Our Favorite Wayne Brady TV Appearances (PHOTOS)
Wayne Brady made headlines on August 8 when coming out as pansexual. The jack of all trades said he wanted to share his sexuality as a way to show his true self. Being an actor, he explained, was always a way to protect his shy nature. He felt more free to show his talents when playing a character than leading with his personality.
If you’re like us, you’re surprised to learn someone so boisterous and entertaining on screen is shy in real life. It’s certainly not unheard of, but Wayne Brady is Wayne Brady! From Whose Line Is It Anyway? and The Wayne Brady Show through Dancing With the Stars and Let’s Make a Deal, the 51-year-old has always seemed eager to show up and show out and is a natural on stage.
Brady told People that the death of Robin Williams in 2014 pushed him into a period of genuine self-reflection and shifted focus onto his mental health. His coming out story is the culmination of those years of work. His reveal also got us reflecting on his life on the stage and screen, which has been filled with decades of laughter and charm.
The Emmy winner will soon be guest starring in The Wonder Years Season 2, and he’ll get even more personal in the upcoming Hulu reality show about his family. And in 2024, he’ll star as the title character in the forthcoming Broadway revival of The Wiz, sharing the role with Alan Mingo Jr. To celebrate the multi-hyphenate talent, we’re listing our favorite Brady TV appearances.
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
The original Whose Line Is It Anyway? made Brady a household name. His improvisational comedy alongside Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Drew Carey, Aisha Tyler, and more has delighted fans for decades. In 2022, Mochrie said The CW’s iteration of Whose Line will soon end, and we’ll dearly miss it if/when it goes. You can always count on these guys for a laugh.
Dancing With the Stars
Brady has been showing off his singing, dancing, and acting skills for decades on TV and Broadway (he’s starred in hit musicals such as Kinky Boots as Lola, Hamilton as Aaron Burr, and RENT at the Hollywood Bowl as Tom Collins). Dancing With the Stars Season 31 showed how good his dancing can be. It also reminded viewers how captivating a live performer he is. He finished in third place with dance partner Witney Carson.
ZIWE
Host Ziwe Fumudoh is a master of “gotcha” questions (all in good fun in the format of her criminally canceled late-night variety show). However, Brady’s improvisational skills made him a great opponent in the Juneteenth episode. Our favorite part of the episode: his “apology” to Chet Hanks and the joke “Fight This Child” segment.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother‘s jokes haven’t aged well, including some of the gay jokes by Brady’s Tom Stinson, Barney’s (Neil Patrick Harris) brother. Still, Tom’s presence in the series was a milestone for network television at the time, as Black gay men weren’t seen as characters on TV. How I Met Your Mother was one of the most-watched sitcoms on TV when it aired, making Tom’s recurring presence in the series an important one.
Everybody Hates Chris
Brady played Uncle Louis in the Everybody Hates Chris Thanksgiving episode, aptly titled “Everybody Hates Thanksgiving.” It’s a classic installment of the beloved comedy, and we love that Brady was part of it as Terry Crews‘ brother and Tyler James Williams‘ uncle.
Chappelle's Show
Brady appeared on Chappelle’s Show Season 2 after the infamous Paul Mooney joke about him and Bryant Gumbel. Brady told A&E in 2022 that Dave Chappelle invited him to make their legendary sketch after the joke, as he didn’t like the comment either. The resulting skit produced probably Brady’s most-quoted TV line: “Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a b*tch?” The sketch showed Brady in a new, darker way. It was so unexpected and hilarious it’s still considered one of the best Chappelle’s Show sketches of all time.
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