Marlon Wayans
Marlon Wayans | |
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Born | Marlon L. Wayans July 23, 1972 New York City |
Occupation(s) | Actor, producer, comedian, screenwriter, director |
Years active | 1988–present |
Marlon L. Wayans (born July 23, 1972) is an American actor, model, producer, comedian, writer, and director of movies, beginning with his role as a pedestrian in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988. He frequently collaborates with his brother Shawn Wayans, as he was on the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. and in the comedic films Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, White Chicks, Little Man, and Dance Flick. However, Wayans had a dramatic role in Darren Aronofsky's critically acclaimed Requiem for a Dream, which saw his departure from the usual comedies. In 2009, he appeared in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. In 2013, he had a leading role in A Haunted House and co-starred in The Heat. The sequel to "A Haunted House," "A Haunted House 2," is scheduled to be released on April 18, 2014. Marlon has partnered with former Funny or Die CEO Randy Adams to create What The Funny, an online destination for urban comedy.[1][2]
Early life
Wayans was born in New York City, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager.[3] His family was involved religiously with Jehovah's Witnesses.[4][5] Wayans was raised in the housing projects of New York City, the youngest of ten siblings. He is the brother of Nadia Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Dwayne Wayans, and Kim Wayans; all celebrities in their own right. Wayans went to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City, the school made famous in Fame. He attended Howard University.
Career
Marlon appeared with his siblings on In Living Color between 1992–1993. From 1995 until 1999, Wayans co-starred in the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. with brother Shawn Wayans. Though primarily a comedic actor, he garnered considerable critical acclaim for his dramatic turn in Requiem for a Dream. He has also produced the first two films of the Scary Movie series, in which he and Shawn were credited writers and co-stars. He was sharply criticized for his performance in the 2000 movie Dungeons & Dragons as "Snails", the incompetent Rogue. Wayans filmed all his scenes in four days before leaving to work on Requiem for a Dream. Wayans was a friend of the late rapper Tupac Shakur and said that he saw Tupac moments before he was shot dead in Las Vegas in 1996.
Wayans was originally considered for the role of Robin in the 1992 film Batman Returns,[6] however it was felt that the film featured too many characters, so the character was omitted from that film. He was then formally signed for 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 would result in both parts being recast and Wayans being paid out (Williams was not yet signed on, but he received a penalty fee as his contract for Batman allowed him the option of reprise), for which he still receives some royalty payments to this day. He was replaced by Chris O'Donnell.
Wayans produced a cartoon series on Nickelodeon that he has said is a combination of Charlie Brown and Fat Albert, called Thugaboo. In an interview on Chelsea Lately, Wayans, along with his brother Shawn stated that "in meetings he usually falls asleep but wakes up with amazing ideas."[citation needed] Marlon also hosted the 2000 MTV VMA's, along with his brother Shawn.
Filmography
Year | Film | Role |
---|---|---|
1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Pedestrian |
1991 | The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime (TV) | Various |
1992 | Mo' Money | Seymour Stewart |
1992 (early) – 1993 (early) | In Living Color (TV series) | Various |
1994 | Above the Rim | Bugaloo |
1995 | The Wayans Bros. (TV series) | Marlon Williams |
1996 | Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood | Loc Dog |
Mr. Show with Bob and David (TV series) | KKK member | |
Waynehead (TV series) | Blue (voice) | |
The Parent 'Hood (TV series) | Himself | |
1997 | The 6th Man | Kenny Tyler |
1998 | Senseless | Darryl Witherspoon |
Comics Come Home 4 (TV) | Himself | |
1999 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV series) | Itch (voice) |
2000 | Requiem for a Dream | Tyrone C. Love |
Scary Movie | Shorty Meeks | |
The Tangerine Bear | Louie Blue (voice) | |
Dungeons & Dragons | Snails | |
2000 MTV Video Music Awards | Host | |
2001 | Scary Movie 2 | Shorty Meeks |
2004 | Behind the Smile | Danny Styles |
The Ladykillers | Gawain MacSam | |
White Chicks | Marcus | |
2006 | Little Man | Calvin "Baby-face" Sims |
Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness (TV) | ||
Six Degrees (TV series) | Homeless guy | |
Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street (TV) | Dirty, Money | |
2007 | Norbit | Buster "Bust-A-Move" Perkin |
2009 | Dance Flick | Mr Moody |
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | Rip Cord | |
2010 | Marmaduke | Lightning |
2013 | A Haunted House | Malcolm Johnson |
The Heat | Levy | |
Second Generation Wayans (TV series) | Himself | |
2014 | A Haunted House 2 | Malcolm Johnson |
References
- ^ "Marlon Wayans Launching Urban Funny or Die (Exclusive)" Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2014
- ^ What The Funny
- ^ Shawn Wayans Film Reference bio. Filmreference.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
- ^ Stein, Joel. (September 11, 2000) Marlon Wayans. TIME. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
- ^ Interview. The Movie Chicks. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
- ^ Rabin, Nathan. (February 25, 1998) Marlon Wayans. The A.V. Club. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
External links
- Marlon Wayans at IMDb
- Marlon Wayans at AllMovie
- [https://twitter.com/MarlonWayans @MarlonWayans Marlon Wayans] on X
- 1972 births
- Living people
- Male actors from New York City
- African-American comedians
- African-American film producers
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Howard University alumni
- Wayans family
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- African-American male actors