Journalists would ask me about negative stereotypes, and whether I think that I'm just confirming for white people their ideas of black people. I would respond, 'This is a comedy. This is like AIRPLANE. I grew up watching THE THREE STOOGES and I never thought to myself, wow, white people are crazy.' 
-- Keenen Ivory Wayans
Keenen Ivory Wayans is the second of ten children born to Howell and Elvira Wayans. After graduating from New York's Seward Park High School, Wayans attended Tuskegee University in Alabama. He was majoring in engineering before he dropped out senior year.
Wayans' life took a dramatic change of direction when he decided to try his hand at comedy. He did not achieve the success he hoped for as a stand-up comic in New York and moved to Los Angeles to try acting. He landed a few small roles but his real break came when he earned a writing credit on Eddie Murphy's Eddie Murphy Raw in 1987. A year later Wayans made his directorial debut with I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, which he also wrote and starred in.
He gained national acclaim for "In Living Color,"
a sketch comedy show that focused on many social issues and stereotypes. Wayans made the show a family affair, helping to launch the careers of brothers Damon, Shawn and Marlon as well as his sister Kim. In 1990 the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Jim Carey credits Wayans with helping him to break into comedy by casting him as a regular on his show.
After leaving "In Living Color" Keenen focused on making movies. To show the public how versatile he was, Wayans wrote and starred in the action film A Low Down Dirty Shame. In 2000 he returned to his comedic roots, directing brothers Shawn and Marlon in the very successful spoof Scary Movie. He also directed its sequel, Scary Movie 2.
Wayans' life took a dramatic change of direction when he decided to try his hand at comedy. He did not achieve the success he hoped for as a stand-up comic in New York and moved to Los Angeles to try acting. He landed a few small roles but his real break came when he earned a writing credit on Eddie Murphy's Eddie Murphy Raw in 1987. A year later Wayans made his directorial debut with I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, which he also wrote and starred in.
He gained national acclaim for "In Living Color,"
a sketch comedy show that focused on many social issues and stereotypes. Wayans made the show a family affair, helping to launch the careers of brothers Damon, Shawn and Marlon as well as his sister Kim. In 1990 the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Jim Carey credits Wayans with helping him to break into comedy by casting him as a regular on his show.
After leaving "In Living Color" Keenen focused on making movies. To show the public how versatile he was, Wayans wrote and starred in the action film A Low Down Dirty Shame. In 2000 he returned to his comedic roots, directing brothers Shawn and Marlon in the very successful spoof Scary Movie. He also directed its sequel, Scary Movie 2.
