You’ve seen the movies. You’ve laughed at the sketches. From In Living Color to White Chicks and Scary Movie, the Wayans name is basically synonymous with American comedy royalty. But behind the ten siblings who took over Hollywood, there were two people who actually made it happen. Honestly, the story of the parents of the Wayans brothers, Howell and Elvira Wayans, is arguably more impressive than the careers of their famous kids.
They weren't industry insiders. They weren't wealthy. They were just two people living in a small apartment in the Fulton Houses in Chelsea, Manhattan, trying to keep ten kids fed and out of trouble.
It worked.
Who Were Howell and Elvira Wayans?
Howell Stouten Wayans was the patriarch. He spent his days working as a supermarket manager, a job that required a level of discipline he passed down to every single one of his children. He wasn't some distant figure; he was the bedrock. Howell was a devout Jehovah's Witness, which meant the Wayans household had a very specific set of rules. No holidays. No birthdays. Lots of structure.
Then you had Elvira Alethia Green. She was the heart of the home. While she was technically a social worker and a homemaker, her kids often describe her as the "original" funny person in the family. She had a sharp wit. She knew how to use humor to diffuse the tension of living in a cramped, high-pressure environment. If you’ve ever wondered where Marlon or Shawn got their timing, look at Elvira.
Raising ten children in a New York City housing project during the 60s, 70s, and 80s wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Money was tight. Resources were slim. But Howell and Elvira didn't let that define their kids' futures.
The Reality of Growing Up in the Wayans Household
Imagine ten kids in one apartment.
Dwayne, Keenen Ivory, Diedre, Damon, Kim, Elvira, Nadia, Devon, Shawn, and Marlon.
It was chaos.
Marlon Wayans often talks about how they were "po-folk." Not poor—po. He jokes that they couldn't even afford the other two letters. This environment, fostered by the parents of the Wayans brothers, became the ultimate breeding ground for creativity. When you don't have toys, you have your imagination. When you don't have a big TV, you entertain each other.
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Howell was strict. He valued hard work above almost everything else. He didn't just want his kids to be successful; he wanted them to be self-reliant. He famously told them that if they wanted to make it, they had to be the best at what they did. There was no room for mediocrity in Howell’s house.
The Influence of Faith and Discipline
The Jehovah's Witness upbringing is a huge part of the Wayans story that people often gloss over. It gave them a bit of an "outsider" perspective. Because they didn't celebrate typical holidays, they bonded more closely as a unit. They became their own tribe.
Keenen Ivory Wayans, the oldest brother and the one who really kicked the door down for the rest of them, has credited his father's discipline for his ability to manage the massive productions he eventually ran. You don't create a show like In Living Color without a serious work ethic. Howell taught them that. He showed them that being a provider meant showing up every single day, even when things were hard.
Elvira Wayans: The Secret Sauce of Wayans Comedy
If Howell provided the structure, Elvira provided the soul. She passed away in 2020 at the age of 81, and the outpouring of love from the comedy world was massive. She wasn't just a mom; she was a mentor.
She had this incredible ability to see the humor in struggle. Marlon has shared stories about how she would roast the kids to keep them humble. She taught them that if you can laugh at yourself, nobody can ever use your weaknesses against you. That’s the core of the Wayans' brand of comedy. It’s fearless. It’s often self-deprecating. It’s rooted in the reality of the Black experience in America, but it’s told with a wink and a smile.
"My mother was my first fan. She was the person I wanted to make laugh the most." - Marlon Wayans
When the parents of the Wayans brothers are discussed in interviews, the siblings always come back to the same theme: love. Despite the lack of money, there was an abundance of support. Elvira made sure that even with ten kids, every single one of them felt seen.
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Navigating the Hard Times in Chelsea
Living in the Chelsea projects in that era meant facing crime, drugs, and poverty on a daily basis. Many families lost children to the streets. The Wayans family didn't.
Why?
Because Howell and Elvira created a fortress. They kept their kids busy. They kept them focused on school and, eventually, on their crafts. The kids didn't have time to get into trouble because they were too busy trying to make each other laugh or working on sketches.
It's a testament to parenting. In an environment that could have easily swallowed them whole, these two parents managed to produce ten productive, successful, and remarkably well-adjusted adults. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens through a deliberate, daily choice to prioritize family over everything else.
The Legacy of Howell Wayans
Howell passed away in early 2023 at the age of 86. His passing marked the end of an era. Marlon posted a touching tribute on Instagram, noting that his father was a "man of few words" but "huge impact."
Howell’s legacy isn't just the famous actors and directors who carry his name. It’s the way he taught them to treat each other. If you watch the Wayans siblings together, they are incredibly tight-knit. They hire each other. They produce for each other. They protect each other.
That sense of family loyalty came directly from Howell. He taught them that the world is tough, but as long as you have your siblings, you have an army. He was the general of that army. He was a man who lived with dignity and taught his sons how to be men in a world that didn't always want them to succeed.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Their Success
People often look at the Wayans family and think it was just "talent." They think they got lucky.
The truth?
It was a grind. Keenen Ivory Wayans went to Tuskegee University to study engineering before dropping out to pursue comedy. He did it because he felt a responsibility to help his family. He wanted to get his parents out of the projects. That drive—the desire to honor the parents of the Wayans brothers—is what fueled the early years of their careers.
When In Living Color became a hit, Keenen didn't just take the money and run. He brought Damon in. He brought Kim in. He brought Shawn and Marlon in. He even gave his sister Diedre work behind the scenes. This wasn't just about fame; it was a family business started in a small kitchen in Manhattan.
Actionable Lessons from the Wayans Parenting Style
We can actually learn a lot from how Howell and Elvira handled their household. It wasn't perfect, but it was effective.
- Foster Internal Competition: The Wayans kids were always trying to out-funny each other. This "iron sharpens iron" mentality turned them into world-class performers.
- Structure is Freedom: Howell’s rules gave the kids a framework. Within those boundaries, they were free to be as creative as they wanted.
- Humor as a Survival Mechanism: Elvira taught them that laughter is the best way to process pain. This is a vital life skill, regardless of whether you’re a professional comedian.
- Vertical Loyalty: The siblings were taught to look up to the older ones and pull up the younger ones. This created a cycle of success that lasted decades.
The Final Word on the Wayans Architects
The parents of the Wayans brothers represent a classic American story that we don't hear enough. They weren't seeking the spotlight, yet they created the people who would define it for a generation.
Howell and Elvira Wayans proved that you don't need a silver spoon to raise a dynasty. You need a backbone, a sense of humor, and an unwavering commitment to the people under your roof. Their lives remind us that the most important work often happens behind the scenes, in the quiet moments of parenting, long before the cameras start rolling.
Next Steps for Understanding the Wayans Legacy
- Watch the Documentaries: Look for "The Wayans Family" episodes of Biography or Behind the Music style retrospectives. They often feature rare footage of Howell and Elvira.
- Read the Memoirs: Marlon and Shawn frequently share deep, personal anecdotes about their upbringing on long-form podcasts like Club Shay Shay or The Pivot.
- Trace the Influence: Watch In Living Color again. Now that you know about Howell’s discipline and Elvira’s wit, you can see their fingerprints on every single sketch.
- Study the Family Tree: Research the second generation of Wayans (like Damien Dante and Craig Wayans) to see how the values Howell and Elvira instilled are being passed down to the grandkids.
The story of the Wayans family is a story of New York, a story of faith, and a story of what happens when two parents refuse to let their circumstances limit their children's dreams.