Elvira Wayans, the mother of actor Marlon Wayans and nine other talented children, recently died at the age of 81. Marlon announced the news in an emotional letter on Instagram a few weeks after her death. The grieving actor said his mother's 82nd birthday would have been last Thursday, which is also his birthday.
"Losing you shattered me into 1000 pieces," Marlon wrote. "I’m putting myself back together piece by piece. You will always be my glue. Miss you. Today i celebrate for the both of. In the midst of this hurt… i just love you ma. #missyou i accomplished so much, made you so proud… but now i got angel to lift me."
The White Chicks actor shared another post to express his pain and resilience over his mother, of whom not much is known.
"Happy birthday me… i would ask God 'why me'? Why am i suffering? But that would be ungrateful. God i trust you," he wrote. "I trust your design. You’re the greatest architect. I don’t question you through this journey. On the other side of all this tragedy is victory. So i trust you. This is merely a journey to challenge me."
Posting a childhood photo of himself with his mother, Marlon said "everytime I seen this woman i smiled."
"I see her in every woman… the greatness you all behold," he wrote. "The joy you can always share. The sweetness and affection we all possess but we’re to damaged to just let go. Thank u ma for gifting me pure love. You will always be my first love happy bday woman. Baby boy misses you."
The actor posted a picture of himself from his latest birthday and said it was "a magical day."
"Thank you to all of my family, friends and lifting me, holding up and celebrating me on a day that could’ve totally went the opposite way," Marlon said. "I know my mom was happy you took care of her 'baby boy.' I live a life of loving people and it felt so good to be loved."
The 48-year-old said he is appreciating the small things in life during the difficult time.
"I woke up today 48 years old looking 20 something. I woke up today so grateful for my friends, my family, my fans," the actor wrote. "Thank you for all of my family, thank you for my children, thank you for their mother, thank you for my friends…. my REAL FRIENDS that love protect and rescue me from pain. You taught me it’s okay to cry, to hurt, to not be okay in moments and gave me the strength to climb out the ditch of pity."
According to USA Today, Marlon is the youngest of 10 children, but he isn't the only one in the family who is known for acting and producing. Keenan, Damon, Shawn, Dwayne, Kim, Nadia, Elvira, Diedre and Vonnie have also made a name for themselves with their creativity, TMZ reported.
Together with his family, Marlon has produced shows such as In Living Color, The Wayans Bros. and My Wife and Kids. The family also produced the Scary Movie film franchise.
“I credit my mom a lot because although she had 10 children, we all had our time and space to be the baby,” Marlon said during a 2004 interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show. “She made us all feel loved.”
According to USA Today, Marlon will play as Aretha Franklin’s husband in the upcoming film, Respect.
