African American Hero of the Day

Keenen Ivory Wayans

Entertainer Filmmaker

Born June 8, 1958, his siblings include Damon Kyle (born September 4, 1960), Shawn Mathis born January 19,1971, and Marlon (born July 23, 1972). They grew up in a family of ten siblings in New York City in one of Manhattan's housing complexes.

Keenen and Damon both struck out to make a career in stand-up comedy, with each taking his own route. Damon was doing films and stand-up and at one point landed a spot on Saturday Night Live. Keenen was also doing stand-up as well as several television series. The two came together in the film Hollywood Shuffle in 1987. After Keenen's success with the film I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka in 1989 (a hilarious send-up of 1970s "blaxploitation" films), he wrote and produced the television comedy series In Living Color. In 1990 Damon joined the cast as the show offered outrageous parody and was often irreverent.

Damon left In Living Color after four seasons and continued to appear in films such as Blankman (1994), Celtic Pride (1996), and also continued to write. Keenen's most successful television series as a writer to date has been My Wife and Kids, which ran from 2001 to 2005. Damon Waynons was awarded the People's Choice Award in 2002 and he continues to offer insight and humor in his writing and acting. He released the novel Red Hats in 2010

Keenen Wayans has continued to write and direct and has been most successful with the directing and writing of the film series: Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), and Scary Movie 3 (2003).

From African American Almanac: 400 Years of Triumph, Courage and Excellence by Lean'tin Bracks, (c) 2012 Visible Ink Press(R). A wealth of milestones, inspiration, and challenges met . . .