American actor Marlon Wayans epitomizes natural humour and versatility as a renowned, comedian, screen writer, producer and director, with an impressive archive of appearances in leading US movies and TV sitcoms dating back to the mid 80’s. Wayans is a classic example of a long running dedicated film star, with a genuine passion and drive for his profession within Black Hollywood.
Born in New York City, Marlon Wayans studied at the prestigious Fiorello H. Laguardia School of Music Arts and Performing Arts, and is one of nine siblings, notably brother to Nadia and Kim Wayans, Shawn, Keen Ivory, Damon, and Dwayne Wayans, who are also successful actors and actresses, and have appeared alongside him in their sitcom The Wayans Bros on WB in 1995 which raked in hugely popular ratings.
Marlon Wayans is a huge role model, and mentor to many young black actors of today, and we best remember him in the popular movie Above The Rim alongside one of the greatest rappers of all time Tupac Shakur aka 2Pac. Marlon also starred in movie Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood, where he played the hilarious Westcoast gangster Loc Dog, in the spin-off to the 1993 movie Menace II Society, by Tyger Williams. He also appeared in ‘Scary Movie 1 and, 2, which he produced, White Chicks, Little Man, Norbit [starring Eddie Murphy] and many others, the filmography list is remarkably extensive. Most recently Marlon stars in the much anticipated sequel to the 2010 movie Haunted Housem – Haunted House 2.
In this hilariously witty, comedy and simulated horror, Marlon plays Malcolm Johnson once again, who tries to put the death of his ex-girlfriend behind him, in order to move on with his life. He soon meets Megan, played by the gorgeous Jamie Pressly, falls in love and they move into their dream house together. When all couldn’t be any better, and we think the fairytale ending is near, oh never that! Queue the haunted house paranormal activity, and strange goings on.
Flavourmag caught up with Marlon ahead of his Haunted House 2 UK release.
First of all, I have to start by saying I absolutely love Loc Dog in Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood…
Aw Thank you, at some point in your life you probably smoked a lot of weed right?! Actually, no not at all, never.
Really? [Sounds shocked] I just figured, if you love Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood you must have! (Laughs)
I feel like that was one of your most memorable and seriously funny roles has to be Loc Dog in Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood. The hairstyle, facial expressions and antics were too funny!
Yeah, it took me about 5 years to untwist my face!
When you were a teenager what did you want to become?
An actor, a producer, a director, I didn’t want to be anything else…
What was your childhood like?
I grew up in a large family 9 brothers and sisters, it was crowded in our 4 bedroom apartment, 5 of us in each room plus my Mom and Dad who had separate bedrooms, I think that was their form of birth control! [Laughs] We were all really close, loud, crazy house!
Can you name something you can’t go a day without whether it’s music related, food.. etc?
Spearmint orbit gum and Yogi Green tea.
What is your lifestyle like, as you mentioned the green tea are you health conscious and do you workout a lot?
I go the gym like 6 days a week, I’m very health conscious. I do like to drink a little bit, that’s why I workout in the morning to sweat out whatever toxins I’ve put in, but for the most part I take about 45 vitamins a day, I drink green tea, I drink lots of water, I work out. I eat pretty clean this morning I had egg whites, one piece of turkey bacon and asparagus for breakfast, I’m pretty healthy.
What you put in, is what you get out – right?
Exactly. I work so hard, that I’ve been conditioning my body just for work, everything I do is for work, so I want to make sure that I’m being responsible and respectful to my body, so I can work that much harder and do that much better.
That’s really inspiring.
It’s probably all a lie! [Laughs]
Which artist are you currently listening to, what is on your iPod at the moment?
I keep Jay-Z in there, I’ve got a pair of Beats by Dre, and I create playlists. I like Drake, Lil Wayne, Kanye. I’m a big Hip Hop head. When I listen to R&B, I like Usher, The Weekend, Nicki Minaj, I like her music but not as much as I like her butt! I do like her music but her butt is much better! [Chuckles]
What was the last movie you watched?
The last movie I saw? Haunted House 2! [Laughs] I’ve been so busy! If you liked the first one your gonna love the second one. This one is twice as crazy.
Do you have a favourite role you’ve played in the movies you’ve appeared in?
I’ll always love Loc Dog, that’s my guy because he can just say and do anything. I love characters. I like Malcolm in Haunted House, but he’s more of a straight man. I love Mr Moody in Dance Flick, characters to me, are my favourite thing to do. It’s escapism, I get to do all the naughty stuff that’s I can think of in my head, and because it’s still from the characters point of view then that justifies it! It’s a lot of fun. And you can forgive the character for all the crazy stuff they do!
We must say you have a lot of versatility as an actor, and do this so effortlessly which is really commendable.
I learnt a lot of acting traits at Performing Arts School and have to give credit to my teacher who grinded me in the beginning, to become better.
They will, no doubt be watching your movies, saying, ‘I thought him everything he knows!’
Some of them watch my movies like, [Puts on funny foreign acting teacher accent] ‘Omg that is NOT theatrical acting, that is not drama, what is this foolishness that he is doing?!!!’
If you could have a superpower what would it be?
Probably to live forever, to be immortal. And the people I care to be immortal will be immortal with me…
So then, if you had that superpower and could bring anyone back to life who would it be?
Oh there’d be a bunch of people I’d bring back. I’d bring back Tupac and Biggie and be like ‘Stop this sh*t now..’ Martin Luther King, I’d be like ‘Hey. Look what you did! I want you to see this..! You didn’t die for nothing!’ I’d bring Malcolm X back. Let me see who else? I gotta bring some white people back. Elvis! A lot of the great musicians. Michael Jackson! But I would tell him ‘I will bring you back but you gotta perform for me at least once a day. You have to perform Billie Jean at least once a day!’
Do you have a film you love so much, that it basically brings out every emotion out every time you watch it?
The Bridges of Madison County. It stars Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, it makes you think about life, the time that you spend here, what is love, lust, it makes you think about choices the ramifications of your actions and how does it affect the next generation? It really speaks on so many different levels, sometimes with love there are sacrifices to make, and at the same time it’s also about freedom. It really makes you think. Go check it out it’s an awesome movie. Let me know what you think.
Check out Marlon Wayans as Malcolm Johnson, in Haunted House 2 which in in UK cinemas nationwide now.
You can also catch Marlon on a brand new comedy competition series, if you enjoy a good giggle in ‘Funniest Wins,’ on TBS.
