Dan Harmon
$20 Million
Damon Wayans’s net worth is estimated at $35 million. Damon Kyle Wayans Sr. is a stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and writer who has been a central figure in American comedy for over four decades. He rose to fame as a cast member on In Living Color (1990–1992), starred in his own hit sitcom My Wife and Kids (2001–2005), and earned critical acclaim for his NAACP Image Award-winning performance in CBS’s Poppa’s House in 2025.
Updated March 2026: According to Variety, Damon Wayans starred in Poppa’s House (2024–2025) alongside his son Damon Wayans Jr. before the CBS sitcom was canceled in April 2025. At the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, he won Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for the role, and the Wayans family was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Damon Kyle Wayans was born on September 4, 1960, in New York City, New York. He is the fourth of ten children in the Wayans family, which would go on to become one of the most prolific entertainment dynasties in American comedy. He grew up in the Fulton Houses, a New York City Housing Authority development in Chelsea, Manhattan. A club foot diagnosed in childhood — later corrected through surgery — contributed to the self-deprecating humor that would define his early stand-up style. He began performing stand-up in New York comedy clubs in the late 1970s, working his way to national television exposure through Club Med and his first appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1984, from which he was fired after one episode for going off-script and performing a gay character against producer wishes.
Damon Wayans’s career gained real momentum when his older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans created In Living Color for Fox in 1990. Damon was a cast member and writer through 1992, earning Emmy nominations for his writing and performing work on sketches that became cultural touchstones, including his “Homey D. Clown” and “Handiman” characters.
After In Living Color, Wayans starred in feature films including Mo’ Money (1992), which he wrote and produced, Bulletproof (1996), and Major Payne (1995). He then launched My Wife and Kids in 2001 on ABC — a family sitcom he co-created, executive produced, and starred in as Michael Kyle. The show ran for five seasons, won a People’s Choice Award in 2002, and remains one of the most successful Black family sitcoms in American television history.
Wayans returned to television with Lethal Weapon (2016–2019) on Fox, playing LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh opposite Clayne Crawford in the TV adaptation of the film franchise. He then starred in Poppa’s House (2024–2025) on CBS alongside his son Damon Wayans Jr., winning the 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance, as confirmed by BET.
Damon Wayans was married to Lisa Thorner from 1984 to 2000. Together they have four children: Damon Wayans Jr., Michael Wayans, Cara Mia Wayans, and Kyla Wayans. Damon Wayans Jr. has followed his father into acting, with notable roles in Happy Endings, New Girl, and Lethal Weapon, as well as co-starring with his father in Poppa’s House. Wayans lives in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. The broader Wayans family — including Keenen Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Kim Wayans — collectively represents one of the most successful entertainment families in American comedy history. Nadia Wayans, another family member, also has a public profile.
Damon Wayans’s net worth is estimated at $35 million. His wealth reflects four decades of income from acting, writing, and producing across television, film, and stand-up comedy, including starring roles in In Living Color, My Wife and Kids, Lethal Weapon, and Poppa’s House, as well as syndication royalties from My Wife and Kids.
Damon Wayans was born on September 4, 1960, making him 65 years old as of 2026. He was born in New York City and grew up in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. He is the fourth of ten children in the Wayans family, one of the most successful entertainment dynasties in American comedy.
Damon Wayans stands 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall. His commanding physical presence contributed to his ability to transition from comedy to action-oriented roles in films like The Last Boy Scout and the television series Lethal Weapon, where his stature helped sell the role of a hardened LAPD detective.
Damon Wayans was married to Lisa Thorner from 1984 until their divorce in 2000. Together they have four children: Damon Wayans Jr., Michael Wayans, Cara Mia Wayans, and Kyla Wayans. Lisa Thorner has maintained a private lifestyle since their divorce, while their son Damon Jr. has built his own successful acting career.
Damon Wayans has four children with his ex-wife Lisa Thorner: Damon Wayans Jr., Michael Wayans, Cara Mia Wayans, and Kyla Wayans. His son Damon Wayans Jr. is an actor who co-starred with his father in the CBS sitcom Poppa’s House (2024–2025). Michael Wayans has also worked in the entertainment industry as a director and writer.
Damon Wayans lives in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California. He purchased his current home in the neighborhood in 2016 for $5.35 million; the property is currently estimated to be worth approximately $7–8 million. Hancock Park is a historic Los Angeles neighborhood that has long been home to entertainment industry professionals.