| Real Name: | Howell Stouten Wayans |
| Birthday: | August 26, 1936 – April 1, 2023 |
| Net Worth: | $2 Million |
| Height: | N/A |
| Occupation: | American Supermarket Manager, Patriarch of the Wayans family |
The Wayans Family is one of the most prominent, funniest, and respected celebrity families. They are among the most popular families in Hollywood, and the patriarch of the family is Howell Wayans. He and his wife Elvira raised 10 children together.
Some of the movies and television shows including a Wayans member include My Wife and Kids, Little Man, Scary Movie, White Chicks, and more. Today, we will look at the patriarch of the family, and the entire family tree.
Story Stages
Quick Bio
Born in August 1936 in New York City, United States of America, Howell Wayans is an American former supermarket manager. He was born to Paul Otto and Lillian Victoria Howell. Howell is famous as the patriarch of the Wayans family. Together with his wife, he raised 10 children, all in New York City, and instilled discipline in them.
Despite taking care of a large family, Howell ensured that he provided for each and every one of them. Nowadays, his children and grandchildren are among the celebrities in Hollywood. But it was not an easy path to get there.
Born in New York City to devoted Christianity parents, there is no info about his early life and educational background. His parents followed Jehovah’s Witnesses’ domination. Howell also became a devout Jehovah’s Witnesses follower.
He met his wife and the love of his life Elvira Alethia in the early 1950s. They had a happy marriage for almost seven decades, something not many experiences in life. Sadly, his wife passed away in July 2020. Together, they lived in Chelsea, New York.
The happy couple welcomed 10 children together. Their firstborn son is Dwayne, born in July 1956. Howell Wayans worked his entire life as a supermarket manager. And he used his salary to raise his children in New York City.
He retired from the labor industry and was enjoying his retirement days with his children and grandchildren, until his death on April 2013 at the age of 86.
The Wayans Family Tree
The Wayans family is one of the most famous in the American show business industry. The entire family includes Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Kim Wayans, Shawn Howell Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Damien Dante Wayans, and Chaunte Wayans. Let’s take a look at the career of some of the most prominent members.
Keenen Ivory Wayans
The second-born son of the family, Keenen Ivory Desuma Wayans was born in June 1958. He is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker.
He came to prominence as the host and creator of the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color. Throughout his career, he produced, directed, and wrote several films, including Hollywood Shuffle.
In the majority of his films, Keenen Wayans has one or more of his brothers and sisters in the cast. Wayans directed Scary Movie in 2000, which was the highest-grossing movie directed by an African American. It wasn’t until 2005 that Tim Story surpassed him with Fantastic Four.
His idea for In Living Color was a variety show similar to Saturday Night Life. It included a cast of people of color that took chances with its content. Luckily, Fox gave him freedom with the show. While the executives were a bit concerned about the content before the television debut, they quickly found out it was a success.
Dwayne Wayans
Born in July 1956, Dwayne Howell Wayans is the oldest member of the famous family. He is an American writer and film score producer.
Born in New York City, he lived in the Chelsea neighborhood during his childhood. Dwayne worked as a production assistant and performed background characters in sketches before starting his film score composing career.
He performed in the shows of his brothers, In Living Color and My Wife and Kids. He composed original music for the latter one. He also wrote the film score music for Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness and the television series Underground.
Shawn Wayans
Born Shawn Mathis Wayans in January 1971, he is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He wrote and starred in the sitcom The Wayans Bros from 1995 to 1999. He also appeared in comedy movies like Don’t Be a Menace, Scary Movie, White Chicks, Little Man, and Dance Flick.
Shawn is the ninth member of the ten siblings. He had a supporting role in the gang drama New Blood in 1999.
Most of Shawn’s appearances have been in movies and television shows produced or directed by his brothers.
Damon Wayans
Born Damon Kyle Wayans Sr. in September 1960, he is a comedian, actor producer, and writer. He too began his career as part of the In Living Color sketch comedy show. In 1982, he began doing stand-up comedy.
Fun fact: Damon’s early film appearance was a cameo as a hotel employee in the 1984 movie Beverly Hills Cop, featuring Eddie Murphy. He appeared on Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1986. But he was fired after 11 episodes for improvising during a live sketch.
Damon also played a serious role in the movie Red Hats. In September 2016, he announced his casting as Roger Murtaugh in the television version of Lethal Weapon. He left after filming the first 13 episodes of Season 3.
Marlon Wayans
Born in 1972, Marlon Lamont Wayans is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Of the Wayans family members, he is the only one who had a chance to be part of a Batman Movie.
He also had an amazing role in Requiem for a Dream, which saw his departure from comedies. Over the years, Marlon has appeared in movies like The Heat, A Haunted House, Naked, Fifty Shades of Black, Sextuplets, On the Rocks, Dance Flick, and more.
As for Batman part, in 1992, he was considered for the role of Robin in the movie Batman Returns. Yet, producers chose to omit the character because the film already had too many characters. He was then signed for the 1995 sequel Batman Forever, but mid-production changes in directors resulted in a recast.
Kim Wayans
As you can see by now, most of the Wayans’ prominent family members are men. Kim is one of the few sisters that made it big in the entertainment business. Born Kimberly Nichole Wayans in October 1961, she is an American actress and comedian.
She is known for her appearance In Living Color and then portraying Tonia Harris on In The House from 1995 to 1998.
During her time on the sketch show In Living Color, she did celebrity impressions of Naomi Campbell, Whitney Houston, and Oprah Winfrey.
Is Howell The Father Of All Wayans Family Members?
There are sometimes rumors that Howell Wayans is not the father of all family members. But those rumors are not true.
All 10 Wayans siblings were born and raised by their parents, Howell and Elvira Wayans in a tiny apartment in a New York City housing project.
Net Worth
Howell Wayans earned money from salaries working as a supermarket manager. His salary grew as his position grow. His net worth at his time of death was estimated to be around $2 million.
But he has wealthy children. As of June 2023, the total net worth of the Wayans family is more than $180 million.
Keenen Wayans is the wealthiest of the family, with a net worth of more than $65 million. His brothers Marlon with $40 million, Damon with $35 million, and Shawn with $30 million follow suit.
