Discover the life of Elvira Alethia Wayans, mother of the Wayans comedy family. Learn about her husband, children, cause of death, birthday, and more.
Elvira Alethia Wayans is a name most people recognize not from movie credits or comedy specials, but from the family tree behind some of the biggest names in American comedy. As the mother of the Wayans siblings, she raised the family that would go on to shape sketch comedy, sitcoms, and film parody for decades. While she lived a largely private life outside the spotlight, her name resurfaces often in searches related to her famous children — particularly Marlon Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, and Damon Wayans. This article covers everything publicly known about her: her background, marriage, children, birthday, death, and legacy.
Who Was Elvira Alethia?
Elvira Alethia was born Elvira Alethia Green on July 23, 1938, in Manhattan, New York City. She was the daughter of Ivory Garrett Green and Elvira Green (née Brown), a family with roots in South Carolina before settling in New York City. Census records show she grew up alongside three siblings — Ivory Garrett Green Jr., Muriel Green, and Mozell Green — in a working-class household in Manhattan.
She later married Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager, and the couple settled in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. Elvira worked as a homemaker and social worker throughout her life, dedicating herself to raising her large family and supporting her community. Though she never appeared on screen or pursued a public career, her home became the foundation for one of the most influential families in Hollywood comedy history.
Elvira Alethia Birthday
Elvira Alethia was born on July 23, 1938. Her birthday holds a bit of extra significance for the Wayans family because it falls right around the same time as the birthday of her youngest son, Marlon Wayans — a detail that has made their shared connection to that date a recurring mention in tributes and interviews. Genealogical records, including her FamilySearch and Find a Grave entries, confirm her birth date and place as Manhattan, New York City.
Elvira Alethia Husband
Elvira Alethia married Howell Stouten Wayans in 1957 in Manhattan, New York, when she was around 18 years old. Howell was born on August 26, 1936, and worked as a supermarket manager to support their growing family. The couple were devout Jehovah’s Witnesses and raised their ten children according to that faith while living in Chelsea, New York City.
Howell and Elvira remained married for decades, weathering the challenges of raising a large family in New York City on a modest income. Howell Stouten Wayans passed away on April 1, 2023, nearly three years after Elvira’s own death in 2020. Together, their partnership is often credited by their children as the bedrock of discipline, unity, and creativity that shaped the Wayans family’s later success in entertainment.
Elvira Alethia Children
Elvira Alethia and Howell Wayans had ten children together, all raised in their Chelsea, New York City home. Their children are:
- Dwayne Wayans (born 1956) — writer and film-score composer
- Keenen Ivory Wayans (born 1958) — actor, comedian, director, and writer
- Diedre Wayans — producer and writer
- Damon Wayans — actor, comedian, and writer
- Kim Wayans — actress and comedian
- Elvira Wayans — screenwriter, named in honor of her mother
- Nadia Wayans — actress
- Devonne Wayans — the least publicly known of the siblings
- Shawn Wayans — actor, comedian, and writer
- Marlon Wayans — actor, comedian, writer, and producer
Several of these siblings became household names, largely through their work on the sketch comedy show In Living Color, as well as a long list of films including Scary Movie, White Chicks, Little Man, The Wayans Bros., and My Wife and Kids.
Elvira Alethia How Many Kids
This is one of the most searched questions about her, and the answer is straightforward: Elvira Alethia had 10 children with her husband, Howell Stouten Wayans. Raising ten children in New York City on a supermarket manager’s income was no small task, and Elvira’s role as a homemaker and social worker was central to keeping the large household running. Family members and biographers frequently point to her steady presence and discipline as one of the key reasons so many of her children went on to find success in entertainment.
How Many Children Did Elvira Wayans Have?
To reinforce the answer above: Elvira Wayans (Elvira Alethia) had exactly 10 children. It’s worth noting that one of her daughters is also named Elvira Wayans, which sometimes causes confusion online between the mother and daughter. The daughter, Elvira Wayans, is a screenwriter who has two children of her own, Chaunté Wayans and Damien Dante Wayans, the latter of whom became an actor, screenwriter, producer, and director in his own right.
Who Is the Oldest Wayans?
The oldest of the ten Wayans siblings is Dwayne Wayans, born in 1956. Unlike several of his more publicly visible younger siblings, Dwayne worked primarily behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, contributing as a writer and film-score composer rather than building an on-camera acting career. He is followed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, born in 1958, who became one of the most prominent members of the family. Keenen Ivory is widely credited as a driving force behind the family’s entertainment success, having created and starred in In Living Color and gone on to direct and produce numerous films.
Elvira Alethia Height
Detailed physical statistics about Elvira Alethia herself — including her exact height — were never publicly documented, which is typical for private individuals who are not public figures themselves. Some online profiles that reference an “Elvira Wayans” height of around 5 feet 8 inches actually refer to her daughter, Elvira Wayans (the screenwriter), rather than to Elvira Alethia, the family matriarch. This mix-up is common because mother and daughter share the same first name. No verified height has been published specifically for Elvira Alethia Green Wayans.
Elvira Alethia Cause of Death
Elvira Alethia passed away in the summer of 2020 at the age of 81. Most accounts, including tributes from her son Marlon Wayans, place her death on July 22, 2020, just one day before her 82nd birthday. It’s worth noting that her official Find a Grave memorial lists a slightly different date, June 21, 2020, so there is some minor inconsistency across sources regarding the exact day.
As for the cause of death, it has not been publicly disclosed. The Wayans family has kept this detail private, and no news outlet or official record has confirmed the specific circumstances surrounding her passing. This is consistent with the family’s general approach to privacy regarding personal matters, even as several of its members lead very public careers. Out of respect for the family, most reputable sources simply note that her cause of death remains unknown or unconfirmed.
What Happened to Marlon Wayans’ Mother?
Marlon Wayans’ mother, Elvira Alethia, died on July 22, 2020, in New York, one day before her 82nd birthday — a birthday she shared closely with Marlon himself. Marlon announced her passing publicly on Instagram, posting a photograph of the two of them together along with a heartfelt tribute expressing his love and gratitude for her role in his life.
Marlon has spoken about his mother on multiple occasions since her death, describing her as a major influence on his sense of humor, work ethic, and values. He has continued to honor her memory in interviews and on social media, often sharing memories from his childhood in their Chelsea, New York City home. Her death marked a significant loss not just for Marlon but for the entire Wayans family, many of whom have publicly credited their mother with instilling the discipline and creativity that shaped their careers.
Elvira Alethia Find a Grave
Elvira Alethia’s memorial can be found on Find a Grave under the name Elvira Alethia Green Wayans, listed with the memorial ID 213372975. The page records her birth date as July 23, 1938, and lists burial details as unknown, meaning the specific location of her grave has not been publicly documented on the platform. The memorial is maintained by a family contributor and includes basic biographical information consistent with genealogical records found on FamilySearch and other databases. As with many private individuals, detailed burial and memorial information beyond the basics has not been made widely available.
Marlon Wayans and His Mother’s Legacy
Marlon Wayans, the youngest of Elvira and Howell’s ten children, has become one of the most recognizable members of the Wayans family in contemporary entertainment, known for his work in films like Scary Movie, White Chicks, Little Man, and Requiem for a Dream, as well as numerous stand-up specials. Throughout his career, Marlon has frequently credited his mother, Elvira Alethia, as a guiding force in his life. Their close birthday timing has made her memory especially present in his public reflections, particularly around late July each year.
Marlon’s tributes to his mother highlight a relationship built on humor, resilience, and unconditional support — themes that echo throughout the broader Wayans family story. His willingness to discuss her passing publicly, even without disclosing private medical details, reflects the balance the family has struck between honoring her memory and protecting their privacy.
Elvira Alethia’s Broader Legacy
Although she never worked in entertainment herself, Elvira Alethia’s influence on American comedy is difficult to overstate. Her children created and starred in some of the most recognizable comedies of the past several decades, and the values of unity, humor, and creativity fostered in the Wayans household are frequently cited by family members as the foundation of their success. Her legacy has also carried into the next generation, with grandchildren such as Damon Wayans Jr. continuing the family’s tradition in acting and comedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Elvira Alethia born? She was born on July 23, 1938, in Manhattan, New York City.
Who was Elvira Alethia’s husband? She was married to Howell Stouten Wayans, a supermarket manager, from 1957 until his death in 2023.
How many children did Elvira Alethia have? She had 10 children with Howell Wayans.
What was Elvira Alethia’s cause of death? Her cause of death has not been publicly disclosed by the family.
Who is the oldest Wayans sibling? Dwayne Wayans, born in 1956, is the eldest of the ten Wayans children.
