In Living Color Cast: Then Vs Now
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VOICE OVER: Rudolph Strong
WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
This show launched many careers! For this video, we'll be looking at what a few of our favorite cast members from the sketch show have been doing since the program ended. Our countdown includes cast members Damon Wayans, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we’ll be looking at the cast of “In Living Color:” Then Versus Now. For this video, we’ll be looking at what a few of our favorite cast members from the sketch show have been doing since the program ended. Who was your favorite performer from “In Living Color?” Let us know in the comments!
It all had to start somewhere, and for “In Living Color,” that somewhere was the brain and imagination of Keenen Ivory Wayans. Wayans was a fixture on the show during its early years, appearing in sketches while also covering writing and directing duties. Wayans’ homelife as one of ten children perhaps also led to the showrunner making “In Living Color” something of a family business. Today, Keenen Ivory Wayans has slowed down, but he continues to be creative, with his writing appearing for the T.V. series “The Last O.G.” in 2020. The man’s creative voice has always managed to be both funny and insightful no matter what his role on a production is.
Believe it or not, it wasn’t necessarily a foregone conclusion that this cast member from “In Living Color” was going to break out as a star. After all, Carrey had already built up quality but comparatively low profile appearances in films like “The Dead Pool” and “Earth Girls Are Easy”. But his incredible work on “In Living Color” opened the door to gigantic opportunities. The same year that show ended, Carrey struck comedy gold three times in 1994, with “Dumb and Dumber”, “Ace Ventura”, and “The Mask”. He then went on to show his talent for more dramatic fare like “Man on the Moon” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” From there, Carrey was free to take on countless other A-list projects.
Damon Wayans wasn’t a stranger to showbiz prior to breaking out on “In Living Color.” The comedian enjoyed an infamously short tenure as a member of the “Saturday Night Live” cast. After his stints on both sketch shows had ended, Damon Wayans found steady work in both television and movies. While he entertained on the big screen with works like “Major Payne”, he commanded the small screen with his “My Wife and Kids” sitcom. Wayans also starred in the tv adaptation of “Lethal Weapon.” After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he slowed down on making projects to spend more time with family. Wayans still recently appeared with the legendary Pam Grier in the 2023 film, “Cinnamon.”
Before starring on “In Living Color”, David Alan Grier was pretty established in the theater world. He definitely put those talents on display throughout many of his hilarious skits. Grier also had a talent for making memorable appearances in various works. After the show ended, he was able to cameo in popular staples like “Martin”. Grier has acted in films like “Jumanji”, “They Cloned Tyrone” and so many more. All the while, he continued to work steadily in theater too. Grier is set to grace the big screen yet again in 2023 with a role in “The Color Purple”. It seems like the actor has only become more in demand as the years have gone on.
He was born Anthony Reed in 1963. After being abandoned at only eighteen months old, he became a star on one of the finest sketch comedy shows on television. Tommy Davidson’s early amateur career led to gigs opening up for established acts like Robert Townsend. ”His success on “In Living Color” served as a jumping off point for Davidson to make the transition to movies. “CB4”,“Booty Call” and “Black Dynamite” are just a sample of his appearances. Tommy Davidson has written a memoir about his days in comedy and the entertainment industry entitled: “Living in Color: What’s Funny About Me.” He also continues to act for both television and film, including work on both the original and revival versions of “The Proud Family.”
We’ve already mentioned how “In Living Color” was a family business. Keenen Ivory Wayans’ sister Kim Wayans starred as several breakout, fan favorite characters on the show. Who could forget her role as town gossip Benita Burtrell? Kim Wayans continued to make appearances in film and television after “In Living Color.” She contributed voice acting to the Damon Wayans animated series “Waynehead,” and helped with writing and directing for “My Wife and Kids.” Additionally, the comedian showed more of her range on 2011 drama “Pariah.” Wayans continued expanding beyond comedy with one-offs on T.V. shows like “Criminal Minds”. She continues down this path today, balancing comedy and drama with ease.
It may surprise people to know that this Wayans brother started working on “In Living Color” as DJ SW-1 before he eventually joined up as a member of the cast. From there, the rest was comedy history. The actor starred on“The Wayans Brothers'' sitcom for four years on The WB. The brothers followed in Kennen Ivory Wayans’ creative footsteps by helping to co-write the satirical comedy “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.” Shawn Wayans also teamed up with his brother on films like “Scary Movie” and “White Chicks.” While he hasn’t been seen in front of cameras much in the last decade, the actor seems to be living a happy life with his wife and kids.
While there were a lot of memorable sketches on “In Living Color” , few of them resonated with the same sort of pathos as “Black World.” Conceived by T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, the sketch referenced some of the daily struggles faced by the black community. Her ability to navigate comedy and drama definitely came in handy after “In Living Color” ended. The writer and performer enjoyed a recurring role on both “That’s So Raven” and its subsequent sequel, “Raven’s Home.” Keymàh also found time to write a stage show, host her own variety program, and basically become a creative powerhouse with a unique and dynamic presence.
Kim Coles was only a member of the “In Living Color” cast for the show’s first season, but her career didn’t end there by a long shot. Coles has been a television mainstay, appearing on shows like “Frasier. She’s probably best known for appearing on the “Cosby Show” spin-off “Living Single.” It's the small screen that’s probably given Coles the most love over the years. She’s worked as a game show host, voice-over actor, and reality show contestant. Basically a jill-of-all-trades when it comes to reliable television work. Coles has also tried her hand at stand-up comedy, and even soap opera acting. She recently appeared as “Nurse Whitley King” on the long-running soap opera “Days Of Our Lives.”
Although Alexandra Wentworth didn’t join the cast of “In Living Color” until the show’s fourth season, she left a very memorable impression. Afterwards, Wentworth hosted talk shows and did memorable guest spots on sitcoms before landing her own, “Head Case,” in 2007. Wentworth did appear in the occasional movie, such as “Jerry Maguire” in 1996. She later married noted political pundit, news anchor and advisor George Stephanopoulos in 2001. She continues to work as a writer, actor and comedian as of 2023. At the same time, Wentworth raises two children with Stephanopoulos. That personal experience likely made her a great host for the reality show “The Parent Test”.
Rosie Perez was another “In Living Color” alum who had a tumultuous home life. After being in and out of foster care, she got a job dancing on the classic musical series “Soul Train”. It was all upwards for Perez from there. She went on to choreograph the Fly Girls and produce on “In Living Color”. On the acting side of things, Perez appeared in hits like White Men Can’t Jump”. Outside of her professional career, she became an outspoken activist for A.I.D.S. research. Perez has also written an autobiography that discussed the challenges she faced. In recent years, she’s nabbed recurring roles in multiple tv shows and appeared in DC’S “Birds of Prey”.
Jamie Foxx is a triple threat that graduated from funny business to become a success story. The actor was always fantastic on “In Living Color”. When that show wrapped up, he starred on “The Jamie Foxx Show”. He also made his dramatic chops evident in films like “Collateral” and the Ray Charles biopic “Ray.” Meanwhile, his musical collaborations with Twista, Kanye West, as well as his solo work earned him Billboard chart success. Foxx’s fans came out in droves to support him when the performer was hospitalized in 2023. In his own words, he went through “hell and back” with his health issues. Seeing Fox post again was great news for the many who respect his legacy as a musician, actor, and of course, comedian.
Keenen Ivory Wayans
It all had to start somewhere, and for “In Living Color,” that somewhere was the brain and imagination of Keenen Ivory Wayans. Wayans was a fixture on the show during its early years, appearing in sketches while also covering writing and directing duties. Wayans’ homelife as one of ten children perhaps also led to the showrunner making “In Living Color” something of a family business. Today, Keenen Ivory Wayans has slowed down, but he continues to be creative, with his writing appearing for the T.V. series “The Last O.G.” in 2020. The man’s creative voice has always managed to be both funny and insightful no matter what his role on a production is.
Jim Carrey
Believe it or not, it wasn’t necessarily a foregone conclusion that this cast member from “In Living Color” was going to break out as a star. After all, Carrey had already built up quality but comparatively low profile appearances in films like “The Dead Pool” and “Earth Girls Are Easy”. But his incredible work on “In Living Color” opened the door to gigantic opportunities. The same year that show ended, Carrey struck comedy gold three times in 1994, with “Dumb and Dumber”, “Ace Ventura”, and “The Mask”. He then went on to show his talent for more dramatic fare like “Man on the Moon” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” From there, Carrey was free to take on countless other A-list projects.
Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans wasn’t a stranger to showbiz prior to breaking out on “In Living Color.” The comedian enjoyed an infamously short tenure as a member of the “Saturday Night Live” cast. After his stints on both sketch shows had ended, Damon Wayans found steady work in both television and movies. While he entertained on the big screen with works like “Major Payne”, he commanded the small screen with his “My Wife and Kids” sitcom. Wayans also starred in the tv adaptation of “Lethal Weapon.” After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he slowed down on making projects to spend more time with family. Wayans still recently appeared with the legendary Pam Grier in the 2023 film, “Cinnamon.”
David Alan Grier
Before starring on “In Living Color”, David Alan Grier was pretty established in the theater world. He definitely put those talents on display throughout many of his hilarious skits. Grier also had a talent for making memorable appearances in various works. After the show ended, he was able to cameo in popular staples like “Martin”. Grier has acted in films like “Jumanji”, “They Cloned Tyrone” and so many more. All the while, he continued to work steadily in theater too. Grier is set to grace the big screen yet again in 2023 with a role in “The Color Purple”. It seems like the actor has only become more in demand as the years have gone on.
Tommy Davidson
He was born Anthony Reed in 1963. After being abandoned at only eighteen months old, he became a star on one of the finest sketch comedy shows on television. Tommy Davidson’s early amateur career led to gigs opening up for established acts like Robert Townsend. ”His success on “In Living Color” served as a jumping off point for Davidson to make the transition to movies. “CB4”,“Booty Call” and “Black Dynamite” are just a sample of his appearances. Tommy Davidson has written a memoir about his days in comedy and the entertainment industry entitled: “Living in Color: What’s Funny About Me.” He also continues to act for both television and film, including work on both the original and revival versions of “The Proud Family.”
Kelly Coffield Park
Kelly Coffield Park was an absolute stand-out in the cast. She established herself as a performer with tons of talents and lots of range. Park’s comedic chops would assist her during appearances on sitcoms like “Seinfeld”. Additionally, she often collaborated with other “In Living Color” alumni on their projects. She also had a recurring role for the late-90s Fox drama, “413 Hope St.” Coffield would marry her “In Living Color” co-star Steve Park in 1999, and the pair would go on to raise two children. Along the way, she appeared on television and in films throughout the 2010s.Kim Wayans
We’ve already mentioned how “In Living Color” was a family business. Keenen Ivory Wayans’ sister Kim Wayans starred as several breakout, fan favorite characters on the show. Who could forget her role as town gossip Benita Burtrell? Kim Wayans continued to make appearances in film and television after “In Living Color.” She contributed voice acting to the Damon Wayans animated series “Waynehead,” and helped with writing and directing for “My Wife and Kids.” Additionally, the comedian showed more of her range on 2011 drama “Pariah.” Wayans continued expanding beyond comedy with one-offs on T.V. shows like “Criminal Minds”. She continues down this path today, balancing comedy and drama with ease.
Shawn Wayans
It may surprise people to know that this Wayans brother started working on “In Living Color” as DJ SW-1 before he eventually joined up as a member of the cast. From there, the rest was comedy history. The actor starred on“The Wayans Brothers'' sitcom for four years on The WB. The brothers followed in Kennen Ivory Wayans’ creative footsteps by helping to co-write the satirical comedy “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.” Shawn Wayans also teamed up with his brother on films like “Scary Movie” and “White Chicks.” While he hasn’t been seen in front of cameras much in the last decade, the actor seems to be living a happy life with his wife and kids.
T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh
While there were a lot of memorable sketches on “In Living Color” , few of them resonated with the same sort of pathos as “Black World.” Conceived by T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, the sketch referenced some of the daily struggles faced by the black community. Her ability to navigate comedy and drama definitely came in handy after “In Living Color” ended. The writer and performer enjoyed a recurring role on both “That’s So Raven” and its subsequent sequel, “Raven’s Home.” Keymàh also found time to write a stage show, host her own variety program, and basically become a creative powerhouse with a unique and dynamic presence.
Kim Coles
Kim Coles was only a member of the “In Living Color” cast for the show’s first season, but her career didn’t end there by a long shot. Coles has been a television mainstay, appearing on shows like “Frasier. She’s probably best known for appearing on the “Cosby Show” spin-off “Living Single.” It's the small screen that’s probably given Coles the most love over the years. She’s worked as a game show host, voice-over actor, and reality show contestant. Basically a jill-of-all-trades when it comes to reliable television work. Coles has also tried her hand at stand-up comedy, and even soap opera acting. She recently appeared as “Nurse Whitley King” on the long-running soap opera “Days Of Our Lives.”
Alexandra Wentworth
Although Alexandra Wentworth didn’t join the cast of “In Living Color” until the show’s fourth season, she left a very memorable impression. Afterwards, Wentworth hosted talk shows and did memorable guest spots on sitcoms before landing her own, “Head Case,” in 2007. Wentworth did appear in the occasional movie, such as “Jerry Maguire” in 1996. She later married noted political pundit, news anchor and advisor George Stephanopoulos in 2001. She continues to work as a writer, actor and comedian as of 2023. At the same time, Wentworth raises two children with Stephanopoulos. That personal experience likely made her a great host for the reality show “The Parent Test”.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez was already a hard-working and dedicated dancer prior to landing the job on “In Living Color”. However, many became familiar with her immense talent when she appeared on the show in select sketches and as a member of the “Fly Girls.” Lopez certainly continued to entertain after leaving the show. After touring as a dancer with Janet Jackson, she launched a tremendously successful music career of her own. She’s also proven to be a strong actress as well Over the years, Lopez has appeared in projects like “Selena” and “Hustlers”. She continues to balance Hollywood roles with a still fruitful music career.Rosie Perez
Rosie Perez was another “In Living Color” alum who had a tumultuous home life. After being in and out of foster care, she got a job dancing on the classic musical series “Soul Train”. It was all upwards for Perez from there. She went on to choreograph the Fly Girls and produce on “In Living Color”. On the acting side of things, Perez appeared in hits like White Men Can’t Jump”. Outside of her professional career, she became an outspoken activist for A.I.D.S. research. Perez has also written an autobiography that discussed the challenges she faced. In recent years, she’s nabbed recurring roles in multiple tv shows and appeared in DC’S “Birds of Prey”.
Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx is a triple threat that graduated from funny business to become a success story. The actor was always fantastic on “In Living Color”. When that show wrapped up, he starred on “The Jamie Foxx Show”. He also made his dramatic chops evident in films like “Collateral” and the Ray Charles biopic “Ray.” Meanwhile, his musical collaborations with Twista, Kanye West, as well as his solo work earned him Billboard chart success. Foxx’s fans came out in droves to support him when the performer was hospitalized in 2023. In his own words, he went through “hell and back” with his health issues. Seeing Fox post again was great news for the many who respect his legacy as a musician, actor, and of course, comedian.
