Marlon Wayans and his family — Keenan Ivory, Dwayne, Damon and Shawn — are considered comedy royalty. 

Marlon is an entertainment renaissance man; his films have grossed $1.14 billion in domestic box office, and nearly $1.8 billion globally.

As a stand-up comedian, he is selling out nationwide and adding shows every weekend. That includes a Saturday, Oct. 10, show at the Fox Tucson Theatre. His new show is meant to make people think — and laugh. Wayans is proud that his gigs are so moving they earn standing ovations. His new creative chapter feels less like reinvention and more like ignition. 

He was sneaky when he “described” his Fox Tucson Theatre show.

“Expect the unexpected,” he said with a laugh. “The shows are funny, but I think you’ll always learn something. All my shows have heart and beyond the funny. There’s something to root for and they’re healing.

“At the same time, I’m not trying to be preachy. I hope they leave the show feeling inspired. I’m getting a lot of standing ovations.” 

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His set is new, which may lead to a special — and he’s ready for it.  

“I’m a crazy man,” he said, referring to his work ethic.

Comedy is obviously in Marlon’s blood. He saw Eddie Murphy’s “Raw” concert at age 12 at Madison Square Garden.  

“I never laughed so hard in my life,” he said. “I hope that one day I do that to a kid who’s 12 years old.”

Murphy’s concert taught him not be afraid of performing in front of 30,000 people and “then ripping it.”

“There’s nothing to fear,” he said. “Eddie was so cool, just telling stories. He was just brilliant, wearing those tight leather pants.” 

He has certainly had the chance to meet Murphy — he was 8. 

“He’s such a great influence and a legend,” he said. “I got to work with him when I did “Orbit.” I got to make him laugh. That was everything. I shed a tear.” 

Early in his career, Wayans joked that he was busy doing “BS,” but now his work has purpose. He talks about logging “10,000 hours in seven different disciplines,” and you can hear the pride tucked inside the humility. “You don’t know what I’m going to do next,” he said. “I’m crazy.” 

He and his brothers are proud of the success of the “Scary Movie” films. The “Scary Movie” franchise was developed by Marlon, Shawn and Keenen, with Keenen writing and directing, and Marlon and Shawn writing and starring in the first two films, “Scary Movie” and “Scary Movie 2.” 

“People wanted to laugh, and they love these characters,” he said. “We’re able to explore some of the fun things, the crazy things that are going on with the world. I want to explore the new generation as well as ‘stick to our guns.’

“It’s a mashup. I think it’s a multigenerational film. I think it’s a fun watch. It sums up the other six movies. I’m looking forward to doing part seven.”

Wayans is commonly recognized for his role as ‘Marcus Copeland’ in Columbia Pictures’ 2004 hit comedy classic “White Chicks” opposite Shawn Wayans and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. 

His other hit films include “Requiem for a Dream,” “Respect,” “Fifty Shades of Black,” “Little Man,” “A Haunted House” and “A Haunted House 2,” “Naked,” “Sextuplets,” “The Curse of Bridge Hollow,” “Air,” “On The Rocks,” and “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood,” among others. 

His TV credits include The WB’s “The Wayans Bros.,” which was the highest-rated comedy on the network and continues to air in syndication, the NBC sitcom “Marlon,” “Fox’s “In Living Color” and “Bel-Air.”

Currently, he’s working on a romantic buddy action comedy for Lionsgate with Keke Palmer. Marlon described the film as “Bad Boys” if Will Smith and Martin Lawrence could fall in love.

Jokes aside, Wayans is candid about ambition. He doesn’t feel like he’s done enough. “I’m just scratching the surface of all that I can do,” he said. “I can literally do it all.”

When Wayans received the NAACP Hall of Fame Award, he paused. “It was good to have a moment to smell the roses,” he said. “I’m always planting flowers and trees that we don’t get time to smell.”

“I want to get everything out of my system during my dash,” he said.