Wayne Brady facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wayne Brady
Brady in 2015
Born	Wayne Alphonso Brady (1972-06-02) June 2, 1972 (age 53) Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Television host comedian actor singer
Years active	1990–present
Television	Let's Make a Deal The Wayne Brady Show Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Spouse(s)	Diana Lasso ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 1995)​ Mandie Taketa ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2007)​
Children	2

Wayne Alphonso Brady (born June 2, 1972) is a talented American comedian, actor, and singer. He is well-known for his amazing improvisational skills on the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? He also hosted The Wayne Brady Show and Don't Forget the Lyrics! Since 2009, he has been the host of the popular game show Let's Make a Deal.

Wayne Brady is also a star in musical theater. He played Lola in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots. He also took on the role of Aaron Burr in the Chicago production of Hamilton.

Brady has won many awards for his work, including five Emmy Awards. He won his first Emmy for Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 2003. He later won two more for The Wayne Brady Show and two for Let's Make a Deal. He has also been nominated for two Grammy Awards for his music.

Early Life and Growing Up

Wayne Brady was born in Columbus, Georgia. His parents were from the West Indies. When he was very young, he moved to Orlando, Florida, to live with his grandmother and aunt. He often calls his grandmother, Valerie Petersen, his "mom" because she raised him.

As a child, Wayne had a stutter, which is a speech challenge. This sometimes led to other children teasing him, which made him feel worried.

When he was 16, Brady started performing in local theater. He also joined an improv group called SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando. This is where he began to develop his quick thinking and comedy skills. He graduated from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando in 1989. In 1990, he went to the University of Miami. He moved to Los Angeles in 1996 to continue his acting career.

Wayne Brady's Career Highlights

Wayne Brady first appeared on national TV in a comedy show called Kwik Witz from 1996 to 1999. He then became a regular on the British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1998. After that, he joined the American version of the show, hosted by Drew Carey. In 2003, Brady won an Emmy Award for his amazing performances on Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

In 2001, he got his own variety show on ABC, also called The Wayne Brady Show. In 2002, it became a daytime talk show. This show ran for two seasons and won four Daytime Emmy Awards. Wayne Brady himself won two of these for being an outstanding talk show host. He also made guest appearances on The Drew Carey Show, playing improv games with the cast.

In 2004, Brady performed on Broadway in the musical Chicago, playing the lawyer Billy Flynn. He also appeared in the comedy show Reno 911! and the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1. He even sang the theme song for Disney's animated series The Weekenders. In 2006, he hosted That's What I'm Talking About on TV Land, a show about African-Americans in entertainment.

Brady appeared as James Stinson, the brother of Barney Stinson, on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. He also lent his voice to the animated show Robot Chicken. From 2007 to 2009, he hosted the singing game show Don't Forget the Lyrics! on Fox.

In 2008, Wayne Brady released his first music album. His version of the song "A Change is Gonna Come" earned him a Grammy Award nomination. In October 2009, he started hosting the new version of the game show Let's Make a Deal on CBS. This show is still very popular today.

Brady continued to appear on TV shows like Fast and Loose and Dancing with the Stars. He also returned to Whose Line Is It Anyway? for its revival on The CW in 2013. From 2015 to 2016, he played Lola in Kinky Boots on Broadway. In 2017, he took on the role of Aaron Burr in the Chicago production of Hamilton.

In 2018, Brady won his first Daytime Emmy Award for Let's Make A Deal. In 2019, he won The Masked Singer as "Fox," showing off his singing talent. He also joined the cast of Black Lightning in 2020. In 2022, he competed on Dancing with the Stars and finished in 3rd place.

Personal Life

Brady and Taketa in 2015

Wayne Brady has been married twice. He married Diana Lasso in 1993, and they later divorced. In 1999, he married dancer Mandie Taketa. They have a daughter named Maile Masako Brady, born in 2003. Although they separated in 2006 and divorced in 2007, they remain good friends and work together to raise their daughter. Wayne Brady has two children.

Since 2007, Brady has been a supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. He is part of their celebrity board, helping children and families.

In 2014, on his 42nd birthday, Wayne Brady went through a difficult time with his mental health. He has openly shared that he has experienced depression. He has credited Mandie Taketa for helping him during this period.

In August 2023, Wayne Brady shared that he is pansexual. This means he is attracted to people regardless of their gender.

Film and TV Work

Theater Performances

Music Albums and Songs

Albums

Singles

• 2000
  • "The Weekenders" Theme Song
• 2004
  • "Unsung Heroes"
  • "Between" – Wayne Brady with The Sesame Street Muppets
• 2005
  • "Beautiful" – Wayne Brady, accompanied on piano by songwriter Jim Brickman
  • "Don't Stop" – Jamie Jones featuring Wayne Brady and William Carthright
• 2008
  • "Ordinary"
• 2009
  • "F.W.B."
• 2013
  • "Whistle While I Work it" – Chester See featuring Tobuscus with Wayne Brady
• 2019
  • "Flirtin' With Forever"

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Wayne Brady para niños