By Satchel B. Jester | Photo Credit: Will McGarry
Marlon Wayans, the youngest star of the first generation of the talented clan, has carved out an impressive resume over the past two decades in television, film and stand-up comedy. Now, as he releases A Haunted House 2, the sequel to last year’s $60 million-grossing parody, the married father of two opens up about the choices and sacrifices he’s made on his road to success.
Marlon Wayans—a.k.a. “Baby Way,” the youngest of ten siblings in what could be the most humorous family we’ve seen in Hollywood—has been a hitmaker for 25 years, and according to him, he had absolutely no choice.
“I was born to entertain,” he says easily. “Growing up, every day was a performance before all of us even realized it. My parents thought we were just a bunch of misbehaved kids, but little did they know, we were practicing.” Marlon hints that his parents, unknowingly, helped shaped their kids’ funny bones. “It was hard not to be funny coming from our pedigree. My mom is super-talented and my dad is annoying as hell, which makes him funny.”
Genetics aside, it was a conscious decision of his to carve out an individual identity beyond his family brand. “Though I come from a big family, I’ve always possessed an innate sense of independence. When my brothers were doing In Living Color, I had an opportunity to be on it and when [my brother] Shawn asked me to come, I said, ‘No, I’m going back to Howard. I want to finish growing up a little bit.’”
While growing up, he searched for his own value. “I knew if I didn’t learn me and know what I could bring to the table, I wouldn’t be bringing the strongest finger to the test.”
He sports the success of being different from his brothers like a badge of honor. Marlon started doing stand-up in his mid-thirties, compared to his brothers’ taking the stage as early as 15. “I brought a whole new youth and smile to the art of stand-up. Yes, I was adding a huge part to the Wayans legacy, but people didn’t mind regarding me as just Marlon.”
Now, even as his own legacy builds, his priority remains “just being Marlon”—whomever that may be. “I think my kids see a fun father; women see a funny guy that makes them laugh; guys see a damn fool; parents see a sweet son; and older people see a fun little brother,” he offers.
But what does he see in himself? “My heart and intentions are pure. Even if I’m snapping on somebody, at some point, they’ll laugh or just enjoy me in general as a person.” Wayans’s vivacity has afforded him the rare opportunity to diversify his career portfolio. He’s ventured beyond knee-slapping, back-breaking physical comedy.
His offerings in movies such as G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), Dungeons & Dragons (2000) and his notable dramatic turn in Requiem for a Dream (2000) all proved the capacity of his acting range. “There’s a part of me that wants to win an Academy Award and a Golden Globe one day,” he admits. “Drama? Bring it. I went to the school of performing arts (New York’s famed LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, whose recent alums include Adrian Grenier, Nicki Minaj and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage). I trained for this. I know I make people laugh, but I have many complexions and complexities.”
Wayans also thrives behind the camera: having written, produced and engaged in the creative process in over a dozen titles from concept to completion. “The ability to create content has taught me that it’s not just about the performance, it’s putting it all together and realizing what makes successful products, including highly successful people.”
In it all coming together, Wayans has to insert his daddy duties. The father of two is very specific about introducing his children to the life they may ultimately want to live. “I allow them to be individuals,” he says. “I know their super powers before they do, but I encourage them to find them. I tell them how great they can be. I don’t mind them not knowing something or failing. I only mind when they don’t try.”
Wayans continues his own efforts to create work that people love. After Haunted House 2, which finds his character Malcolm, his new girlfriend and her two kids moving into their dream home only to find the hilarious, ghostly antics start anew, this summer, Funniest Wins, a new reality competition show in search of the next superstar comedian, where Wayans serves as both a producer and the lead judge, debuts on TBS. And digitally, he continues to develop content for his channel whatthefunny.com.
“I’ve been successful for 25 years because I stay on my road and that’s what I plan to continue to do. I’ll really know I’ve made it when I get laid to rest and ‘That Boy Was a Fool’ is on my tombstone.”