You know the names. Marlon, Shawn, Keenen Ivory, Damon. They basically owned the nineties and early 2000s. From In Living Color to Scary Movie, the Wayans brand is a literal empire. But nobody just "becomes" that successful by accident. It didn't start in a Hollywood studio; it started in a small, cramped apartment in the Fulton Houses projects of Chelsea, Manhattan. That’s where Howell and Elvira Wayans did the impossible. They raised ten kids—not two, not four, but ten—and somehow ensured every single one of them became a functional, creative, and hardworking adult.
It’s wild when you think about it. Most parents struggle to get two kids to agree on what's for dinner. Howell and Elvira managed to foster a literal dynasty.
The Discipline of Howell Wayans
Howell Wayans wasn't a comedian. He was a supermarket manager. He was a man of strict routine and even stricter faith. As a devout Jehovah’s Witness, he brought a level of discipline to the household that most modern families would find intense, maybe even over-the-top. But for the Wayans kids, that structure was a lifesaver. It kept them away from the chaos right outside their front door in Chelsea.
Money was tight. Really tight.
Howell worked long hours to keep food on the table, and he didn't have time for nonsense. Marlon Wayans often tells this hilarious but telling story about how his dad would "count" the food. You didn't just grab a snack. Everything was accounted for. This wasn't because Howell was mean; it was because he was a provider in a situation where resources were scarce. He taught them the value of a dollar before they ever saw a million of them.
He was the "straight man" in the family dynamic. While the kids were busy cracking jokes to keep from crying about being poor, Howell was the anchor. He provided the blueprint for their work ethic. You don't get to make White Chicks or The Last Boy Scout without knowing how to put your head down and grind. That came directly from Howell.
Elvira Wayans: The Heart and the Humor
If Howell was the backbone, Elvira was the soul. And honestly? She was probably the funniest person in the house.
🔗 Read more: Game of Thrones Actors: Where the Cast of Westeros Actually Ended Up
Elvira Alethia Wayans was a social worker and a homemaker, but those titles don't really capture who she was. She had this sharp, dry wit that she passed down to her children. When you watch Kim Wayans do a character or see Damon's physical comedy, you're seeing echoes of Elvira. She encouraged the creativity. In a house with ten kids, you have to find a way to stand out, and in the Wayans house, that way was through laughter.
She was the "buffer."
While Howell provided the discipline, Elvira provided the emotional intelligence. She understood that her kids were special. She saw the spark in Keenen when he decided to drop out of college to pursue comedy—a move that would terrify most parents living in the projects. But she supported the vision. She was the one who kept the peace and kept the family unit tight-knit.
Ten Kids, One Bedroom, and a Lot of Jokes
Let's look at the lineup: Dwayne, Keenen, Diedre, Damon, Kim, Elvira, Nadia, Devon, Shawn, and Marlon.
It sounds like a sitcom cast. Growing up, they were literally on top of each other. Marlon has joked about "poor-man's water" (sugar water) and sharing beds with multiple siblings. This environment created a "comedy lab." If you could make your nine siblings laugh, you could make an audience in a club laugh. It was survival. They roasted each other constantly.
Howell and Elvira Wayans created a culture where the siblings were each other's best friends and biggest critics.
💡 You might also like: Is The Weeknd a Christian? The Truth Behind Abel’s Faith and Lyrics
There was no room for egos. Even when Keenen Ivory Wayans became a massive star and created In Living Color, he didn't just leave his family behind. He brought them with him. He hired his brothers and sisters. That sense of "family first" wasn't something they picked up in Hollywood. It was ingrained in them by Elvira and Howell back in the Fulton Houses.
Dealing with Loss and the Legacy Left Behind
The family has faced significant grief in recent years. Elvira passed away in 2020 at the age of 81. Howell followed her in 2023 at the age of 86.
The tributes from the children were raw and incredibly moving. Marlon, in particular, has been very open about his grief, often posting on social media about how much he misses his "pride and joy." When Howell passed, Marlon wrote about how his father died a "proud man." And he should have been. Think about the odds. Taking ten children out of the projects and seeing every single one of them succeed is a statistical miracle.
It’s a testament to the fact that they weren't just raising celebrities; they were raising good people.
Why the Wayans Parents Matter to Pop Culture
Usually, when we talk about famous families, there’s a lot of "stage parent" drama. You think of the Jacksons or the Kardashians, where the parents are often seen as managers first and parents second.
The Wayans family feels different.
📖 Related: Shannon Tweed Net Worth: Why She is Much More Than a Rockstar Wife
Howell and Elvira didn't seem interested in the limelight. They weren't trying to be on the red carpet. They were just... parents. They provided a stable, religious, and loving (if loud) foundation. Because of that, the Wayans siblings have avoided the typical "child star" meltdowns. They are known for being professional, being on time, and being incredibly loyal to one another.
That’s a direct reflection of Howell’s discipline and Elvira’s warmth.
Actionable Takeaways from the Wayans Parenting Model
We can actually learn a lot from how Howell and Elvira handled their household. It wasn't perfect, but it was effective.
- Work Ethic is Non-Negotiable: Howell showed his kids that you show up to work every day, regardless of how you feel. Success is built on consistency.
- Humor as a Coping Mechanism: Elvira taught them that you can laugh through the struggle. If you can find the joke in a bad situation, you own that situation.
- Family Loyalty as a Business Strategy: The Wayans didn't compete against each other; they built together. They created their own table instead of begging for a seat at someone else's.
- Discipline Provides Freedom: The strict rules of the Jehovah’s Witness faith and Howell’s household gave the kids a framework. That structure actually allowed them to be more creative because they knew where the boundaries were.
If you want to truly understand the Wayans' comedy, stop looking at the movies. Look at the parents. They are the reason a generation of kids grew up laughing at Major Payne and Don't Be a Menace.
To really honor the legacy of Howell and Elvira Wayans, the best thing you can do is revisit their kids' early work. Watch the first season of In Living Color or the original Scary Movie. Look for the credits. You'll see name after name after name—Wayans, Wayans, Wayans. It’s a beautiful tribute to two people who decided that their circumstances wouldn't define their children's futures.
Next time you see a Wayans brother on screen, remember the supermarket manager and the social worker from Chelsea who made it all possible. They were the original stars.