Don’t laugh . . . Brady’s
an actor, too

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

First of all, don’t call him a standup comic.
"I’m not a comic. I’m an actor who also happens to do improv. I’ve never told a joke and I couldn’t tell a joke to save my life!"
So said Wayne Brady, perhaps best known for his improvisational skills on Whose Line Is It Anyway? (for which he won an Emmy and earned four Emmy nominations).
"But learning improvisation is important," he said. "It’s a muscle, one that as an actor you’re constantly working out. The great part of being an actor is that we always do improv just to prepare for our scripted work. That’s just something you need to be able to do in case somebody goes up on his lines. If something unexpected happens on stage you can’t just stand there and say, ‘Duh!’ You need to go above and beyond what’s needed of you, and that’s improv."
Beside Whose Line, Brady is also known for hosting his own syndicated talk/variety show. Brady picked up an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host, and The Wayne Brady Show won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show, although it was recently canceled.
"But that’s the nature of the business, so you just have to learn to move on," said Brady, who will perform at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City this Saturday. "I’m lucky enough that I’ve never wanted for a job. I’m still touring and another TV show is in the works, so I have no reason to feel any regrets. In the big scheme of things, when a company decides they no longer want a particular product, they move on to the next thing. But that’s OK. I feel very blessed that I still get the chance to do what I love doing."
Borgata audiences, he explained, will see him and partner Jonathan Mangum in some "high energy rock ’n’ roll, a very physical type of improv. We’ll do some of the stuff we do on Whose Line, like some of the games, but since we’re incredibly physical actors, we’ll be all over the place. We get suggestions from the audience and go from there. So I guess you could call it a sort of improvisational concert."
Growing up in Florida, 33-year-old Brady was prepared to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in the military — until a chance performance in a high school play catapulted him head first into show business. An unplanned pratfall during the performance got him a big laugh from the audience and opened the floodgates for a continued taste of audience acclaim.
"To make a long story short, right after that very first play I knew that there was nothing else in the world that I was going to do with my life," Brady said. "So right out of high school I went on to my first professional play and I’ve been in the business ever since."
Brady started his professional career performing in local theaters before moving on to Los Angeles to spread his wings. He’s made numerous television appearances on such series as I’ll Fly Away, Home Court and In the Heat of the Night. He received critical accolades when he guest-starred on the hit series American Dreams, portraying the legendary Jackie Wilson.
In 2000, Brady performed solo at the annual Emmy Awards. His comedic musical medley, which spoofed many of the seasons’ top shows, was a hit. In 2003, he served as host of the Daytime Emmy Awards, where he and his series took home top honors, resulting in TV Guide dubbing him "the so-talented-it’s-scary Wayne Brady."
Still, Brady said he never worries about being famous.
"I only worry about doing my job and doing it well," he said. "Meanwhile, I’m just enjoying all of it — every moment of it!" ••
For times and ticket information, call 1-800-736-1420.