Wayne Brady
Actor/Performer
Born 1972
Inducted 2022
Biography
Orlando native Wayne Brady began his career working at theme parks and performing in local theatre. His love for improvisation was first sparked as a member of Orlando improv comedy theater SAK Comedy Lab. In 1998, he joined the cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, for which he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. Brady went on to host his own syndicated talk/variety show, The Wayne Brady Show, for two seasons. He earned two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show Host, and the show also won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show. On the stage, Brady earned rave reviews for his starring role on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots. His additional theater credits include the Broadway production of Chicago and the Hollywood Bowl production of Rent. On the big screen, Brady has been featured in several films, including Crossover, Roll Bounce, and the animated film Foodfight! Brady has hosted several television shows, including the NAACP Awards, BET Honors, and The Late Late Show, which he guest-hosted for a week. In 2008 Brady earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for his single “A Change Is Gonna Come,” from his debut album, A Long Time Coming.
