# Kim Wayans

Kimberly Nichole Wayans (born October 16, 1961) is an American actress. She is the sister of Keenen Ivory, Damon Sr., Marlon, Shawn, and Nadia Wayans and aunt of Damien Dante among others. She is best known for her numerous roles on the Fox sketch comedy show In Living Color (1990–94), and Tonia Harris on In the House (1995–98). Wayans has also directed episodes for several series, including Bunk'd, The Neighborhood, and My Wife and Kids.

## Early life

Wayans was born in New York City, the daughter of Elvira Alethia (Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager. Wayans is one of ten siblings, several of whom have become actors and comedians. She and her family lived in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood, and were Jehovah's Witnesses. Wayans graduated from Wesleyan University, where she studied English.

## Career

Wayans made her film debut in Hollywood Shuffle (1987). Her earliest roles on television included a guest appearance on China Beach and as Allison on A Different World during its first season. In film, she portrayed minor characters in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1989) and A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994). 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, where she did celebrity impressions of Naomi Campbell, Whitney Houston, Vanessa Williams and Oprah Winfrey.
Regarding original characters, one reviewer opined she was "hysterical" as Mrs. Brooks and another claimed Wayans played Benita Butrell "to perfection." 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.
In 1996, Wayans joined the cast of sitcom In the House as Tonia. She provided the voice of Mrs. Wayne on short-lived cartoon Waynehead. She appeared as Mrs. Johnson in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), and had a starring role in the art film Talking About Sex. She also appeared in two episodes as Sheila on The Wayans Bros. starring her younger brothers Marlon and Shawn. Wayans co-starred in Juwanna Mann (2002) as basketball player Latisha Jansen.
Wayans then worked as a story editor on her brother Damon's sitcom My Wife and Kids. 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. However, in 2011, she was cast as Audrey, a mother who struggles to understand her seventeen-year-old daughter in the drama film Pariah. According to director Dee Rees, Wayans was chosen in the role as she was the only actress to give Audrey "vulnerability" in her audition. Wayans was nominated for a Black Reel Award and NAACP Image Award in 2012, both in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Following Pariah, Wayans has acted in more dramatic fare, including guest spots on Criminal Minds and Hawaii Five-0. Her turn on the former led to a regular role as paralegal Vi Briggs on Reckless. She appeared as a doctor on The Soul Man and portrayed Susan on New Girl. Wayans returned to sketch comedy, appearing in one episode of A Black Lady Sketch Show in 2021.

## In Living Color
### 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

### Characters

* Benita Butrell
* Cousin Elsee
* Laquita (I Love Laquita)
* Lil' Magic
* Mrs. Brooks
* Reesie (Cephus & Reesie)

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Hollywood Shuffle | Customer in Chair | |
| 1987 | Eddie Murphy Raw | Interviewed Fan | |
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Nightclub Singer | |
| 1994 | Floundering | Unemployment Clerk | |
| 1994 | Talking About Sex | Andie Norman | |
| 1994 | 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 | |
| 2006 | Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness | Momma/Joyce | Voice, television film |
| 2006 | 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 |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987–88 | 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" |
| 1990–93 | In Living Color | Herself/Castmember | Main cast: season 1-4 |
| 1991 | Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime | Various Characters | TV special Documentary |
| 1995–98 | In the House | Tonia Riley Harris | Main cast: season 2-4 |
| 1995–98 | The Wayans Bros. | Shelia | 2 episodes |
| 1996–97 | Waynehead | Mom | Voice, main cast |
| 1998 | Getting Personal | Rhonda | Episode: "There's Something About Rhonda" |
| 2000 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Jackie-In-The-Box / Lulu | Voice, episode: "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" |
| 2000 | Cousin Skeeter | Mystic Ruler | Episode: “New Kids on the Planet” |
| 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" |
| 2016 | Hit the Floor | Karen Halford | Episode: "Lockout" |
| 2016 | 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" |
| 2021 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Aunt Bev | Episode: "Way to Ruin the Party, Soya!" |