Marlon Wayans Biography

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.

Early life

Wayans was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager. His family was involved in the Jehovah's Witnesses religion. 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, 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." 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
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