Damon Wayans Jr.’s 6 Kids: All About the Comedian's Family — and How They're Continuing His Show Business Legacy

Mar. 15, 2025

Aniya Wayans, Samara Saraiva, Damon Wayans Jr., Amara Wayans and Berlyn Wayans at the premiere of “Players” on February 8, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Damon Wayans Jr.is the proud father to six children.

Born into a legendary comedic family, Damon Jr.’s kids range in age from the toddler years to their early 20s, and are on their way to continuing their dad’s show business legacy.

TheRaid the Cagehost shares his older daughters, Amara and Aniya, with his ex-partner, Aja Metoyer, and prefers to stay private about his younger kids, although he has appeared in one TikTok video with another of his daughters, Berlyn.

Speaking about fatherhood, Damon Jr. toldBET Talksin 2024, “We can hang out, and I get to see them grow. That’s my happy place. I don’t like going out and partying — I like to see them and help them, give them advice, and laugh with them.”

Comedy iconDamon Wayans Sr., who is theNew Girlactor’s father both off-screen and in their CBS sitcom,Poppa’s House, has said he loves being a grandfather. TheMy Wife and Kidsactor toldCBS 8in 2021,“I wish I was a grandfather before I was a father, it’s a better love.”

One of Damon Jr.’s kids even works with him on the set ofPoppa’s House. He toldBET Talksabout what it’s like seeing his daughter, Amara, joining the crew.

Here’s everything to know about Damon Wayans Jr.’s six kids.

Damon Jr. is a father of six

Damon Wayans Jr. in a Tik Tok with his daughters.Aniya Wayans/ Tik Tok

Aniya Wayans/ Tik Tok

During a conversation withBET Talksin 2024, Damon Jr. confirmed he is a father of six, though he has kept his younger children out of the spotlight. He shares two daughters, Amara (who was born in 2003) and Aniya, with ex Aja Metoyer, and is also a father to a daughter named Berlyn.

Damon Jr., who has been married to wife Samara Saraiva since 2016, also has at least one son. His youngest child, a daughter, was born around 2020.

They have fun filming videos together

Damon Wayans Jr. films a funny TikTok video with his daughter Aniya Wayans in May 2021.Aniya Wayans/ TikTok

Aniya Wayans/ TikTok

Funny runs in the Wayans family. In 2024, Damon Jr.’s daughters joined their dad and grandfather in a series of silly dances set toKendrick Lamar’s song,Squabble Up.

Damon Jr. shared the video onInstagramwith the caption, “Squabble Up. Wayans style. If you need that, we got that 👊🏾👊🏾😂."

Aniya got her grandfather in on the laughs in an earlierTikTokvideo in which she acted out giving Damon Sr. a long ponytail with the lyrics, “My hair, it don’t move,” playing in the background. Damon Jr. also makes frequent appearances on his daughters’ social media, even participating in the “Zesty Dad” trend in aTikTokwith his daughter Berlyn.

Amara works with her dad and grandfather

Damon Wayans, Jr. as Junior and Damon Wayans as Poppa in the CBS Original series ‘Poppa’s House’.Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

In 2024, Amara invited herTikTokfollowers to “finish the day” with her, starting with the walk off of a television lot captioned “Leave work w fam, 4pm."

Damon Jr. toldBET Talksin 2024 that Amara works on his showPoppa’s Houseas the stand-in for actressEssence Atkins.

“She’s always off book, she’s really responsible. She comes into the writer’s room, she’s writing with us.” he said. “She’s very involved, very good, shout out to Amara.”

Damon Jr. celebrated Amara’s 21st birthday in a big way

Damon Wayans Jr. at a concert with his daughter Amara Wayans in November 2023.Amara Wayans/ TikTok

Amara Wayans/ TikTok

Damon Jr.’s daughter, Amara, celebrated her 21st birthday in November 2024 with a weekend-long party that included her dad.

ATikTokvideo of the celebration showed Amara dancing with her father and her sisters, Aniya and Berlyn.

The birthday girl thanked her dad for the party, captioning the video, “Recap of my 21st bday ft. The best dad EVER🥇❤️🥳."

Berlyn has started her own family

Damon Jr. is now a grandfather. His daughter, Berlyn, shared the first photograph of her daughter on herInstagramStories in April 2023.

One of herStories highlightsfeatures the two playing dress up, going to the playground together and battling over hairstyles.

Their grandfather, Damon Sr., loves to “spoil them”

Damon Wayans, Jr. and Damon Wayans, Sr. at You’re Laughing at CBS: A Night of Sit-Down Comedy on September 18, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

Damon Sr.is enjoying being a grandfather, although he toldEbonyin 2024 that the role takes training.

“I get stretched three days a week just so I can get down on the floor with my grandkids. I love it. And I got a great-grand, too,” he said, referencing granddaughter Berlyn’s child. He also joked about the peaks and valleys of being a grandfather in a stand-up comedy set onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“I’m a grandfather now, several times over, and I’m really happy about it because it’s the best way to parent,” he said before sharing the funny songs and voices he does to keep his grandchildren from causing trouble.

Damon Sr. joked with CBS 8 in 2021 about his preference for being a grandfather. “I don’t have to raise them, I just have to spoil them,” he said. “Grandkids can do no wrong.”

His son is an aspiring basketball player

Damon Wayans with son Damon Wayans Jr. (R) and family attend the premiere of Big Hero 6 on November 4, 2014 in Hollywood, California.Rich Polk/Getty

Rich Polk/Getty

Damon Jr.’s son wants to be a basketball player and the actor toldBET Talksthat he’s supportive of the dream. “I want him to be, but it depends on how tall he’s going to be. He’s got some big a– feet,” Damon Jr. said.

Damon Sr. is also supportive of his grandson, and is even helping him practice. He toldEbonythat he looks forward to being active with his grandson, something he didn’t get the chance to do with his grandfather.

“He never taught me how to play basketball. Damon’s son comes over and wants me to teach him. Somehow, he thinks I’m good,” Damon Sr. said.

Damon Jr. isn’t pressuring his kids to enter show business

Aniya Wayans, Samara Saraiva, Damon Wayans Jr., Amara Wayans and Berlyn Wayans at the premiere of “Players” on February 8, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty

Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty

Damon Jr. is ready to welcome any of his children into the family business but insists there’s no pressure.

In terms of his children’s interest in the entertainment industry, Damon Jr. toldBET Talksthat it is a mixed bag. Answering whether or not they want to be in show business, he said, “My first two do; third, I don’t know; fourth, for sure not; fifth, he thinks he’s gonna be a basketball player. My youngest might be a little performer, she talks a lot. She’s 4.”

When asked what he would think if one of his grandchildren decided to forgo their show business legacy and pursue a different career, Damon Sr. assuredEbonyin 2024 that he wouldn’t mind.

“That’s fine. There’s no pressure to be involved, but I can guarantee you, you’re gonna have a lot more fun here than being a dentist,” he said.

source: people.com