{{short description|American actress, comedian and director (born 1961)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Kim Wayans | image = Kim Wayans 2012.jpg | caption = Wayans in 2012 | birth_name = Kimberly Nichole Wayans | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|10|16}} | birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = Wesleyan University (BA) | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actress * comedian * television director}} | years_active = 1982–present | spouse = Kevin Knotts | relatives = {{plainlist| * Keenen Ivory Wayans (brother) * Damon Wayans (brother) * Shawn Wayans (brother) * Marlon Wayans (brother) * Damon Wayans Jr. (nephew) }} | family = Wayans family | website = }}
'''Kimberly Nichole Wayans''' ({{IPAc-en|'|w|ei|.|@|n|z}} {{respell|WAY|ənz}}; born October 16, 1961) is an American actress, comedian and director. Having made her television debut as Allison in the first season of ''The Cosby Show'' spin-off ''A Different World'', she became known for her numerous roles on the Fox sketch comedy series ''In Living Color'' (1990–1993) and as Tonia Harris on the NBC/UPN sitcom ''In the House'' (1995–1998). Wayans also starred as Audrey in the drama film ''Pariah'', for which she was nominated for two Black Reel Awards and an NAACP Image Award in 2012.
Wayans has directed episodes for shows such as the sitcoms ''My Wife and Kids'' and ''The Neighborhood'' as well as the Disney Channel original series ''Bunk'd'' and ''Just Roll with It''.
She is the sister of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, and aunt of Damon Wayans Jr., among others.
==Early life== Wayans was born in Harlem, New York City, the daughter of Elvira Alethia (née Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/34/Kim-Wayans.html |title=Kim Wayans Biography (1961–) |website=www.filmreference.com}}</ref><ref>Stated on ''Finding Your Roots'', January 19, 2016, PBS</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/blog/keenen-ivory-wayans-interactive-family-tree/ |title=Keenen Ivory Wayans' Interactive Family Tree |date=January 22, 2016 |website=PBS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827043934/http://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/blog/keenen-ivory-wayans-interactive-family-tree/ |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |access-date=September 2, 2017 }}</ref> One of ten siblings,<ref name="daniels">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/whatever-happened-kim-wayans-n444326|title=What Ever Happened To Kim Wayans?|last=Daniels|first=Karu F.|date=October 21, 2016|website=NBC News|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> she and her family lived in Fulton Houses, a housing project in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood, and were Jehovah's Witnesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/16/movies/film-the-family-that-clowns-together.html|title=FILM; The Family That Clowns Together|last=Wild|first=David|date=July 16, 2000|website=The New York Times|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,997920,00.html |title=Marlon Wayans |date=November 4, 2007 |magazine=TIME |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104105953/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,997920,00.html |archive-date=4 November 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.themoviechicks.com/mid2004/mctladykillers.html The Movie Chicks – Interview – Marlon Wayans<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Wayans graduated from Wesleyan University, where she studied English.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 28, 1990|title=He's So Fresh|last=Booe|first=Martin|pages=4−6|newspaper=The Albany Herald}}</ref>
==Career== Wayans made her film debut in ''Hollywood Shuffle'' (1987).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kczcgHtgGfYC&dq=%22Kim+Wayans%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA223|page=223|title=Frame by Frame II: A Filmography of the African American Image, 1978-1994|last1=Rauch Klotman|first1=Phyllis|last2=Gibson|first2=Gloria J.|date=1997|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=9780253211200}}</ref> Her earliest roles on television included a guest appearance on ''China Beach''<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h7VasQrBnm8C&dq=%22Kim+Wayans%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA34|page=34|last=Smith|first=Dinitia|date=October 8, 1990|title=Color Them Funny|magazine=New York Magazine}}</ref> and as Allison on ''A Different World'' during its first season.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zVFgqEAMcngC&dq=%22Kim+Wayans%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA472|page=472|title=Historical Dictionary of African-American Television|last=Fearn-Banks|first=Kathleen|date=November 15, 2005|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810865228}}</ref> In film, she portrayed minor characters in ''I'm Gonna Git You Sucka'' (1989)<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilmington|first=Michael|date=February 24, 1989|title=Machismo the big joke in 'Sucka'|page=3W|newspaper=Boca Raton News}}</ref> and ''A Low Down Dirty Shame'' (1994).<ref>{{cite news|last=Steelman|first=Ben|date=November 30, 1994|title=Wayan's wit carries 'Shame'|page=2D|newspaper=Star-News}}</ref> Both films were directed by her brother Keenen Ivory Wayans.
She starred with her siblings on the Fox variety show ''In Living Color''. Wayans was a part of the cast at its outset in 1990,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/living-color-1990-first-episode-788963/|title='In Living Color' First Episode: THR's 1990 Review|date=April 15, 2015|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> where she did celebrity impressions of Naomi Campbell,<ref>{{cite news|date=June 4, 1993|title=Sunday Night Highlights|page=37|newspaper=The Hour}}</ref> Whitney Houston, Vanessa Williams<ref>{{cite news|date=October 18, 1992|title=Tonight's series|page=9E|newspaper=Times-News}}</ref> and Oprah Winfrey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/05/12/living-it-up/|title=Living' it up|last=Froelich|first=Janis D.|date=May 12, 1990|website=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref>
Regarding original characters, one reviewer opined she was "hysterical" as Mrs. Brooks<ref>{{cite news|date=January 3, 1993|title=Best Bets|page=13D|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard}}</ref> and another claimed Wayans played Benita Butrell "to perfection."<ref>{{cite news|date=December 18, 1992|title=Sunday|page=C-2|newspaper=Observer-Reporter}}</ref> She left the series along with her brothers Keenen Ivory and Damon in 1993, after a dispute between Fox and the three Wayanses regarding reruns and syndication.<ref>{{cite news|last=Richmond|first=Ray|date=October 21, 1993|title=Producers: slot hurts 'Living Color'|page=B12|newspaper=Observer-Reporter}}</ref>
In 1996, Wayans joined the cast of sitcom ''In the House'' as Tonia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weintraub|first=Joanne|date=August 3, 1996|title=Network strives to include culture on little screen|page=B10|newspaper=The Vindicator}}</ref> She provided the voice of Mrs. Wayne on short-lived cartoon ''Waynehead''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FMFTDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Kim+Wayans%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA684|page=684|title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows|last=Perlmutter|first=David|date=May 4, 2018|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781538103746}}</ref> She appeared as Mrs. Johnson in ''Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood'' (1996),<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NjsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Kim+Wayans%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA61|page=61|title=Wayans Brothers' Parody, 'Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood', Takes Humorous Look At Black Urban Movies|magazine=Jet|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|date=February 12, 1996}}</ref> and had a starring role in the art film ''Talking About Sex''.<ref>{{cite book|page=573|title=Psychotherapists on Film, 1899-1999|volume=2|last1=Flowers|first1=John|last2=Frizler|first2=Paul|date=2004|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=9780786419081}}</ref> She also appeared in two episodes as Sheila on ''The Wayans Bros.'' starring her younger brothers Marlon and Shawn.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 17, 1998|title=Highlights|page=8C|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News}}</ref> Wayans co-starred in ''Juwanna Mann'' (2002) as basketball player Latisha Jansen.<ref>{{cite news|last=Germain|first=David|date=June 21, 2002|title=Movie gets whistled for an offensive foul|page=D3|newspaper=The Daily Gazette}}</ref>
Wayans then worked as a story editor on her brother Damon's sitcom ''My Wife and Kids''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HSSp4wKbee8C&dq=%22Kim+Wayans%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA36|page=36|last=White|first=Katherine|date=December 15, 2004|title=The Wayans Brothers|publisher=Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=9781404202658}}</ref> In 2008, she co wrote a series of children's books with her husband Kevin Knotts, titled ''Amy Hodgepodge'', about a multiracial girl adjusting to life in public school after years of homeschooling.
Known predominantly as a comedian, Wayans claims to have struggled finding roles in other mediums.<ref name="vanmeter">{{cite web|url=https://www.out.com/Kim-Wayans-Pariah-Dee-Rees-Lesbian-Living-Color|title=Kim Wayans|last=Van Meter|first=William|date=January 6, 2012|website=Out|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> However, in 2011, she was cast as Audrey, a mother who struggles to understand her seventeen-year-old daughter in the drama film ''Pariah''.<ref name="fisher">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kim-wayans-living-color-star-dramatic-series/story?id=24317068|last=Fisher|first=Lucinda|date=June 27, 2014|website=ABC News|access-date=November 16, 2022|title='In Living Color' Star in New Dramatic Series}}</ref> According to director Dee Rees, Wayans was chosen in the role as she was the only actress to give Audrey "vulnerability" in her audition.<ref name="vanmeter"/> Wayans was nominated for a Black Reel Award and NAACP Image Award in 2012, both in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blackfilm.com/read/2011/12/12th-annual-black-reel-awards-nominations/|title=Pariah Lead Black Reel Awards Field|last=Morales|first=Wilson|date=December 14, 2011|website=Black Film|access-date=November 16, 2022|archive-date=September 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903171834/https://www.blackfilm.com/read/2011/12/12th-annual-black-reel-awards-nominations/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/01/2012-naacp-image-award-film-and-tv-nominations-216850/|title=2012 NAACP Image Award Film And TV Nominations|date=January 19, 2012|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref>
Following ''Pariah'', Wayans has acted in more dramatic fare, including guest spots on ''Criminal Minds'' and ''Hawaii Five-0''.<ref name="daniels"/> Her turn on the former led to a regular role as paralegal Vi Briggs on ''Reckless''.<ref name="fisher"/> She appeared as a doctor on ''The Soul Man''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/soul-man-kim-wayans-joins-tv-land-comedy-441458/|title='In Living Color' Star Books TV Land's 'Soul Man' (Exclusive)|last=Ng|first=Philiana|date=April 17, 2013|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> and portrayed Susan on ''New Girl'', appearing in an episode alongside her nephew, Damon Wayans Jr.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/recap/new-girl-season-5-episode-21-22/|title=New Girl finale recap: The top 5 moments from Wedding Eve / Landing Gear|last=Smith|first=C. Molly|date=May 11, 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> Wayans returned to sketch comedy, appearing in one episode of ''A Black Lady Sketch Show'' in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/black-lady-sketch-show-renewed-season-3-1234957818/|title='A Black Lady Sketch Show' Renewed for Season 3 at HBO|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=May 24, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref>
In November 2025, it was revealed that she joined the cast of ''Scary Movie'', which is set to release in June 2026.<ref name="NovCasting">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2025/11/scary-movie-6-casts-damon-wayans-jr-heidi-gardner-chris-elliott-1236615486/|title=''Scary Movie 6'' Adds Damon Wayans Jr., Kim Wayans & Heidi Gardner; Sets Cheri Oteri and Chris Elliott To Return|date=November 12, 2025|access-date=November 12, 2025|first=Matt|last=Grobar|website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> In January 2026, she launched a comedy series on YouTube titled ''Still Got It with Izzi Fabulous''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Danielle |date=January 13, 2026 |title=Kim Wayans Launches Character Comedy Sketch Show on YouTube |url=https://www.bet.com/article/1g3lf9/kim-wayans-launches-character-comedy-sketch-show-on-youtube |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref>
==''In Living Color''== {{div col|colwidth=50em}}
===Impressions=== *Altovise Davis *La Toya Jackson *Esther Rolle *Crystal Waters *Grace Jones *LaWanda Page *Oprah Winfrey *Tracy Chapman *Della Reese *Lynne Thigpen *Whitney Houston *Vanessa L. Williams *Cree Summer *Tina Turner *Sandra "Pepa" Denton *Telma Hopkins *Dionne Warwick *Lucille Ball {{div col end}}
===Characters=== * Benita Butrell * Cousin Elsee * Laquita (''I Love Laquita'') * Lil' Magic * Mrs. Brooks * Reesie (''Cephus & Reesie'')
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |rowspan="2"| 1987 | ''Hollywood Shuffle'' | Customer in Chair | |- | ''Eddie Murphy Raw'' | Interviewed Fan | |- | 1988 | ''I'm Gonna Git You Sucka'' | Nightclub Singer | |- |rowspan="3"| 1994 | ''Floundering'' | Unemployment Clerk | |- | ''Talking About Sex'' | Andie Norman | |- | ''A Low Down Dirty Shame'' | Diane | |- | 1996 | ''Don't Be a Menace'' | Mrs. Johnson | |- | 1997 | ''Critics and Other Freaks'' | Bettina | |- | 2002 | ''Juwanna Mann'' | Latisha Jansen | |- | rowspan="2"| 2006 | ''Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness'' | Momma/Joyce | Voice, television film |- | ''Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street'' | Momma | Voice, television film |- | 2007 | ''What News?'' | Pearl "Lightning" Davis | Television film |- | 2009 | ''Dance Flick'' | Ms. Dontwannabebothered | |- | 2011 | ''Pariah'' | Audrey | |- | 2017 | ''Ray Meets Helen'' | Lizzie Faye | |- | 2020 | ''Exit Package'' | Mary Birdsall | Short |- | 2026 | ''Scary Movie'' | Nurse Ratchett | Post-production |}
===Television===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1987–1988 | ''A Different World'' | Allison | Recurring cast: season 1 |- | 1988 | ''China Beach'' | Cameo Candette | Episode: "Lost and Found" |- | 1990 | ''Dream On'' | Nicki | Episode: "Over Your Dead Body" |- | 1990–1993 | ''In Living Color'' | Herself/Castmember | Main cast: season 1-4 |- | 1991 | ''Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime'' | Various Characters | TV special Documentary |- |rowspan="2"| 1995–1998 | ''In the House'' | Tonia Riley Harris | Main cast: season 2-4 |- | ''The Wayans Bros.'' | Shelia | 2 episodes |- | 1996–1997 | ''Waynehead'' | Mom | Voice, main cast |- | 1998 | ''Getting Personal'' | Rhonda | Episode: "There's Something About Rhonda" |- |rowspan="2"|2000 | ''Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child'' | Jackie-In-The-Box / Lulu | Voice, episode: "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" |- | ''Cousin Skeeter'' | Mystic Ruler | Episode: “New Kids on the Planet” |- |2001–2005 |''My Wife and Kids'' |{{N/A}} |Writer, producer, director |- | 2012 | ''Criminal Minds'' | Darlene Beckett | Episode: "The Pact" |- | 2013 | ''The Soul Man'' | Dr. Owens | Episode: "Get Thee Behind Me" |- | 2014 | ''Reckless'' | Vi Briggs | Main cast |- | 2015 | ''Hawaii Five-0'' | Diane | Episode: "Ike Hanau" |- |rowspan="2"| 2016 | ''Hit the Floor'' | Karen Halford | Episode: "Lockout" |- | ''New Girl'' | Susan | 2 episodes |- | 2017 | ''The Breaks'' | Ella Williams | Recurring cast |- | 2018 | ''Marlon'' | Miss Shabazz | Episode: "Divorce Counseling" |- | 2020 | ''Boomerang'' | Juanita | Episode: "End of the Road" |- | rowspan="3" | 2021 | ''A Black Lady Sketch Show'' | Aunt Bev | Episode: "Way to Ruin the Party, Soya!" |- |''Just Roll with It'' |{{N/A}} |Director: 1 episode |- |''Bunk'd'' |{{N/A}} |Director: 1 episode |- |2022 |''The Neighborhood'' |{{N/A}} |Director: 2 episodes |- |2024–2025 |''Poppa's House'' |Caller #2 |Voice, executive producer, director, writer |}
=== Web series === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2026 | ''Still Got It with Izzi Fabulous'' | Izzi Fabulous | Creator, writer, producer |}
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Nominated work ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Refh}} |- ! rowspan="2" scope="row" | BET Comedy Awards | rowspan="2" |2005 |Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series{{Efn|Shared with the directors.|name=Director}} | rowspan="2" |''My Wife and Kids'' |{{nom}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=BET Comedy Awards (2005) |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0001193/2005/1/ |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series{{Efn|Shared with the writers.|name=Writers}} |{{nom}} |- ! rowspan="2" scope="row" |Black Reel Awards | rowspan="2" |2012 |Outstanding Supporting Actress | rowspan="4" |''Pariah'' |{{nom}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2011-12-14 |title="Pariah" And "The Help" Lead 2012 Black Reel Awards Nominations |url=https://hot1009.com/2016481/pariah-and-the-help-lead-2012-black-reel-awards-nominations/ |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=Hot 100.9 |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |Best Breakthrough Performance |{{nom}} |- ! scope="row" |Chlotrudis Awards |2012 |Best Supporting Actress |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-29 |title=2012, 18th Annual Awards, March 21, 2012 |url=https://chlotrudis.org/2012-18th-annual-awards/ |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film |language=en-US}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |NAACP Image Awards |2012 |Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-01-19 |title=2012 NAACP Image Award Film And TV Nominations |url=https://deadline.com/2012/01/2012-naacp-image-award-film-and-tv-nominations-216850/ |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |TV Land Awards |2012 |Groundbreaking Show{{Efn|Shared with the cast.|name=Cast}} |''In Living Color'' |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kellogg |first=Jane |date=2012-04-15 |title=Classic TV Stars Reunite for TV Land Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/tv-land-awards-in-living-color-jim-carrey-kelly-ripa-aretha-franklin-312293/ |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> |}
==References== {{notelist}} {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Kim Wayans}} * {{IMDb name|id=0915462|name=Kim Wayans}} * {{Twitter}}
{{Wayans family}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wayans, Kim}} Category:1961 births Category:American people of Malagasy descent Category:Actresses from Manhattan Category:Television producers from New York City Category:American television writers Category:Living people Kim Category:Wesleyan University alumni Category:American women television writers Category:Film producers from New York (state) Category:American impressionists (entertainers) Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American voice actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Screenwriters from New York (state) Category:American women film producers Category:People from Chelsea, Manhattan Category:20th-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century African-American actresses