The outrageous cue ball-domed comedian of film and TV satire, New York-born Damon Wayans was the third of ten children born to a grocery store manager and social worker and grew up humbly in the Fulton Housing Projects. Wayans began zeroing in on his comedic skills while still a child conjuring up a number of weird characters that were later utilized on his older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans ground-breaking TV show In Living Color, the show that made Damon a huge comedy star.

Ostracized by other children due to a severe physical disability, humor was a strong part of helping Damon overcome a severely painful and debilitating childhood. Born with a club foot, he wore leg braces, endured numerous surgeries, and wore orthopedic shoes before overcoming his affliction. Dropping out of high school in the ninth grade, he worked various jobs (mail clerk, etc.) until following older brother Keenen out to Hollywood to seek comedy fame and fortune. Doing the typical L.A. stand-up scene starting in 1982, he toured in national comedy club circuits until earning a regular featured slot on SNL 25 for one season (1985-1986). On film he rounded up a number of bit parts that showcased Hollywood's top comedians, including Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop, his movie debut, and Steve Martin in Roxanne. He also appeared briefly in brother Keenen's film spoofs Hollywood Shuffle and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.

Damon earned major notice as an alien alongside Jeff Goldblum and future co-star Jim Carrey in the wild and woolly Earth Girls Are Easy, as well as in various support roles that included Punchline with Tom Hanks and the grim cop drama Colors with Sean Penn. Wise-ass superstardom, however, came to him via the boob tube (thanks again to older brother Keenen) in the form of the landmark sketch variety series In Living Color. Created and hosted by Keenen, Damon easily broke out among the talented ensemble players with his eclectic gallery of sketch characters that usually bordered on raunch: Homey the Clown, the disabled Handiman, and the outrageously gay film critic Blaine Edwards from the "Men on Film" skits. In 1992, Damon followed brother Keenan off the popular show over creative and financial issues.

For the last decade and a half the slyly sarcastic comic has become his own "Man on Film." He was Bruce Willis' partner in the noticeably violent crime thriller The Last Boy Scout; wrote, executive-produced and starred as a former con man trying to mend his ways in Mo' Money, which also featured younger brother Marlon; expanded his "ILC" handicapped superhero character into feature length form with Blankman; played an in-your-face drill sergeant in the aptly titled Major Payne; co-starred with Adam Sandler as a petty crook in the action comedy Bulletproof; joined in the basketball-themed Celtic Pride; and stretched his acting muscles in Spike Lee's comedy-drama Bamboozled. He was also executive producer on Waynehead, a Saturday morning animated show based on his childhood that featured the voices of younger sibs Kim, Marlon, and Shawn.

Although his strongest suit is still in stand-up (he has enjoyed several HBO comedy specials), Damon went back to steady TV employment as star and executive producer of the sitcom My Wife and Kids where he currently stays situated. Divorced from his ex-wife Lisa, he is the father of four.
Brother of Dwayne Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Kim Wayans, Nadia Wayans, Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans. Also has sisters Elvira, Diedre, and Vonnie. Cousin of Craig Wayans. Uncle of Damien Wayans. Children: Damon Wayans Jr. (b. 1982), Michael Wayans (b. 1985), Cara Mia Wayans (b. 1987), and Kyla Wayans (b. 1991). Along with co-stars Jeff Goldblum and Jim Carrey, his voice was dubbed in certain scenes for "Earth Girls Are Easy" (1988). While filming "Earth Girls Are Easy" (1988), it took approximately two and a half hours for him and co-stars Jeff Goldblum and Jim Carrey to be suited up as the aliens. Michael Kyle, his character on My Wife and Kids, was ranked #27 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue]. Is the author of "Bootleg," a humorous compilation of his own observations with regards to family, children, marriage and politics. The book quickly reached the New York Times Bestseller List in 1999.