# Wayne Brady
**Wayne Brady** (Wayne Alphonso Brady, born 1972) is an American comedian, actor, singer, and television host whose career is grounded in improvisational comedy. He became known nationally as a cast member on the improv show *Whose Line Is It Anyway?*, won a Primetime Emmy Award for that work in 2003, and has hosted the CBS game show *Let's Make a Deal* since October 2009.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) Across television, stage, and recording, he has accumulated five [Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmy-awards) and a Grammy Award nomination.[2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972, Columbus, Georgia; raised in Orlando, Florida[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/wayne_brady) |
| Breakthrough | Joined *Whose Line Is It Anyway?* in 1998; regular on the US version from 1998 to 2007[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) |
| Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy in 2003 for individual performance in a variety program; two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host (2003, 2004); five Emmys in total[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) • [2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) |
| Hosting | *Don't Forget the Lyrics!* (Fox, 2007–2009); *Let's Make a Deal* (CBS, from October 2009)[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) |
| Broadway roles | Billy Flynn in *Chicago* (2004 debut), Lola in *Kinky Boots*, Aaron Burr in *Hamilton* (Chicago), title role in *The Wiz* (2024)[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) • [2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) |
| Recording | Studio albums *A Long Time Coming* (2008) and *Radio Wayne* (2011); Grammy nomination for "A Change Is Gonna Come"[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) |
| Production | Host and executive producer of *Let's Make a Deal*, *Game of Talents*, and *Comedy IQ* through his company A Wayne & Mandie Creative[2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) |
## Early life and training
Brady was born in [Columbus, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbus-georgia), and moved to [Orlando, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/orlando-florida), as a young child. He attended [Dr. Phillips High School](https://www.edgepedia.org/dr-phillips-high-school), graduating in 1989, and then enrolled at the University of Miami.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) A high school play at age 16 redirected him from an early plan to join the military toward a career in entertainment.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/wayne_brady)
**Improv roots in Orlando.** He began performing and teaching at SAK Comedy Lab, Orlando's prominent improv troupe, in 1991, developing the character work, musical improvisation, and rapid scene-building that became his signature. He also performed character roles at [Walt Disney World](https://www.edgepedia.org/walt-disney-world), including Tigger and Goofy, and appeared in community theaters throughout Florida.[4](https://improvarchive.org/people/wayne-brady) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/wayne_brady) He moved to Los Angeles in 1996, and his first national television exposure came as a recurring contestant on the game show *Kwik Witz* from 1996 to 1999.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) • [5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Wayne-Brady/)
## Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Brady's break came in 1998 with appearances on the British improvisational comedy series *Whose Line Is It Anyway?*, which led to his becoming a regular on the American version from 1998 until 2007.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/wayne_brady) • [1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) On the show, hosted first by [Drew Carey](https://www.edgepedia.org/drew-carey) and later by [Aisha Tyler](https://www.edgepedia.org/aisha-tyler) alongside fellow performers [Ryan Stiles](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-stiles) and Colin Mochrie, Brady became the cast member most closely identified with musical improvisation, inventing songs on the spot about audience members.[6](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/talent/?view=wayne-brady) • [4](https://improvarchive.org/people/wayne-brady)
The work brought awards. After Emmy nominations in 2001 and 2002, Brady won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 2003.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) • [5](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Wayne-Brady/) The series was relaunched in 2013, and Brady returned to it as a performer and executive producer.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) • [6](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/talent/?view=wayne-brady)
## Talk show and game show hosting
In 2001 Brady launched *The Wayne Brady Show*, a variety program on ABC that a Los Angeles Times review described as uneven but praised its star as a superior mimic, citing his impressions of [James Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-brown), Stevie Wonder, and [Chris Rock](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-rock).[7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-08-ca-31650-story.html) The show ran from 2001 until 2004 and earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show Host, in 2003 and 2004.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady)
**Game shows.** From 2007 to 2009 he hosted the singing game show *Don't Forget the Lyrics!* on Fox, and in October 2009 he became host of *Let's Make a Deal* on CBS, a position he has held since; he has received seven Daytime Emmy nominations in the Outstanding Game Show Host category for that work.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) On the show, audience members in costumes make deals for prizes or cash while trying to avoid "Zonks," and Brady's improvisational and musical stylings are part of the format, alongside announcer [Jonathan Mangum](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-mangum), model [Tiffany Coyne](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiffany-coyne), and keyboardist Cat Gray.[8](https://www.cbs.com/shows/lets_make_a_deal/) He is also host and executive producer of *Game of Talents* and *Comedy IQ*, which he co-created.[2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/)
## Acting and the Chappelle sketch
Brady's television acting credits include a recurring role on *How I Met Your Mother*, guest spots on *30 Rock* and *Everybody Hates Chris*, and roles in *Black Lightning* (as Gravedigger), *The Good Fight*, *Colony*, and Showtime's *American Gigolo*.[6](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/talent/?view=wayne-brady) • [2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) A 2013 CBS profile noted that critics had questioned whether his act was too squeaky-clean, and that a comedy sketch he helped write with [Dave Chappelle](https://www.edgepedia.org/dave-chappelle) for *Chappelle's Show*, portraying "Wayne Brady the thug," became an internet sensation that showed another side of his comedic range.[9](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wayne-brady-just-getting-warmed-up/)
## Broadway and music
Brady made his Broadway debut in September 2004 as Billy Flynn in the revival of *Chicago*, a limited engagement through December of that year.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) He later starred as Lola in the Tony Award-winning *Kinky Boots*, with music and lyrics by [Cyndi Lauper](https://www.edgepedia.org/cyndi-lauper), and reprised the role for a return engagement in 2018.[2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) • [10](https://www.newyorktheaterguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) He headlined as [Aaron Burr](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-burr) in the Chicago production of *Hamilton*, and in April 2024 returned to Broadway leading the cast of *The Wiz* as the title character.[6](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/talent/?view=wayne-brady) • [2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) *Freestyle Love Supreme*, a hip-hop improv show that won a special Tony Award for its innovation, was created by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Anthony Veneziale.[2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) • [12](https://shubert.nyc/press/freestyle-love-supreme-back-on-broadway/)
As a recording artist he has released two studio albums, *A Long Time Coming* (2008) and *Radio Wayne* (2011). His version of the Sam Cooke classic "A Change Is Gonna Come" earned a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category.[1](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady) He won the second season of *The Masked Singer* and released the single "Flirtin' w/ Forever" after the victory.[2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/)
## Recent work
In 2024 Brady starred in the Freeform docuseries *Wayne Brady: The Family Remix*, produced with his ex-wife and business partner Mandie Taketa through their company A Wayne & Mandie Creative; the series follows his blended family, including their daughter Maile.[2](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/) His stage schedule has remained dense: *The Wiz* ran on Broadway from March to August 2024, the comedy *All Out: Comedy About Ambition* by Simon Rich played from December 2025 to March 2026, and he appeared in the Encores! production of *La Cage aux Folles* in June 2026.[10](https://www.newyorktheaterguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady)
In September 2026, Brady announced that, at his doctor's direction, he had left the off-Broadway play *Ms. Blakk for President* at the Vineyard Theatre after being diagnosed with a vocal polyp, a blister-like growth on the vocal cords that long-term vocal strain can trigger. He said the diagnosis had put him "in danger of spiraling into a depression" and framed the pause as forced rest; Ato Blankson-Wood took over the title role, with performances shifted to begin on October 22 and opening night on November 8.[11](https://www.thedailybeast.com/wayne-brady-54-reveals-career-threatening-health-problem/)
## References
1. [Wayne Brady On Stage, New York Theatre Guide](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady)
2. [Wayne Brady bio, Freeform/Disney press site](https://www.dgepress.com/freeform/bios/wayne-brady/)
3. [Wayne Brady Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/wayne_brady)
4. [Wayne Brady, The Improv Archive](https://improvarchive.org/people/wayne-brady)
5. [Wayne Brady, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Wayne-Brady/)
6. [Whose Line Is It Anyway? Talent: Wayne Brady, CW Press](https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/talent/?view=wayne-brady)
7. ['Wayne Brady Show' Can Be Funny but Ragged, Los Angeles Times (2001)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-08-ca-31650-story.html)
8. [Let's Make a Deal, CBS](https://www.cbs.com/shows/lets_make_a_deal/)
9. [Wayne Brady: Just getting warmed up, CBS News (2013)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wayne-brady-just-getting-warmed-up/)
10. [Wayne Brady On Stage, New York Theatre Guide (theatre credits and news)](https://www.newyorktheaterguide.com/stars-on-stage/wayne-brady)
11. [Emmy Winner, 54, Reveals Career-Threatening Health Problem, The Daily Beast (2026)](https://www.thedailybeast.com/wayne-brady-54-reveals-career-threatening-health-problem/)
12. [FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME Back on Broadway, Shubert Organization](https://shubert.nyc/press/freestyle-love-supreme-back-on-broadway/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Comedy and variety hosts*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license