Actor Marlon Wayans has paid tribute to his late mother, Elvira, who died earlier this month at the age of 81.
“Losing you shattered me into 1000 pieces,” Wayans wrote. “I’m putting myself back together piece by piece. You will always be my glue. Miss you.” The message came on what would have been Elvira’s 82nd birthday, which she actually shared with Marlon himself. (The Scary Movie actor turned 48 on Thursday.)
“Today I celebrate for the both of [us]. In the midst of this hurt… I just love you ma,” he wrote. “I accomplished so much, made you so proud… but now I got [an] angel to lift me.”
In a subsequent post, Wayans added:
“Everytime I seen this woman I smiled. I see her in every woman… the greatness you all behold. The joy you can always share. The sweetness and affection we all possess but we’re [too] 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.”
Born in 1938, Elvira Wayans had 10 children, many of whom became household names as writers, producers, and performers. In addition to Marlon, the show business family also includes onscreen stars Keenen Ivory, Damon, Shawn, and Kim, as well as writers Dwayne, Elvira, and Diedre. The Wayans siblings have made a number of classic projects together, including I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Hollywood Shuffle, Mo’ Money, the Scary Movie franchise*, and the sketch comedy series In Living Color.