Meet the Wayans Family: Discover All 10 Siblings!

The Wayans family has long had what basketball enthusiasts might refer to as a strong roster. With 10 siblings—Dwayne, Keenan, Diedra, Damon, Kim, Elvira, Nadia, Vonnie, Shawn, and Marlon—born to Howell and Elvira Wayans, this comedic and talented clan has been entertaining audiences in movies and television since the 1980s.

On February 22, 2025, the entire family and their remarkable comedic legacy were honored at the NAACP Image Awards, where they were inducted into the Hall of Fame. This distinguished recognition is awarded to individuals who have been trailblazers in their fields and whose impacts continue to influence their industries for generations, as outlined in a press release.

During the ceremony, several members of the Wayans family, including Kim Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., and his son Damon Wayans Jr., took to the stage to accept the accolade. Marlon and Damon Wayans Sr. primarily delivered the speech, reminiscing about their modest upbringing in New York’s projects. They praised their brother Keenen Ivory Wayans for their family’s achievements, highlighting how he transformed his aspirations of becoming a comedian into a successful reality, inspired by the late comedian Richard Pryor.

Marlon Wayans reflected on the times their family gathered around the TV to watch Keenen Ivory Wayans perform when he was still an emerging star.

“From that day on, we watched my brother do stand-up comedy on that screen,” he remarked. “As a kid, I sat there thinking, ‘Wow, you can not only dream but also bring those dreams to life.’”

Damon Wayans Sr. shared that as Keenen began making films, he often cast many of his younger siblings in roles that allowed them to enter the industry.

So, who are the 10 offspring of Howell and Elvira Wayans that form this groundbreaking family, and what other projects have they been involved in?

Continue reading to discover more about the Wayans family and their notable contributions.

Dwayne Wayans (b. 1956)

The oldest sibling, Dwayne Wayans, began his career as a production assistant on his brothers’ (Keenan and Damon Sr.) sketch comedy show “In Living Color,” which aired from 1990-94. He later worked as a production assistant on “My Wife and Kids,” starring Damon Sr., from 2002-03, per IMDb. His main credits, however, are largely focused on music composition and roles in the music department. He has composed for “Poppa’s House,” “Marlon” (a sitcom led by his brother Marlon Wayans), “My Wife and Kids,” and “The Underground” (featuring both Damon Wayans Sr. and Jr.).

While many of his siblings are publicly visible, Dwayne Wayans, along with some of his sisters, prefers to maintain a low profile, and it’s unclear if he has children.

Keenen Ivory Wayans (b. 1958)

In his earlier years, Keenen Ivory Wayans teamed up with filmmaker and friend Robert Townsend (who directed several episodes of the family’s recent CBS series “Poppa’s House”), co-writing and co-starring in the 1987 film “Hollywood Shuffle.” The following year, influenced by Townsend’s indie style, Wayans directed, wrote, and starred in “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” Damon Wayans Sr. remarked during the 2025 NAACP Image Awards acceptance speech that Keenen Ivory Wayans dedicated two weeks in seclusion to develop the film’s concept.

The triumph of both films laid the groundwork for Keenen’s influential sketch series, “In Living Color,” which became a platform for multiple siblings over the years. Keenen received an Emmy in 1990 for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series (shared with Kevin Bright, Tamara Rawitt, and Michael Petok) in the show’s debut year. He continued to write, direct, produce, and/or act in movies such as “Scary Movie” (2000), “Scary Movie 2” (2001), and “White Chicks” (2004). Additionally, he served as the executive producer for “The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show” in 1997 and wrote several episodes of “The Last O.G.,” featuring Tracy Morgan, in 2020.

Diedra Wayans (b. 1959)

Diedra has predominantly led a private life, but per IMDb, she produced “The Dr. Julian Wright Show,” which is currently in pre-production. In addition, she produced the 2022 drama “A Polished Soul” and the 2018 TV series “Changing Steps with Belinda Baker.” She is also the CEO/owner and co-founder (with her daughter Summer) of Wayans Girl Productions.

Damon Wayans (b. 1960)

Damon Wayans Sr. made his film debut in the 1984 classic “Beverly Hills Cop” and later became a featured performer on “Saturday Night Live” from 1985-86. He has starred in films such as “Mo’ Money” (1993), “Major Payne” (1995), “Bamboozled” (2000), and “Cinnamon” (2023). On television, he starred in, wrote, and co-created the famous sitcom “My Wife and Kids,” appearing in other shows like “Damon,” “The Underground,” and “Lethal Weapon.”

Throughout his career, Damon Wayans Sr. has received four Emmy nominations for his writing and work on “In Living Color.” He has four children from his previous marriage to Lisa Thorner: Damon Jr., Kyla, Michael, and Cara Mia.

Currently, he stars alongside his son Damon Wayans Jr. on the CBS sitcom “Poppa’s House,” a series he also co-created. The show debuted in 2024 and features Damon Wayans Sr. as the lead father figure.

Damon Wayans Jr., known for his roles on “Happy Endings” and “New Girl,” spoke about the joy of working with his father during a TODAY segment on February 9.

“I anticipated that it would be enjoyable doing scenes with my dad,” he stated. “My father is amusing, and being with him is a blast.”

He added, “It’s mostly improvised. We’re simply having a good time.”

Kimberly (“Kim”) Wayans (b. 1961)

After making her film debut in “Hollywood Shuffle” in 1987, Kim Wayans became an original cast member of “In Living Color,” showcasing her talent with memorable impressions of figures like Whitney Houston and Oprah Winfrey. She contributed her voice to “Waynehead” (a show featuring her siblings Shawn and Marlon) and has guest-starred in shows including “Criminal Minds,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “New Girl,” “Marlon,” and “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” She is married to producer and actor Kevin Knotts.

Elvira Wayans (b. 1964)

Elvira Wayans, named after their mother Elvira, has kept her life primarily private. She has a couple of IMDb credits as a writer’s assistant and writer for several episodes of “My Wife and Kids.” Limited information is known about her personal life, but she is the mother of Damien Dante Wayans, who attended the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, as well as actress and stand-up comic Chaunté Wayans.

Nadia Wayans (b. 1965)

Nadia is another member of the Wayans family who prefers to stay out of the limelight. She has a single IMDb credit as “Bar Patron” in the 1988 film “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.”

Devonne “Vonnie” Wayans (b. 1966)

Vonnie’s only IMDb credit comes from a shout-out by her brother Marlon Wayans in the 2022 film “The Curse of Bridge Hollow.” There’s not much else known about her or her personal life.

Shawn Wayans (b. 1971)

Shawn Wayans made his debut as SW.1, the DJ on “In Living Color,” alongside his brothers. Later, he partnered with Marlon Wayans as co-stars in the sitcom “The Wayans Bros,” which lasted for five seasons. He has frequently collaborated with his brothers on various projects, including “Don’t Be a Menace” (which he co-wrote), “Scary Movie” and “Scary Movie 2” (both co-written), and “White Chicks” (which he co-wrote and produced).

His television credits include guest roles on various shows, along with multiple episodes of “Waynehead.” He has three children: daughters Laila and Illia, and one son, Marlon.

Marlon Wayans (b. 1972)

The youngest sibling, Marlon, shared a birthday with his mother Elvira, who passed away in 2020 at age 81. Like many of the Wayans siblings, he first appeared on “In Living Color” before starring alongside his brothers in “The Wayans Bros.” His filmography includes many collaborations with his siblings: “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” “Mo’ Money,” “White Chicks,” and the “Scary Movie” series (1 and 2).

He has co-written and produced several films, including the 2009 comedy “Dance Flick,” and is set to co-write and produce “Scary Movie 6.” His television career spans sketch comedies like “Mad TV” and “Childrens Hospital,” as well as game shows such as “Lip Sync Battle,” “America’s Got Talent,” and “Hollywood Game Night.” Marlon has released five stand-up specials across Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Prime, directed music videos, and co-created the sitcom “Marlon,” which aired for two seasons.

He has three children: Axl, Shawn, and Kai.

While accepting the 2025 NAACP Image Award with his family, Marlon Wayans expressed his admiration for his older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans.

“My brother Keenen raised us all like Jedi,” he reminisced. He recounted how Keenen encouraged them to watch films and discuss why specific scenes were humorous.

“We would have morning conversations, exchanging ideas,” Marlon continued. “He would ask us, ‘How would you improve them?’ … I just want to emphasize that we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for our big brother, Keenen Ivory Wayans.”