Wayne Brady is an award-winning American comedian, actor, singer, and television personality, probably best known for his appearance on the improvisational comedy series, Whose Line Is It Anyway? He entered the show business while he was still a teenager by performing in community theater before booking small roles in television series. Known for his exceptional comedic and dramatic talents, he hosted TV shows such as Fox’s Don’t Forget the Lyrics!, Let’s Make a Deal, and The Wayne Brady Show. Besides all this, Brady has lent his voice to several TV series and films, including The Electric Piper, The Loud House, American Dad!, The Hero of Color City, and Foodfight! His acting credits include recurring roles in Black Lightning, and Colony, and won season 2 of The Masked Singer in 2019. So, who is Wayne Brady? Here’s everything we know about the multifaceted star.
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Wayne Brady Biography
Wayne Brady was born on the 2nd of June 1972, in Columbus, Georgia, United States of America. He’s currently 52 years old.
| Birth Name | Wayne Alphonso Brady |
| Nickname | Wayne |
| Date of Birth | June 2, 1972 |
| Place of Birth | Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
| Age | 52 years old |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Profession | Actor, Singer, Tv Personality, Comedian, Producer |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Ex-Spouse | Mandie Taketa |
| Children | 1 |
Family and Education
He is the son of West Indies parents Wayne Brady and Linda Marie Newton. His mother worked at the Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas while his father was an ex-serviceman. He moved to the United States at a very young age to live with his grandmother and aunt, who lived in Orlando, Florida.
Brady studied at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, After graduating from high school in 1989, he attended the University of Miami. He developed an interest in performing arts at a young age and joined the Orlando improv troupe SAK Comedy Lab which would eventually lead to pursuing a career in the creative industry.
Wayne Brady Married Life
Wayne Brady married Diana Lasso on December 31, 1993, and divorced her on September 21, 1995. After dating dancer Mandie Taketa for a while, he married her on April 3, 1999. The couple welcomed their child, a daughter named Maile Masako Brady, on February 3, 2003. Unfortunately, this marriage also didn’t go well and they parted ways in 2006, followed by divorce in 2007.
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 11 inches Centimeters – 180 cm Meters – 1.8 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 84 kg Pounds – 185 lbs |
| Body Build | Athletic |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Sexuality | Pansexual |
| Shoe Size | Unknown |
| Distinctive Features | Shaved head Deadpan catchphrases Improvisational singing |
Professional Statistics
Television Debut
Wayne Brady landed his first television role in 1990 when he was cast in the role of John in an episode “The Sons of Icarus” of Superboy.
Film Debut
In 2004, Brady debuted with a voice role in the animated movie called Clifford’s Really Big Movie, where he voiced the character named Shackelford.
That same year, he played Mason Wyatt in Disney’s original movie, Going to the Mat.
Theatre Debut
In 2004, he played the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the Broadway Revival of Chicago, staged at Ambassador Theatre.
Album Debut
Wayne Brady released his debut studio album entitled “A Long Time Coming” on September 16, 2008, which peaked at #157 on the US Billboard 200. It featured some hit songs, including “Ordinary”, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Make Heaven Well”, and “A Change is Gonna Come”.
Significant Works
In 1998, Wayne Brady started performing in the British version of the comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and later that year, he became a regular on the American version of the same show. He won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for his exceptional work on the show in 2003.
Not only did he gain immense popularity with the show, but also the success of the show eventually boosted his media career. In 2001, he had his own show, The Wayne Brady Show, and went on to host shows like Don’t Forget the Lyrics!, Let’s Make a Deal and guested on TV shows such as Everybody Hates Chris, Shorty McShorts’ Shorts, Fast and Loose, Psych, The Bold and The Beautiful, Black Lightning and Wayne Brady’s Comedy IQ.
Wayne Brady Net Worth
Thanks to Wayne’s successful career, he has earned an impressive amount of $12 million as net worth, as of 2024. Having begun his career at a young age, it’s quite amusing for Wayne to amass such a huge wealth in his own right.
Social Media Presence
Through all his accomplishments, Wayne Brady has managed to build a considerable fan following. He has got over 370 thousand people following him on Twitter, and over 300 thousand people following him on Facebook. He can be found on Instagram @mrbradybaby, where he has over 500 thousand followers.
Wayne Brady Facts
Wayne struggled with stuttering as a child and suffered from clinical depression for a major part of his life.
His early works include playing Tigger at Walt Disney World.
He got his start in show business early in his career, thanks to his mind-blowing improvisation skills that he had showcased in numerous TV shows.
Wayne was named Sak Theatre’s 1992 Rookie of the Year for TheatreSports/Improv.
In 2002, Wayne hosted Miss America, becoming the first African-American host in the pageant show history.
He was the face of Avaya, a telecommunications company in 2004.
Wayne has won four Daytime Emmy Awards, the first two awards for The Wayne Brady Show in 2003 and 2004, respectively, the third award for the song “30,000 Reasons to Love Me” in 2014 and the fourth award for his work on the game show Let’s Make a Deal.
He is a dog lover.
In 2022, Brady was partnered with Witney Carson and participated in season 31 of Dancing with the Stars, where he finished in 3rd place.
In August 2023, he revealed that he is pansexual.