Kimberly Nichole Wayans ( ; born October 16, 1961) is an American actress, comedian and director. Having made her television debut as Allison in the first season of The Cosby Show spin-off A Different World, she became known for her numerous roles on the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color (1990–1993) and as Tonia Harris on the NBC/UPN sitcom In the House (1995–1998). Wayans starred as Audrey in the drama film Pariah, for which she was nominated for two Black Reel Awards and an NAACP Image Award in 2012.

Wayans has directed episodes for television shows such as the sitcoms My Wife and Kids and The Neighborhood as well as the Disney Channel original series Bunk'd and Just Roll with It.

She is the sister of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, and aunt of Damon Wayans Jr., among others.

Early life Wayans was born in Harlem, New York City, the daughter of Elvira Alethia (née Green), a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager.Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 19, 2016, PBS One of ten siblings, she and her family lived in Fulton Houses, a housing project in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood, and were Jehovah's Witnesses.The Movie Chicks – Interview – Marlon Wayans 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, appearing in an episode alongside her nephew, Damon Wayans Jr. Wayans returned to sketch comedy, appearing in one episode of A Black Lady Sketch Show in 2021.

In November 2025, it was revealed that she joined the cast of Scary Movie, which is set to release in June 2026. In January 2026, she launched a comedy series on YouTube titled Still Got It with Izzi Fabulous.

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 Eddie Murphy Raw Interviewed Fan 1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Nightclub Singer 1994 Floundering Unemployment Clerk Talking About Sex Andie Norman A Low Down Dirty Shame Diane 1996 Don't Be a Menace Mrs. Johnson 1997 Critics and Other Freaks Bettina 2001 Scary Movie 2 Newswoman Deleted scenes 2002 Juwanna Mann Latisha Jansen 2006 Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness Momma/Joyce Voice, television film 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 2026 Scary Movie Nurse Ratchett

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1987–1988 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" 1990–1993 In Living Color Herself/Castmember Main cast: season 1-4 1991 Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime Various Characters TV special Documentary 1995–1998 In the House Tonia Riley Harris Main cast: season 2-4 The Wayans Bros. Shelia 2 episodes 1996–1997 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" Cousin Skeeter Mystic Ruler Episode: “New Kids on the Planet”2001–2005My Wife and KidsWriter, producer, director 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" 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!"Just Roll with ItDirector: 1 episodeBunk'dDirector: 1 episode2022The NeighborhoodDirector: 2 episodes2024–2025Poppa's HouseCaller #2Voice, executive producer, director, writer

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2026 Still Got It with Izzi Fabulous Izzi Fabulous Creator, writer, producer

Awards and nomiations Award Year Category Nominated work Result BET Comedy Awards2005Outstanding Directing for a Comedy SeriesMy Wife and KidsOutstanding Writing for a Comedy SeriesBlack Reel Awards2012Outstanding Supporting ActressPariahBest Breakthrough PerformanceChlotrudis Awards2012Best Supporting ActressNAACP Image Awards2012Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureTV Land Awards2012Groundbreaking ShowIn Living Color

References

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