred on episodes of MacGyver and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and provided the voice of Toof for the animated children's series Waynehead (based on brother Damon's real-life childhood experiences).
After a supporting stint in the gang drama New Blood (1999) Wayans' film fortunes increased dramatically when he co-starred with his brother Marlon in a hit film directed by their older brother Keenan: Scary Movie (1999–2000), a comic satire (which he also co-wrote) on the then-recent trend of horror films like Scream. Wayans played the apparently closeted Ray Wilkins, a role he reprised for the similarly popular 2001 sequel Scary Movie 2. To date, Wayans has not had any involvement with subsequent sequels. He kept the familial team intact when he and Marlon starred in the Keenan-directed comedy White Chicks (2004), playing a pair of FBI agents forced to masquerade as a pair of spoiled white blonde heiresses. Shawn also received a share of story and screenplay credit on the film. Wayans teamed up with Marlon and Keenen once again for the 2006 comedy Little Man, which Wayans acted in, co-wrote, and co-produced.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Pedestrian |
| 1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood | Ashtray |
| 1999 | New Blood | Valentine |
| 2000 | Scary Movie | Ray Wilkins |
| 2001 | Open Mic | Himself |
| 2001 | Scary Movie 2 | Ray Wilkins |
| 2004 | White Chicks | Kevin Copeland |
| 2006 | Little Man | Darryl Edwards |
| 2009 | Dance Flick | Daddy of Baby |
| Year | Television | Role |
| 1991 | The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime | Various |
| 1991 | MacGyver | Robo |
| 1991-2001 | In Living Color | Various, DJ SW1 |
| 1993 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Dominic |
| 1995–1999 | The Wayans Bros. | Shawn Williams |
| 1996-1997 | Waynehead | Toof/Kid |
| 1996 | The Parent 'Hood | Himself |
| 1998 | Comics Come Home 4 | Himself |
| 1999 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Bad Boy (voice) |
| 2000 | 2000 MTV Video Music Awards | Host |
| 2006 | Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness | Slim (voice) |
| 2006 | Thugaboo: Miracle on D-Roc's Street | Slim, Cheapie |
| 2016 | Animals. | Tommy |
Writing credits
- Dance Flick (2009) (written by)
- Little Man (2006)
- White Chicks (2004) (screenplay) (story)
- Scary Movie 2 (2001) (characters) (written by)
- Scary Movie (2000) (written by)
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) (written by)
- The Wayans Bros. (1995–1999) TV series
Producer/director credits
- Little Man (2006) (producer)
- White Chicks (2004) (producer)
- Scary Movie 2 (2001) (co-executive producer)
- Scary Movie (2000) (producer) (uncredited)
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) (co-executive producer)
- The Wayans Bros. (1995) TV series (Producer, director and executive consultant)