Damon Wayans
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
Born in Harlem in New York City in 1960, to a supermarket manager father and a homemaker mother, Damon Wayans was one of ten children and suffered from a club foot as a child. Wayans graduated from Murry Bergtraum High School before beginning a career in standup comedy in 1982. Wayans had a cameo in the Eddie Murphy movie "Beverly Hills Cop" in 1984 and appeared on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975-) on seven episodes between 1985 and 1986. His employment was terminated after improvised during a sketch. In 1990 he and his brother Keenen Ivory Wayans created the TV series "In Living Color" (Fox, 1990-94). The show was influential particularly to African-American comedians. Wayans himself departed the show in 1992 to focus on making movies. He starred in "Mo' Money" (1992), "Major Payne" (1995), "Celtic Pride" (1996), Bulletproof (1996), and "The Great White Hype" (1996). Wayans appeared in "Damon", (Fox, 1998) a comedy series he created wherein he portrayed a detective in Chicago. The show was cancelled after one season. In 2001 Wayans starred in "My Wife and Kids" (ABC, 2001-05), a sitcom about family life. While still pursuing standup on the side as his movie and television career developed, Wayans announced that he would retire from standup in 2015. In 2016 Wayans was cast in the TV adaptation of "Lethal Weapon" (Fox, 2016- ) as Roger Murtaugh, the role originated by Danny Glover in the film series.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Writer (Special)
Producer (Special)
Special Thanks (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1982
Began career as a standup comic at Los Angeles comedy clubs and touring the national club circuit
1984
Feature film acting debut, "Beverly Hills Cop"
1986
Hired by "Saturday Night Live"; fired for switching a character in the middle of a sketch
1989
Directorial debut, Joyce Irby's video, "She's Not My Lover"
1989
Co-star and writer on "In Living Color"
1990
Replaced Richard Pryor as the voice of Eddie in "Look Who's Talking Too"
1991
Executive produced and starred in HBO comedy special, "Damon Wayans: The Last Stand"
1991
First major feature film role, in "The Last Boy Scout", opposite Bruce Willis
1992
Feature debut as producer and co-writer, "Mo' Money" (also starred)
1997
Created and executive produced the Fox drama "413 Hope St."
1998
Starred in the Fox sitcom "Damon"
2000
Had featured role in "Bamboozled", directed by Spike Lee
2001
Served as executive producer and star of the ABC midseason sitcom "My Wife and Kids"
2006
Wrote and directed the drama "Behind the Smile"
2011
Guest starred alongside his son, Damon Wayans Jr., on an episode of "Happy Endings"
2016
Starred in the action series "Lethal Weapon"
Family
Companions
