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| Shawn and Marlon Wayans: The Younger Brothers With two older brothers in Hollywood, Shawn and Marlon Wayans were both enticed into careers as comedians. Like Keenen and Damon, the two younger brothers both knew they wanted to act, produce, write, or direct -- anything they could do to get the world laughing. These two brothers have teamed up to work together on a variety of projects from TV shows to major films. The younger brothers' careers have also been helped along by their older brothers' inspiration, encouragement, and collaboration in both TV and film. Shawn Wayans was born on January 19, 1971, in New York City, and is the second-youngest child in the large Wayans family. Like his brothers, Shawn is tall, about 6 feet 2 inches, and in most photographs, his eyes twinkle with a bit of mischief, showing how much he enjoys laughter and having a good time. Laughter and comedy are family traits. By the time Shawn was coming of age in the mid-1980s, his two older brothers Damon and Keenen were already becoming well-known comedians, actors, and filmmakers in Hollywood. The older brothers' success as well as his entire family's deep love for laughter and comedy helped Shawn decide that he, too, wanted to be a comedian and actor. He attended a high school in Manhattan called Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities, a school known for its excellent acting programs. When Shawn graduated in 1989, he was determined to make a name for himself in Hollywood, too. Most actors have a hard time finding a great role that will allow him or her to break into the industry. Going on auditions is tough and tiring work because an actor only has a few minutes to show off his or her talent and leave an excellent impression. Plus, competition is severe. There may be as many as 50 to 100 people trying out for just one role. As a member of a famous family, Shawn had an easier time breaking in to Hollywood. However, no matter what kind of connections his two famous brothers gave him, Shawn would have to prove himself through talent and hard work. In 1990, Shawn got his first big break when his oldest brothers came to him and asked him to be part of In Living Color. Shawn was more than happy to join the show, especially because he knew his brothers and sister Kim were comic geniuses. This was an incredible opportunity to hone his craft under the guidance of his talented siblings. For three years, Shawn starred as a DJ for the show's Fly Girl dancers. His stage name was Sw.1, an old nickname his friends had given to him in high school. Perched above the In Living Color set on the DJ platform, looking down on the dancers, Shawn knew comedy was exactly where he belonged. Fortunately, many people agreed. Throughout the early 1990s, Shawn landed small parts on other popular TV shows, including, MacGyver, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Roseanne. In 1993, after leaving In Living Color one season after Damon and Keenen had, Shawn wanted to continue working in television. He turned toward his own family for inspiration and decided to collaborate with his younger brother, Marlon. Born on July 23, 1972, in New York City, Marlon Wayans is just more than a year younger than Shawn, making him the youngest of the ten Wayans children. Like the rest of the brothers, Marlon attributes his love for comedy to growing up poor. "The poorer we were, the funnier we were." Marlon said in State News. "You had to be funny to get a hug in my house." Marlon also knew at a very young age that he loved performing. For high school, he attended one of Manhattan's best drama schools, Fiorello H. La Guardia High School of Music, Art, and Performing Arts. The school is a public high school that prepares students for professional careers in dance, music, or drama. The programs are intensive, and the famous dance movie Fame was actually based on the school. Many great actors, including Al Pacino and Liza Minelli, have graduated from this school. After graduating from high school, Marlon went off to Howard University in Washington, D.C. There, he enjoyed his studies and was doing well when he entered his sophomore year. However, in 1991, Marlon was bitten by the acting bug, much like his brother before him. He decided to leave school and headed west to work with his brothers on In Living Color. Out of all of the brothers, Marlon's career has benefited the most from his family's collaborations. This mostly has to do with his age. Since he is the youngest child of the family, Damon and Keenen were already working on major film productions and TV shows by the time Marlon arrived in Hollywood. Marlon's next big break after In Living Color came in 1992, when he played a supporting role in Mo' Money, a movie Damon wrote, produced, and starred in. In this film, Marlon played Seymour Stewart, the main character's younger brother. Marlon is aware that many of his first opportunities in Hollywood came from working with his family. At the same time, Marlon works very hard to make sure he still has his own identity in Hollywood. In a 2004 article in State News, Marlon told of some of the people who inspire him: "Charlie Chaplin, Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy were influences. And my brothers, of course. I don't want to emulate anyone else. I have my own flavor and persona. I just want to be Marlon." Working with anyone can be a challenge, but writing, acting, and producing a show with your own family can be an even bigger one. During these challenging times, Shawn says that he and Marlon try to talk through their conflicts. In an E!Online article, Shawn shared in his usual lighthearted way: "It could be tense for a minute, then he goes off, sits with his thing and I sit with what he just told me and then we come back and have a little friendly summit. Like, 'I hear what you're saying, but here's what I'm trying to say to you.' And then he'll digest what I'm saying, and we hug and kiss." This is just one example of how the Wayans brothers work together. They respect one another's opinions and always remember that humor is a great way to break the tension. Overall, the Wayans family works together as a team. They are supportive and open with one another, and they work hard to respect and appreciate one another's talents. They each have strengths and weaknesses and they try to cultivate each other's greatest strengths when they work together. In an E!Online article, Marlon shares what makes each brother stand out: "Well, with Damon, when it comes to stand-up, that's his world. Keenen, when it comes to putting things togehter, structuring jokes, nobody is better. When it comes to coming up with ideas, nobody is better than Shawn. He is brilliant, most of the movies we've done have been Shawn's ideas. I'm good at coming up with wacky characters and funny dialogue." --Taken from The Wayans Brothers (Famous Families) by Katherine White |