Keenen Ivory Wayans
Who Keenen Ivory Wayans is
Keenen Ivory Wayans is a comedian, actor and filmmaker from New York City who created and hosted the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color. He began performing at The Improv in New York, moved to Los Angeles in 1980, co-wrote Hollywood Shuffle and wrote, directed and starred in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. He went on to direct Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2, hosted The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show from 1997 to 1998 and was a judge on Last Comic Standing in 2014 and 2015.
At a glance
- Born
- 1958
- Came up through
- In Living Color
- On screen
- In Living Color, The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show, Last Comic Standing and 5 more
Specials, shows and podcasts
On screen
- In Living Color creator and host, seasons 1–4, 1990–1993
- The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show host, 1997–1998
- Last Comic Standing judge, 2014–2015
- An Evening at the Improv himself, 1981
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka writer, director and star as Jack Spade, 1988, film
- Scary Movie director, 2000, film
- White Chicks director, writer and producer, 2004, film
- Scary Movie writer and producer, 2026, film
Where they got their start
- In Living Color created and hosted it, 1990–1993
Came up the same way
Other comedians in SUCDb who came through In Living Color:
Comedians like Keenen Ivory Wayans
Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.
- Marlon Wayans also came through In Living Color
- Damon Wayans also came through In Living Color
- Jamie Foxx also came through In Living Color
- Jim Carrey also came through In Living Color
- Larry Wilmore also came through In Living Color
- Paul Mooney also came through In Living Color
- Robert Schimmel also came through In Living Color
- Tommy Davidson also came through In Living Color
Career timeline
- 1958Born
- 1981An Evening at the Improv (himself, 1981) On screen
- 1988I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (writer, director and star as Jack Spade, 1988, film) On screen
- 1990In Living Color (creator and host, seasons 1–4, 1990–1993) On screen
- 1997The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show (host, 1997–1998) On screen
- 2000Scary Movie (director, 2000, film) On screen
- 2004White Chicks (director, writer and producer, 2004, film) On screen
- 2014Last Comic Standing (judge, 2014–2015) On screen
- 2026Scary Movie (writer and producer, 2026, film) On screen
Questions about Keenen Ivory Wayans
What TV shows and films is Keenen Ivory Wayans in?
In Living Color, The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show, Last Comic Standing, An Evening at the Improv, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Scary Movie, among 8 credits.
Where did they get their start?
In Living Color (created and hosted it).
When were they born?
In 1958.
Who are some comedians like them?
Marlon Wayans (also came through In Living Color), Damon Wayans (also came through In Living Color), Jamie Foxx (also came through In Living Color), Jim Carrey (also came through In Living Color) and Larry Wilmore (also came through In Living Color).
The full SUCDb record
The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with a button to add them to your D.O.C., your twelve.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Keenen Ivory Wayans ↗ Birth date and place; first set at The Improv in New York; move to Los Angeles in 1980; co-writer of Hollywood Shuffle; I'm Gonna Git You Sucka; creator and…
- Comedy Works — Keenen Ivory Wayans ↗ Club bio: a rare club stand-up date, with more of his time now spent writing and directing films
Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026