11 Actors Who Became Famous Through Their Appearances in “In Living Color”

The Fox TV comedy sketch series “In Living Color,” which premiered in 1990, is truly one of the funniest and most entertaining shows of all time. The show was created by actor, comedian and filmmaker, Keenan Ivory Wayansand his brother Damon Wayans. It featured four of his nine siblings: Kim, Marlon, Shawn and Dwayne, who appeared from time to time as extras. Even though it’s been over 30 years since the show first aired, I could watch every episode again and laugh as if it were the first time I’d seen it.

The comedy sketches and characters were hilarious and the actors/comedians, who were virtually unknown before, were incredibly talented. Unfortunately, the show only ran for 5 seasons and the last episode aired in 1994. That was probably for the best, because most of the cast went on to become mega movie stars. Remember these people?

Here are 10 actors who became famous after appearing on In Living Color.

1.) KEENEN IVORY WAYANS

Wayans’ unforgettable characters include Frenchie, Tom Brother, Father from the Buttmans, Father of the Buttmans and Iceman from the homeboy who buys stevia
Frenchie. Wayans portrayed everyone from Arsenio Hall to Rick James and Jesse Jackson. After a dispute with Fox over reruns and syndication, Keenen left the show in 1993 with her brothers Keenen and Damon.

A prolific filmmaker and actor, Wayans has a long list of television shows and films to his credit, including “A Different World,” “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” “A Low Down Dirty Shame,” “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood,” “Scary Movie,” and many others.

2.) JAMIE FOXX
1991 – 1994
In 1989, due to a dare, Foxx performed his first stand-up comedy performance at an open mic night. In 1991, he joined the cast of In Living Color. The characters were boxer Carl “The Tooth” Williams and of course the iconic ugly woman Wanda. Foxx is an incredible talent when it comes to composing the music for his own sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show. He has had great success in films such as “Booty Call,” “Dreamgirls,” “Miami Vice,” “Django Unchained,” “Annie,” “Ray,” to name a few.

He is an incredible musician/singer/songwriter and has released five albums, several hit singles and music features including “Blame it”, “Unpredictable”, “Gold Digger”, “Slow Jamz” and more.

3.) JIM CARREY
1990 -1994
Carrey’s “In Living Color” characters included bodybuilder Vera De Milo, who portrayed Ted Turner in the sketch “Ted Turner’s Very Colorized Classics,” Charlie Magic, the murderous magician, Grandpa Jack McGee, a nonprofit volunteer organization, and the crazed arsonist Fire Marshall Bill.

He went on to become a mega-movie star, making blockbuster hits such as Liar Liar, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Truman Show, and The Mask. He also voiced Horton the Elephant in Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who and many other films.

4.) KELLY COFFEFIELD PARK
1990 – 1993
Playing hilarious characters such as Velma Mulholland, Andrea Dice Clay, Samantha Kinison and elementary school troublemaker Edna Louise, Park became a major force in both television and film, appearing in the Fox ensemble drama “413 Hope St.” and in such feature films as “Field of Dreams,” “Quiz Show,” “Jerry Maguire,” “Scary Movie,” “Undercover Brother” and “Bride Wars,” to name a few.

Park appeared alongside her former “In Living Color” costars in the television series “My Wife and Kids” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.”

5.) MARLON WAYANS
1992 – 1993
Wayans began his career as a main cast member in season 4 of the sketch comedy show with his siblings Keenen, Kim and Shawn. His characters varied, with occasional appearances including hilarious parodies of neighborhood boys and a crook who is always looking for handouts. He left the show midway through the season after his brother Keenen resigned as the show’s producer. Marlon went on to become a well-known stand-up comedian and movie star. He and Shawn did several television and film projects such as “The Wayans Brothers”, “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood”, “Scary Movie” and “White Chicks”

6.) SHAWN WAYANS
1990 – 1993
Wayans was known as DJ SW1 and played mostly music for the Fly Girls to dance to throughout the show. However, he and his brother Marlon appeared as neighborhood boys who were always trying to follow the game and cause trouble. He left the show around the same time as Marlon. Together they starred in their own TV sitcom, “The Wayans Brothers,” “Hangin With Mr. Cooper,” and in several blockbuster films such as “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood,” “Scary Movie,” and “White Chicks.”

7.) TOMMY DAVIDSON
1990 – 1994
Davidson is a stand-up comedian, impersonator and movie star. During his time on the show, he brought several characters to life, such as Howard Tibbs III (Funky Finger Productions), one of Jheri’s children (one recording) and the Crazy Chef. His celebrity impersonations include Sugar Ray Leonard, MC Hammer and Michael Jackson.

8.) DAVID ALAN GRIER
1990 – 1994
Grier’s characters included hyperactive children, the flamboyant and effeminate Antoine Merriweather, blues musician Calhoun Tubbs, Shakey Jake, machine shop teacher Al MacAfee, the elderly Mr. Brooks, celebrity impersonations of Joe Jackson and Ike Turner, and Tiny, the prison inmate.

9.) JENNIFER LOPEZ
1991–1993
Before she became the superstar actress and singer we know and love, the multi-talented Lopez was a fly girl on the show from 1991 to 1993.

10.) KIM WAYANS
1990 – 1993
Wayans impersonated celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Whitney Houston, Vanessa Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Grace Jones. Her roles included Lt. Uhura, Mama, Mathilda Hedley, Miss Illinois – Zahara Nariba Patterson’s wife and Benita Butrell. She left the show with her brothers Keenen and Damon in 1993 after a dispute with Fox over reruns and syndication.

11) DAMON WAYANS
1990 – 1992
Wayans famously played the angry Homey D. Clown, Godfrey Hedley, Blaine Edwards, Tom Brothers, Fab ‘Milli Vanilli’ Morvan, Hoke Colburn, and impersonated celebrities such as Oswald Bates and Minister Louis Farrakhan. He pursued a film career and left the show in 1992.
Waynes is a legendary stand-up comedian and party movie star. Like his brothers, Damon became a mega superstar, having great success on television and in movies. Damon has had several television shows such as “My Wife and Kids,” “Damon,” and “Lethal Weapon.” Major blockbuster movies such as “Mo Money,” “Major Payne,” “Last Boy Scout,” “Bulletproof,” “Hollywood Shuffle,” and countless others.