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.
The Raid the Cage host 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. told BET Talks in 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 icon Damon Wayans Sr., who is the New Girl actor’s father both off-screen and in their CBS sitcom, Poppa’s House, has said he loves being a grandfather. The My Wife and Kids actor told CBS 8 in 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 of Poppa’s House. He told BET Talks about what it’s like seeing his daughter, Amara, joining the crew.
“They grow up too fast,” Damon Jr. said. “You have the baby, you blink and they’re working alongside you.”
Here’s everything to know about Damon Wayans Jr.’s six kids.
Damon Jr. is a father of six
During a conversation with BET Talks in 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
Funny runs in the Wayans family. In 2024, Damon Jr.’s daughters joined their dad and grandfather in a series of silly dances set to Kendrick Lamar’s song, Squabble Up.
Damon Jr. shared the video on Instagram with the caption, “Squabble Up. Wayans style. If you need that, we got that 👊🏾👊🏾😂.”
Aniya got her grandfather in on the laughs in an earlier TikTok video 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 a TikTok with his daughter Berlyn.
Amara works with her dad and grandfather
In 2024, Amara invited her TikTok followers to “finish the day” with her, starting with the walk off of a television lot captioned “Leave work w fam, 4pm.”
Damon Jr. told BET Talks in 2024 that Amara works on his show Poppa’s House as the stand-in for actress Essence 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 Jr.’s daughter, Amara, celebrated her 21st birthday in November 2024 with a weekend-long party that included her dad.
A TikTok video 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 her Instagram Stories in April 2023.
One of her Stories highlights features the two playing dress up, going to the playground together and battling over hairstyles.
Their grandfather, Damon Sr., loves to “spoil them”
Damon Sr. is enjoying being a grandfather, although he told Ebony in 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 on The 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 Jr.’s son wants to be a basketball player and the actor told BET Talks that 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 told Ebony that 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
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. told BET Talks that 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. assured Ebony in 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.
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