Knowing that a loved one in the spotlight has a health scare is one thing; hearing the numbers out loud is another. When Damon Wayans revealed his blood sugar had hit 535 mg/dL, it wasn’t just a personal wake-up call — it became a public lesson about the way Type 2 diabetes can sneak up on anyone.
Full name: Damon Kyle Wayans Sr. ·
Born: September 4, 1960 (Harlem, New York) ·
Occupation: Comedian, actor, writer, producer ·
Family: Wayans family (10 siblings, including Keenen Ivory, Marlon, Shawn) ·
Notable show: In Living Color (1990–1994) ·
Known diagnosis: Type 2 diabetes (publicly disclosed in 2015)
Quick snapshot
- Type 2 diabetes diagnosis (disclosed 2008/2015 discrepancy) (Fox News health section)
- Public warning signs and management (People magazine)
- Advocacy for health awareness (Essence)
- Four children, including Damon Wayans Jr. (TheFamousInfo)
- Marriage to Lisa Thorner (1984–2000) (TheFamousInfo)
- One of 10 siblings in the Wayans family (Fox News)
- In Living Color (1990–1994) (Fox News)
- Major films: Major Payne, The Last Boy Scout (Fox News)
- Net worth estimated at $35 million (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Richest Wayans brother: Keenen Ivory Wayans ($65M) (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Damon Wayans ranked among top 3 wealthiest (Biznas)
- Income from comedy, acting, producing (Celebrity Net Worth)
The pattern behind Damon Wayans’ public life: career longevity, family structure, and a health wake-up call that changed his trajectory.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Born | September 4, 1960, Harlem, New York, USA (Fox News) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Profession | Comedian, actor, writer, producer |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Known for | In Living Color, Major Payne, My Wife and Kids |
| Children | 4 (including Damon Wayans Jr.) (TheFamousInfo) |
| Net worth (estimated 2025) | $35 million (Celebrity Net Worth) |
What is Damon Wayans’ diagnosis?
Type 2 diabetes: Warning signs and public disclosure
- Damon Wayans disclosed Type 2 diabetes diagnosis around 2015, though People magazine reported he was diagnosed as early as 2008 after nearly falling into a diabetic coma.
- Black Enterprise also places the diagnosis in 2008, citing a blood sugar reading of 535 mg/dL.
- Essence quoted Wayans in 2025 saying he had been diagnosed “about 10 years ago,” pointing to a 2015 date — creating a public-source discrepancy.
Wayans has said the condition runs in his family and that the 535 mg/dL reading scared him into making serious lifestyle changes (Fox News health section).
The implication: the diagnosis year is contested between 2008 and 2015, but the life-threatening blood sugar reading is consistently reported across sources.
How Damon Wayans managed his diagnosis
- He changed his diet and exercise habits after diagnosis (Kansas City Star).
- Wayans credits his sister’s push for getting him into care after he delayed treatment (Kansas City Star).
- People magazine quoted him at age 65 in 2026, indicating a birth year of 1960 or 1961 (People).
Whatever the exact year, the 535 mg/dL reading is consistent, and Wayans used his platform to speak openly about it.
How many children does Damon Wayans have?
Damon Wayans’ children and their mothers
- Damon Wayans has four children: Damon Wayans Jr., Michael Wayans, Cara Mia Wayans, and Kyla Wayans (TheFamousInfo).
- Two children are with ex-wife Lisa Thorner (Damon Wayans Jr. and Michael Wayans); the other two are from other relationships.
- A YouTube biography claims Damon Wayans Jr. was born in November 1982 and Michael Wayans in 1985, though the source reliability is low.
Public records about the birth years of his children are scattered, and the exact number of mothers (two or three) is contested among fan sources.
Damon Wayans Jr. and his career
- Damon Wayans Jr. is an actor and comedian known for New Girl and Happy Endings.
- He has four children with Samara Saraiva, according to a YouTube summary.
The catch: the family tree is well-documented at the top level but the details around birth years and total mothers remain unverified.
Why did Damon Wayans’ wife leave him?
Marriage to Lisa Thorner: timeline and separation
- Damon Wayans married Lisa Thorner in 1984 (TheFamousInfo).
- They separated in 2000 after 16 years of marriage.
- Wayans has cited growing apart and career pressures as reasons for the split in interviews.
The separation occurred during the height of his post-In Living Color fame, when he was balancing film roles (Major Payne, The Last Boy Scout) and a growing family.
Who is the richest Wayans brother?
Net worth comparison of Wayans siblings
Five brothers, one clear leader: Keenen Ivory Wayans tops the wealth rankings, but the gap between the siblings is narrower than casual fans assume.
| Brother | Estimated Net Worth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Keenen Ivory Wayans | $65 million |
