Having a famous (and funny) father can come with expectations. So it’s no surprise why Wayans opted to use a stage name at the start of his stand-up comedy career. According to a 2018 feature in the Los Angeles Times, Wayans went by Kyle Green.

“I wanted to get my own footing, I wanted to feel good doing stand-up … but because I looked so much like him, people would just yell in the middle of my act, ‘You Damon Wayan’s son!'” he told the publication. “I’d be like, ‘Oh my goodness. You look just like Damon Wayans.’ Another time, when my dad started taking me on the road with him — I would open for him — we were in Boston and I was walking to the mike and the minute I grabbed it, I heard someone go, ‘You better be funny.’ And there were thousands of people there. It was intimidating.”

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