Bentley Kyle Evans doesn’t chase the spotlight. But his work has lived in it for more than three decades. If you’ve watched Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show, or Family Time, then you’ve seen his creative fingerprint. Evans is a writer, producer, director, and actor. He’s also the founder and CEO of Bent Outta Shape, Inc., a production company in Los Angeles.
“I never wanted to just be on camera,” he says. “I wanted to build the world behind it.”
Growing Up in LA
Evans was born in Oakland, California, on August 10, 1966. He moved to Los Angeles as a child and grew up in View Park-Windsor Hills, a middle-class Black neighborhood known for producing high achievers. He graduated from Westchester High School in 1984.
In 1986, Evans landed his first break in Hollywood. He worked as a production assistant on Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle. He also had a small on-screen role, which earned him his Screen Actors Guild card. That early experience showed him how the industry worked—on both sides of the camera.
“I learned more by watching what people did between takes than during them,” Evans says.
Getting His First Big Credit
Evans’ acting debut came in 1990 with a small role in the movie House Party. But behind the scenes, he was already planning to shift into writing and producing. That plan paid off just two years later.
In 1992, he joined the FOX sitcom Martin as a showrunner and lead writer. The show, starring comedian Martin Lawrence, became a cultural phenomenon. It ran for five seasons and remains a touchstone of ‘90s Black television.
“Martin was about our voices,” Evans says. “We didn’t water it down.”
Creating Sitcoms with Staying Power
Evans followed up with another hit: The Jamie Foxx Show, which aired from 1996 to 2001 on The WB. He co-created the show and stayed on as a key creative voice. At the same time, he worked with Martin Lawrence again—this time as co-writer on the 1996 feature film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.
In 2010, he created Love That Girl! for TV One. It was one of the first scripted series for the network, and it ran for four years. Then came Family Time in 2012, which launched on Bounce TV as its first original scripted program.
Evans also created In the Cut and Grown Folks, helping Bounce build a full lineup of original Black-led comedy.
A Move Into Streaming
Evans didn’t stop with cable TV. He moved into streaming platforms with projects like Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! (Netflix, 2021), which reunited him with Jamie Foxx. That same year, he co-created Partners in Rhyme with rapper MC Lyte. The series aired on the streaming service ALLBLK, where Evans also directs and executive produces Millennials.
“I go where the stories can be told honestly,” Evans explains. “That’s streaming right now.”
In 2022, he helped bring back Martin—this time as Martin: The Reunion, a BET+ special that he co-wrote and co-executive produced.
Building a Production Legacy
In 1994, Evans launched Bent Outta Shape, Inc., a TV and film production company. Through it, he’s been able to develop projects on his own terms. He focuses on comedy with heart—stories that reflect real people and families.
He also works with his family in the business. His son, Bentley Kyle Evans Jr., played a lead role in Family Time. His daughter, KyLee Evans, is a writer on The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder for Disney+.
“Watching my kids work in this industry is a full-circle moment,” Evans says.
Work That Speaks for Itself
Evans has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award. He’s been a member of SAG-AFTRA since the mid-1980s. But he isn’t driven by recognition. He’s driven by impact.
“TV is like a mirror,” he says. “I want people to see themselves and laugh a little too.”
Though known mostly in industry circles, his work has shaped the careers of major stars and changed the way Black stories are told on screen. His shows often mix comedy with everyday struggles—jobs, relationships, and family life.
Life Beyond the Set
Outside of work, Evans is private. He’s married to Valicia Evans and enjoys golf and pickleball. He lives in Los Angeles and continues to work on new shows under his production banner.
“I stay grounded,” he says. “This industry moves fast. You’ve got to know who you are.”
Bentley Kyle Evans built his career by writing characters people could relate to and producing shows that lasted. He helped define a golden era of Black sitcoms. And he continues to adapt as TV shifts toward streaming and digital platforms.
You may not always see his face. But his voice is everywhere in modern comedy.
Interview with Bentley Kyle Evans
You started out in front of the camera. What made you move behind it?
I liked acting, but I was more curious about how stories came together. Being on Hollywood Shuffle early in my career helped me see how much power is behind the scenes. That’s where I knew I belonged.
What was it like running a show like Martin so early in your career?
It was intense and exciting. I was learning while doing. We knew we had something special. The comedy came from real places—how we talked, how we lived. That honesty made it connect.
How did you balance creative freedom while working with big names like Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx?
It’s all about trust. I listened to what they needed as performers and tried to match it with a strong story. “If you can make your friends laugh, you can make America laugh. But you have to listen to your cast and trust their timing.”
What inspired you to create Family Time for Bounce TV?
Networks weren’t making a lot of shows for everyday Black families anymore. I wanted to change that. Bounce gave me the space to do it. It was their first original scripted show, so we were building something from scratch.
How has streaming changed the way you work?
Streaming opened new doors. You don’t have to wait for a network to approve your vision. You can go straight to platforms that want content made for niche or underserved audiences.
What’s it like watching your kids step into the business?
It’s surreal. My son acted in Family Time. My daughter writes for The Proud Family. I never pushed them into it, but they both found their own way. “Watching my kids work in this industry is a full-circle moment.”
