How the actors from "Major Payne" have changed 31 years later (11 photos)

One of the funniest comedies of the 90s is "Major Payne." If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you do.

Many years have passed since the premiere, and the actors who played the lead roles have matured.

Let's take a look at them.





Damon Wayans – Major Payne



Damon Wayans grew up in a large family – one of ten children in a family where his father was a social worker and his mother a housewife. His brother, Keenen Ivory Wayans, became a renowned comedian and director, and together they created the cult show "In Living Color," where Damon became famous for his sketches and parodies. Wayans made his film debut in 1987 in "Hollywood Alignment," but his real breakthrough came with "Major Payne" in 1995. He not only played the lead role—retired Marine Major Benson Payne, who takes on the role of discipline at a military school for troubled teenagers—but also co-wrote the screenplay and served as executive producer.

The film became a hit among family comedies of the 1990s: its budget was approximately $10 million, grossing over $79 million, and it continues to be celebrated worldwide. The character of Major Payne—tough, loud, yet ultimately kind—was a perfect fit for Wayans, who masterfully blends humor and drama. He then starred in The Last Boy Scout and Bulletproof, and later became the star of the sitcom My Wife and Kids, where he played a family man and received several Emmy nominations. In recent years, he has been actively performing stand-up, appearing in cameos, and occasionally returning to comedy roles. In 2025, he gave an interview on Club Shay Shay, where he warmly recalled the filming of Major Payne, but declined to comment on the old accusations from his castmates, saying only that he loved Orlando Brown and wished him the best.

Karyn Parsons – Emily Walburn





Karyn Parsons is best known for her role as Hilary Banks on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in which she played the spoiled eldest daughter of the Banks family – a character that brought her immense popularity and audience love. Before The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Parsons had appeared in episodes of television series, but it was Hilary that made her a star. After the show ended in 1996, she starred in several films: "Dead Call" as Tony, "The Ladies' Man," and, of course, "Major Payne." In the latter film, she played Dr. Emily Walburn, a school psychologist who initially argues with the gruff Major Payne and later becomes his romantic interest.

Her soft, intelligent persona contrasted perfectly with Damon Wayans's energy, and their on-screen pairing added warmth to the film. After the 2000s, Parsons gradually retired from acting to focus on her family and creativity. She married director Alexander Rockwell. Karin founded Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit organization and children's book series dedicated to little-known African-American historical figures. She writes, produces, and narrates audiobooks.

William Hickey – Director Phillips



William Hickey was a master of bit parts – often playing eccentric, sinister, or comically awkward older men with hoarse voices and hunched postures. Hickey began his career in the theater in the 1950s, starring in Broadway productions, and made his film debut in 1957. His real fame came in 1985 with his role as Don Corrado Prizzi in Prizzi's Honor – for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He voiced Dr. Finkelstein in "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and appeared in Mel Brooks's "The Producers," "My Blue Heaven," and many others. His role in "Major Payne" was typical of him, almost grotesque in its comedic setting. The film was one of his last—Hickey passed away on June 29, 1997. He left behind over 100 film and television roles, and is remembered as one of the most recognizable character actors of old-school Hollywood.

Steven Martini – Alex J. Stone



Steven Martin's first major film role was a breakthrough: in 1995, he played Cadet Alex J. Stone in the comedy Major Payne. Alex is one of the lead cadets in a group of troubled teenagers trained by Major Payne. His character is an intelligent but damaged boy: he has a strict and abusive stepfather, who appears in the film in a deranged state and attacks his son's son.

Steven brought vulnerability and humor to the role, making Alex one of the most memorable characters among the child cadets. The film marked his feature film debut, and he subsequently continued his acting career in episodes of series such as "Silk Stalkings" and "Law & Order." Steven later transitioned to more creative work: he writes screenplays, composes music for films, edits, and directs independent films. His projects include "Indian Trail," which he co-wrote and starred in, "The Luxury Life," and "Grace and Grit."

Michael Ironside – Lieutenant Colonel Stone



Michael Ironside is known as a master of tough, authoritarian, or villainous characters – often antagonists with icy gazes and raspy voices. His breakthrough came in 1981 with his role as Darren Maxwell in Scanners, followed by Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Top Gun, the miniseries The Visitors, and numerous other sci-fi and action films. His role in Major Payne was small, but it adds drama and explains Alex's behavior.

Ironside was perfect for such a villainous, yet comical character in the context of the film. Interestingly, Ironside was originally supposed to have more scenes, but almost all of them were cut in the final edit. After Major Payne, he continued to appear in numerous films and TV series: The A-Team, ER, The Karate Kid, Free Willy, and even voiced characters in animation. In recent years, he has appeared in low-budget action and horror films, but remains a cult figure of the 80s and 90s.

Orlando Brown – Kevin "Tiger" Dunn



Orlando Brown began his career as a child actor and rose to fame for his roles in the 1990s and 2000s. His film debut was as Cadet Kevin "Tiger" Dunn in Major Payne. His character constantly gets into trouble, but eventually bonds with Payne. The scene with the nightmare and hug is one of the most memorable in the film. Orlando subsequently starred in Family Matters, That's So Raven, The Jamie Foxx Show, Two of a Kind with the Olsen sisters, and voiced characters in The Proud Family.

He also dabbled in music and rap. However, in the 2010s and 2020s, his life was marred by personal problems—arrests, hospitalizations, and bizarre interviews. In the 2020s, Orlando gave several interviews and podcasts, sharing behind-the-scenes stories about Major Payne. He claimed that Damon Wayans and Karyn Parsons secretly met in a trailer during filming, which allegedly led to the film's sequel never being made. There were also accusations against Damon, including infidelity and other allegations, but Wayans responded on the same podcast by saying he loved Orlando and wished him well, but noted that he sometimes talked nonsense.

Albert Hall – General Decker



Hall began his career in theater and film in the 1970s, where he quickly established himself as a reliable character actor, often playing judges, bosses, or authority figures with a strong character and deep voice. His most famous role was Captain Phillips in Francis Ford Coppola's epic film Apocalypse Now, where he played the commander of the river patrol.

This role brought him recognition and opened the door to major projects. Hall has appeared in Spike Lee's Malcolm X, Devil in a Blue Dress, Courage Under Fire, Beloved, and others. On television, he is remembered for his role as Judge Seymour Walsh on The Practice and Ally McBeal in the late 1990s and early 2000s, where his stern but fair judge became a compelling supporting character. In Major Payne, the general appears early in the film to inform Payne of his discharge from the Marine Corps due to a lack of wars and promotions.

His role is small but crucial: a calm, authoritative officer who guides Payne into civilian life and later helps him return to military discipline at cadet school. Hall's acting career spans over 50 years, from the 1970s to the 2010s. He has appeared in series such as "24," "Miami Vice," "Matlock," and many others. In recent years, he has retired from active filming and is considered retired from acting. As of 2026, he is 88 years old and lives in the United States, maintaining his status as one of Hollywood's most respected actors.

Damien Wayans – Dwight "D" Williams



Damien Dante Wayans is Damon Wayans' nephew. His career began early: in 1987, as a child, he appeared in a sketch in the Eddie Murphy concert film "Eddie Murphy Lives." His role as Dee in "Major Payne" was one of his first notable roles, helping him break into the Wayans family business. He then appeared in an episode of "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in Your Apartment" before moving on to more serious projects. His breakthrough came with the role of Tek in "Malibu's Most Wanted." He has written and directed episodes of series such as "My Wife and Kids," where he worked with his uncle Damon, "The Second Wayans," and other family-run projects. Damien is actively involved in producing and directing, often collaborating with his family.

Bam Bam Bigelow – Biker



Legendary American wrestler Bam Bam Bigelow was one of the most athletic heavyweights of the 1980s and 1990s: a towering 6'3" (193 cm) tall and weighing around 350 pounds (160 kg), with flame tattoos on his head, neck, and arms. He could perform high leaps and acrobatics, making him unique. Bigelow's career began in 1987 in the UWF and NJPW promotions. He became a star in WCW, WWF, ECW, and returned to the WWF in the 2000s. Bigelow is known for his matches against Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, and other legends.

He also saved three children from a burning house in 2000, and subsequently spent two months in the hospital—a feat that earned him respect outside the ring. Bigelow made a cameo appearance in films. In "Major Payne," the cadets hire him to intimidate Payne into leaving school. Bigelow enters the scene wearing a leather jacket and removes his helmet, immediately recognizing the famous wrestler. He threatens Payne, who easily defeats him. The scene lasts only a few minutes, but it has become iconic among wrestling fans. He performed several more roles before and after this, and passed away in 2007.

Chris Owen – Cadet Wooligan



Chris Owen grew up tall and thin, with distinctive red hair and freckles, making him ideal for roles as the "typical teenage loser" in comedies of the 90s and 2000s. At age 11, he made his acting debut in the Canadian television film "Firing Squad." In 1995, at age 14, Chris landed the role of Cadet Wooligan. This role became one of his first notable ones and helped establish him in the teen comedy genre.

Chris then starred in Black Sheep, Can't Hardly Wait, She's All That, and October Sky, where he received a nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Drama Series. His real fame came with the American Pie franchise: he played Chuck Sherman in American Pie, American Pie 2, American Pie 4: Band Camp, and American Pie Reunion. Chris also appeared in Gold Diggers, Hidalgo, and The Mist. In recent years, he has been acting less in major films, but works as a photographer and occasionally returns to roles in independent projects and Christmas films like Cape Cod Christmas.