Marlon Wayans Bio - Biography

Name Marlon Wayans
Height 6' 0½"
Naionality American
Date of Birth 23 July 1972
Place of Birth New York, USA
Famous for
Hailed from the busiest family in entertainment industry, Marlon Wayans followed in the footsteps of the guide of eldest clan member and brother Keenen Ivory to enter the business by making his first movie appearance as a pedestrian in Keenen’s blaxploitation spoof I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988). After playing various roles in the 1991 TV film The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime, he got his next movie outing, this time with brother Damon in the action comedy Mo’ Money (1992), directed by Peter MacDonald. The film saw him in a bigger role as Seymou, the younger brother and partner in crime of the con man hero. Meanwhile, he did a number of national commercials, before finally joining the cast of Keenen’s landmark and trend-setting hip-hop variety show “In Living Color” for 1992-93 seasons, a gig that also marked Marlon’s first exposure as a regular. The comedy sketch also featured sister Kim and brothers Keenen, Damon and Shawn.

Aside from his natural knack for comedy, Marlon tested the waters of drama/thriller when he took on the supporting role of Bugaloo in the Jeff Pollack-directed Above the Rim, in 1994. But, it was his comic talents that brought Marlon into fame when he costarred with brother Shawn in the WB sitcom “The Wayans Bros.” (1995-99). Also listed as an uncredited writer and director for the series, Marlon started to explore his hidden skills and the result is the 1996 comedy film Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, where he served as co-writer and costar, with brother Shawn, as well as co-executive producer. The black actor then tried his hand in voice over by providing the voice of Blue for the animated TV serial “Waynehead” before headlining the Randall Miller-helmed sport-themed comedy The Sixth Man, the next year. In the comedy romance Senseless (1998), he shared top bill with such actors as David Spade and Matthew Lillard.

“I would do straight dramatic stuff. I’m trained as a dramatic actor. A lot of people just think I’m funny and crazy all the time, but I went to a performing arts high school, so I'm trained in the dramatic arts. I just happen to be funny. Marlon Wayans

2000 marked Marlon’s triumphant year with two high profile projects under his belt. Marlon scored his first sensation with his dramatic turn as a drug abusing companion of Jared Leto’s, Tyrone C. Love, in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream. The role won him critical attention from film critics. His next success arrived with the runaway hit Scary Movie, a send-up teen horror genre which he co-wrote with Shawn and directed by Keenen. Aside from writing, the duo Marlon and Shawn were also seen acting where Marlon was cast as the pot-loving Shorty Meeks. The brothers reprised the same formula for the similar flourishing 2001 installment Scary Movie 2.

Also in 2000, Marlon teamed up with Tom Bosley, Orlando Brown, Jenna Elfman and Jeannie Elias for the animated feature The Tangerine Bear, where he lent his voice for the character of Louie Blue, and assumed on an action-oriented role as Snails, the bungling Rogue in the Jeremy Irons and Bruce Payne vehicle Dungeons & Dragons, a performance that was harshly criticized.
During 2002-03, Marlon withdrew from the public eye. He maintained his presence by taking the role as a writer for the third sequel Scary Movie 3 (2003). Marlon made his return to the big screen movie in the subsequent year when he joined his brother, director/actor/writer Damon in the drama film Behind the Smile, in which he was additionally featured as Danny Styles. Next up, he costarred with Tom Hanks in the Coen brothers loopy remake of the classic British comedy The Ladykillers (2004) and rejoined his family in the comedy film White Chicks (2004), directed by elder brother Keenen and co-starring Shawn and actress Jaime King. Marlon and Shawn portrayed a couple of FBI agents that go undercover as hotel heiresses. In addition to acting, Marlon also contributed for the screenplay.

Marlon will play a role and co-write in the Keenen-helmed comedy Little Man (2006), starring Mathew Ast, Jeffrey Ballard, Alex Borstein and Brittany Daniel. He is also set to rejoin with his brother Keenen as writers for the upcoming comedy The Munsters (2006).

Marlon Wayans Photos