Kim Wayans

Wayans was born in New York City, the daughter of Elvira Alethia (Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager.[1][2][3] Wayans is one of ten siblings,[4] several of whom have become actors and comedians. She and her family lived in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood, and were Jehovah's Witnesses.[5][6][7] Wayans graduated from Wesleyan University, where she studied English.[8]

Wayans made her film debut in Hollywood Shuffle (1987).[9] Her earliest roles on television included a guest appearance on China Beach[10] and as Allison on A Different World during its first season.[11] In film, she portrayed minor characters in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1989)[12] and A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994).[13] Both films were directed by her brother Keenen Ivory Wayans.

She starred with her siblings on the Fox variety show In Living Color. Wayans was a part of the cast at its outset in 1990,[14] where she did celebrity impressions of Naomi Campbell,[15] Whitney Houston, Vanessa Williams[16] and Oprah Winfrey.[17]

Regarding original characters, one reviewer opined she was "hysterical" as Mrs. Brooks[18] and another claimed Wayans played Benita Butrell "to perfection."[19] She left the series along with her brothers Keenen Ivory and Damon in 1993, after a dispute between Fox and the three Wayanses regarding reruns and syndication.[20]

In 1996, Wayans joined the cast of sitcom In the House as Tonia.[21] She provided the voice of Mrs. Wayne on short-lived cartoon Waynehead.[22] She appeared as Mrs. Johnson in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996),[23] and had a starring role in the art film Talking About Sex.[24] She also appeared in two episodes as Sheila on The Wayans Bros. starring her younger brothers Marlon and Shawn.[25] Wayans co-starred in Juwanna Mann (2002) as basketball player Latisha Jansen.[26]

Wayans then worked as a story editor on her brother Damon's sitcom My Wife and Kids.[27] In 2008, she co wrote a series of children's books with her husband Kevin Knotts, titled Amy Hodgepodge, about a multiracial girl adjusting to life in public school after years of homeschooling.

Known predominantly as a comedian, Wayans claims to have struggled finding roles in other mediums.[28] However, in 2011, she was cast as Audrey, a mother who struggles to understand her seventeen-year-old daughter in the drama film Pariah.[29] According to director Dee Rees, Wayans was chosen in the role as she was the only actress to give Audrey "vulnerability" in her audition.[28] Wayans was nominated for a Black Reel Award and NAACP Image Award in 2012, both in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress.[30][31]

Following Pariah, Wayans has acted in more dramatic fare, including guest spots on Criminal Minds and Hawaii Five-0.[4] Her turn on the former led to a regular role as paralegal Vi Briggs on Reckless.[29] She appeared as a doctor on The Soul Man[32] and portrayed Susan on New Girl.[33] Wayans returned to sketch comedy on A Black Lady Sketch Show in 2021, appearing in one episode.[34]

• Kim Wayans at IMDb
• Kim Wayans on Twitter

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