Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans is back on the big screen in a dramatic role in "Respect" and on the small screen in his HBO MAX standup special, "Marlon Wayans: You Know What it Is."
Five things to know:
1. Wayans plays Aretha Franklin's ex-husband and manager, Ted White, in the biopic "Respect." He opened up about the steps he took to tackle the role, saying, "I changed my cologne, the way I walked, the way I grabbed things, my hands. I literally tried to make it a point—the way I sat, my posture—I was making it a point to become the character. Not just to portray a character or put him on, but to actually be him to where I didn't have to do much but lock-in, and then it started just clicking."
2. He is the youngest of 10 children in a celebrated family of comedians. His famous funny siblings include Keenan Ivory, Damon, Kim and Shawn.
3. The busy actor is working nonstop and has several projects in the works. "I'm about to film a movie called, 'Boo,' and that's for Netflix," Wayans said. "I have another movie, a romantic buddy-action movie that I wrote, that I'm doing after that."
4. Wayans graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in New York and attended Howard University. He made his film debut in the 1988 comedy "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," written and directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans.
5. Who would he like to play him in a biopic? He jokingly revealed, "Actually, my son, my son can play me. He's 19. He knows my jokes."