Wayne Brady is an American actor and comedian, known for his television roles on "The Wayne Brady Show" and as a cast member on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" His stand-up comedy routines, which feature self-deprecating humor and impersonations of celebrities, have won him three consecutive Emmy Awards and two NAACP Image Awards. He earned his second Emmy nomination in 2006 for his role in the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother." Brady was born in Akron, Ohio. He left home at 16 to pursue a career in comedy. He was placed in an acting class by his mother, who believed the class would help him overcome his shyness
The course not only helped him overcome his shyness, but also gave him the confidence he needed to pursue a career in comedy. Brady moved to New York City in 1996 to begin his stand-up career. His act became more focused after he performed at the Comedy Cellar off-Broadway. He credits Jerry Seinfeld with inspiring him to become more creative in his act.
Seinfeld opened up opportunities for Brady when he took Brady's friend Lisa Kudrow under his wing in order to audition her for the role of Elaine Benes in The Seinfeld TV series. After playing Jerry in Jerry Seinfeld's webcast The Seinfeld Chronicles, Brady got his first role on television when he was cast as Carter Baizen on "The Wayne Brady Show." Despite the show's short run (it only lasted one season), Brady gained popularity during its run when he appeared on numerous talk shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman. Brady's popularity continued through success on the small screen. He appeared alongside Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in Barrymore's film "Never Been Kissed".
This role resulted in an MTV Movie Awards nomination for Best Comedic Performance by a Male Actor in 2000. In 2001, he appeared alongside Sandra Bullock and Samuel L. Jackson in "Miss Congeniality", which also resulted into another MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Comedic Performance by a Male Actor that same year.
In 2002, he played himself alongside Will Smith on ABC's hit sitcom "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?". That same year, he starred alongside Betty White on NBC's short-lived sitcom "Sugar & Spice". He also starred opposite Robin Williams on FOX's short-lived sitcom "The John Larroquette
Theatre sports is the best improv training period.Wayne Brady
My mom didn't let me play video games growing up, so now I do. Gaming gives me a chance to just let go, blow somebody up and fight somebody from another dimension. It's all escapism.Wayne Brady
