Meet 'Family Matters' Star Darius McCrary Who May Have Inherited a Talent from Aunt Chaka Khan

Aside from being a great actor, Darius McCrary, better known for his role in the ‘90s sitcom “Family Matters,” is also a gifted musician. He has released some R&B songs through the years, and his aunt was one of the most famous soul singers of the past century.

While he’s mostly known for his acting career, McCrary comes from a family of talented singers, writers, and producers. His father, Howard McCrary, was part of the legendary gospel and R&B group The McCrarys back in the ‘70s.

The Grammy award-nominated singer and producer has worked with great acts such as Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Chaka Khan.

DARIUS AND CHAKA'S BOND

Khan, known as the Queen of Funk whose career spans over five decades, is McCrary’s aunt. Her younger sister, Tammy McCrary, is married to McCrary’s uncle, Gil.

That family connection, and the fact that his father worked with the singer, naturally created a bond between McCrary and Chaka.

While it is rare to see McCrary and Chaka together because of their busy schedules, it is clear that there’s a lot of love and admiration in their family.

FOLLOWING IN HIS FAMILY’S FOOTSTEPS

And like his aunt and father, McCrary is also a talented singer. Back in 2010, McCrary took a break from acting to explore his passion for music, working alongside his brother, a music producer, and his sister, a songwriter, to create an EP of gospel music.

In an interview with TMC Entertainment, McCrary said of his jump to the music world: “I’ve been singing all my life…coming from a musical family, it’s in my blood. [...] Chaka Khan’s my aunt, and Rick James, and the incredible McCrary’s, my family—it’s sharpened me, and it’s become my love and my passion.”

A STAINED PUBLIC IMAGE

But as Chaka remains to be one of the most iconic artists of our time, McCrary’s image has been stained in the past thanks to his legal feud with ex-wife Tammy Brawner.

She filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences and stating in court papers that she has concerns over the wellbeing of their then 3-year-old daughter, Zoey, around McCrary.

She even asked the judge to order McCrary to attend “alcohol/drug abuse and batterers’ intervention classes.” Earlier that year, she had accused McCrary of dislocating Zoey’s arm.

According to court records obtained by The Blast, Brawner stated that McCrary “partially dislocated our daughter’s arm,” and attached medical records stating that the girl had Nursemaid’s Elbow, described as:

“A common elbow injury among young children and toddlers. It occurs when a child’s elbow is pulled, and one of the bones partially dislocates.”

McCrary denied the accusations, stating to TMZ that it was “absurd” to think he could have injured his daughter. He said Brawner was following an agenda and that he was praying for her to have a “clear mind.”

DARIUS MCCRARY'S PERSONAL LIFE

In 2014, he married Tammy Brawner of the Harlem Globetrotters. By 2017, this marriage was over and ended frighteningly. Brawner was said to have received a restraining order against McCrary after alleging multiple counts of abuse against her and their baby girl, Zoey.

Brawner also accused him of domestic violence. This was not the first time that McCrary has been charged with domestic violence; his previous wife, Karrine Steffans, claimed that McCrary carried out several acts of violence against her.

Weeks after the courts ordered the two to avoid each other; Brawner filed for divorce. Almost two years later, the couple reached a divorce settlement.

Brawner was given legal and physical custody of their daughter, with weekly visits for McCrary, though he would need a court-appointed monitor for the first 20 days.

Additionally, the court ordered him to seek help with his alcohol, drug, and violence issues and take parenting classes. Also, he is now required to pay $1,366 monthly for child support. This is an increase from the $29 he was ordered to pay in 2018.

HIS ROLE IN "FAMILY MATTERS"

In 2020, McCrary signed with CGEM Talent. He had just recently played James Brown on the BET American Soul series and appeared as Otis Leecan in Lee Daniels's "Star" on Fox.

The actor, rapper, singer, and producer was said to be preparing for the launch of his television and film production company, slated for release in 2021.

Before that, he was best known for his role as Edward "Eddie" Winslow, Carl and Harriette Winslow's eldest son on ABC's "Family Matters," which ran from 1989 to 1998.

He also played the role of Scam in the comedy "Big Shots" from 1987, did some voiceover work as "Jazz" in the Transformers reboot in 2007, and the role of photographer Malcolm Winters in the CBS hit "The Young and the Restless" between 2009 and 2011.