Wayne Brady
Comedian, Host, Let's Make a Deal
Of course you know who Wayne Brady is. Whether you watched him on the improv show Whose Line is It Anyway? or caught him as the host of Don't Forget the Lyrics, Brady is one of the most versatile performers in show business today. He defines the term "multi-talented," entertaining audiences with his acting, improv, singing, and dancing on television, film, and the stage.
Multiple Emmy award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated Wayne Brady has made his mark on stage and screen as an actor, singer, dancer, songwriter, and television personality.
A true multi-hyphenate, Brady’s career path and personal life journey have helped him see the world in a very unique way. His aspirations have always gone beyond solely starring in various entertainment projects, and under his Makin’ It Up Productions banner, he’s set out to create new content across different platforms that showcase innovation and inclusivity in fun and powerful ways.
A five-time Emmy winner (the first to win Daytime and Primetime awards in two consecutive years), Brady was also the only entertainer across the 2019-2020 season to have a presence across five different series (Let’s Make A Deal, The Masked Singer, Whose Line Is It Anyway, Black Lightning and Comedy IQ) – each spotlighting different aspects of his immense talent. All of this coming following on the heels of the success of his award-winning daytime talk show The Wayne Brady Show.
In addition to being a force in front of the camera, Brady is heavily active behind the scenes wearing the hats of executive producer for Whose Line Is It Anyway? Let’s Make A Deal and Comedy IQ, which he also co-created. He recently took on another dual role with Game of Talents, a new series that aired over the Spring on FOX, in which he starred and executive produced.
A writer across all of his various projects, one of Brady’s proudest accomplishments is his team-up with Dave Chappelle on Comedy Central’s Chappelle’s Show spoofing the film, Training Day. Co-written by Brady and Chappelle, the segment has been enshrined in the Museum of TV and Film as of the top sketches of all time.
Long an accomplished singer and performer, Brady’s musical acumen has always been a personal passion and he used that as fuel to help win the second season of The Masked Singer. Off his victory, Brady dropped a brand-new original single, entitled “Flirtin’ w/ Forever,” which quickly climbed the streaming charts, as well as an accompanying music video.
This follows the success of his debut album which was headlined by a version of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" which earned him a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category. Brady will release new music in 2021 centered around re-imagining the stylistic sounds of The Rat Pack, merged with the 1960s and today’s current up-tempo production.
Brady has also triumphed on-stage started with his Broadway debut starring as legal showman "Billy Flynn" in the long-running hit musical, Chicago. Soon after Brady starred as the ground-breaking character "Lola" in Kinky Boots, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein. His interpretation of the lead role was so popular, he returned for an additional limited run the following year. Brady would later assume his biggest theatrical role to date headlining as "Aaron Burr" in the Chicago production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning juggernaut Hamilton.
Last year represented the latest step in Brady’s career evolution as he took his talents to TikTok, amassing a stellar following in a short period of time. Whether utilizing the platform to raise awareness of important social issues or collaborating with his extended family, TikTok has helped him continue to reach and interact with new fans in surprising and innovative ways.
Wayne Brady currently resides in Los Angeles.
In the fast-paced world of business, leaders thrive on their ability to adapt to any challenge they encounter. From high-stakes pitch meetings to daily decisions, there is one skill that can give you the upper hand in any room: improvisation.
Behind the lighthearted comedy that the world knows him for, there is a more serious story that Wayne has known his whole life. In this candid discussion on race, Wayne breaks down his life’s experiences – from struggling with his identity at an early age, to feeling the sting of racism throughout his career. He also uncovers a path forward that is paved by representation both on-screen and in life, revealing how we can expand the narrative about the Black experience.
SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Wayne has made audiences laugh for years. But the award-winning comedian secretly dealt with a lot of pain behind the scenes. After publicly sharing his own battle with depression, Wayne now uses his platform to shine the spotlight on awareness of mental health struggles.
In this illuminating dialogue, Wayne addresses the stereotypes, myths, and misunderstandings he has experienced surrounding mental health, drawing on the most important lessons that have empowered him along his journey.