Martin Lawrence

Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor and comedian. Lawrence began his career doing comedy shows, including in The Improv. After his first acting role in the sitcom What's Happening Now!! (1987–1988), Lawrence co-created and played the titular character of the Fox television sitcom Martin (1992-1997), which helped catapult him into larger film roles. His first major lead role on the big screen was playing Detective Sergeant Marcus Burnett in the buddy cop action comedy Bad Boys, a role he reprised in three sequels.

Lawrence went on to star in the commercially successful films A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996), which marked his directorial debut, Nothing to Lose (1997), Blue Streak (1999), Big Momma's House (2000), Big Momma's House 2 (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), College Road Trip (2008), Death at a Funeral (2010), and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011), among others. His voice acting work includes the animated films Open Season (2006) and Sneaks (2025), and the animated television series Kid 'n Play (1990).

Early life Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence was born on April 16, 1965, in Frankfurt, West Germany. His father, John Lawrence, was serving in the United States Air Force at the time of his birth. His mother, Chlora (née Bailey), worked several jobs, including as a sales representative and cashier at various department stores, to support her family. Small for his age growing up in the projects, Lawrence often engaged in street fights with other kids. He stated that it was his mother and older brothers who kept him out of jail where most of his childhood friends ended up. During his teen years, Lawrence excelled at boxing.

Career In his early days, Lawrence did comedy shows in the Washington, D.C., area and supported himself through odd jobs. Comedian Ritch Shydner saw his act and suggested Lawrence make connections in New York. Lawrence ended up moving to New York City and found his way to the comedy club The Improv. Shortly after appearing at The Imp He did well on the show and made it to the final round, but did not win. However, executives at Columbia Pictures Television saw Martin's performance and offered him the role of Maurice Warfield in What's Happening Now!!; this was his first acting job. Martins ratings continued to skyrocket so much that Fox became more of a contender against NBC and came closer to being considered among the top television networks. In 1995 he acted alongside Will Smith in Bad Boys with wide success.

After Martin ended its run in 1997, Lawrence found work in comedy films. He often starred as the second lead opposite actors including Eddie Murphy, Danny DeVito, and Tim Robbins. and Wild Hogs (2007), in which he played a bored suburbanite seeking adventure on the open road in a biker comedy alongside John Travolta, Tim Allen and William H. Macy.

In 2006, Lawrence appeared on Inside the Actors Studio, during which Lawrence briefly brought back to life some of the characters he had portrayed on Martin. He also appeared in Open Season as the voice of Boog, one of the main characters of the film, which also starred Ashton Kutcher, Debra Messing, and Gary Sinise.

In 2008, Lawrence starred in his first G-rated film, Walt Disney Pictures' College Road Trip, in which he co-starred with Raven-Symoné.

In 2011, Lawrence reprised his role as FBI agent Malcolm Turner in Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, the third film in the Big Momma series.

In January 2013, it was announced that Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer were considering pairing up to star in a comedy for Lionsgate Television. Partners, paired the two actors as Chicago lawyers from "vastly different backgrounds who unexpectedly meet in court on the worst day of their lives." The show premiered on August 4, 2014, but was cancelled after one season after receiving poor reviews.

In 2020, Lawrence reprised his role as Detective Marcus Burnett in the third installment of the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys for Life, again alongside Will Smith. The film was considered a financial success, grossing $112 million in its first four days of release.

Lawrence starred in his first dramatic role in 2022's Mindcage alongside Melissa Roxburgh and John Malkovich.

On April 20, 2023, Lawrence earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Lawrence was engaged to actress Lark Voorhies in 1993. He married Miss Virginia USA, Patricia Southall, in 1995. Lawrence and Southall have a daughter, Jasmine Page (born January 15, 1996). They divorced in 1997, and Lawrence began a relationship with Shamicka Gibbs. Lawrence and Gibbs have two daughters, Iyanna Faith (born November 9, 2000) and Amara Trinity (born August 20, 2002). After over ten years together they married on July 10, 2010, at Lawrence's Beverly Hills home. Actors Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington were among the 120 wedding guests; On April 25, 2012, Lawrence filed for divorce from Gibbs, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for joint legal and physical custody of the children.

Lawrence owns a farm near Purcellville, Virginia. For several years, he owned a large mansion in the Beverly Park community in Beverly Hills, where he wedded Gibbs. However, following their divorce, the property was available for lease at $200,000 per month in June 2012. In 2013, the property was up for sale for $26.5 million, and eventually he sold it for $17.2 million to Bruce Makowsky, buying an Encino, Los Angeles property for $6.63 million.

In May 2025, Lawrence's daughter Jasmine married Eddie Murphy's son, Eric Murphy.

Arrests, lawsuits and health problems

In July 1995, while on the set filming A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Lawrence lashed out in a violent rage and was then hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

On May 8, 1996, he became increasingly erratic and was arrested after he brandished a pistol in the middle of an intersection on Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles, screaming, "They're trying to kill me!" He was again hospitalized, with his public-relations agent citing exhaustion and dehydration as the reasons for this episode. In March 1997, Lawrence was arrested after punching a man in a Hollywood nightclub. He recovered in the hospital after entering a near fatal coma due to a body temperature of , his breathing assisted by a ventilator.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 Do the Right Thing Cee 1990 House Party Bilal 1991 L.A. Story Himself Uncredited cameo Talkin' Dirty After Dark Terry Lumbar House Party 2 Bilal 1992 Boomerang Tyler Hawkins 1994 You So Crazy Himself Stand-up film; also Executive producer and writer 1995 Bad Boys Detective Marcus Burnett 1996 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Darnell Wright Also director, Narrator, executive producer, writer and music supervisor 1997 Nothing to Lose Terrence "T-Paul" Paul Davidson 1998 Jackie Chan: My Story Himself Documentary film 1999 Life Claude Banks Blue Streak Miles Logan/Detective Malone 2000 Big Momma's House Malcolm Turner/Big Momma Also executive producer 2001 What's the Worst That Could Happen? Kevin Caffrey Black Knight Jamal Walker/Skywalker 2002 Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat Himself Stand-up film; Also executive producer and writer 2003 National Security Earl Montgomery Also executive producer Bad Boys II Detective Marcus Burnett 2005 Rebound Coach Roy McCormick/Preacher Don Also executive producer 2006 Big Momma's House 2 Malcolm Turner/Big Momma Open Season Boog Voice only Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run Short film, Voice only 2007 Wild Hogs Bobby Davis 2008 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins RJ Stevens/Roscoe Jenkins Jr. College Road Trip Chief James Porter Tropic Thunder The Dude Cameo 2010 Death at a Funeral Ryan Barnes 2011 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Malcolm Turner/Big Momma 2016 Martin Lawrence: Doin' Time Himself Stand-up film; Also writer 2019 The Beach Bum Captain Wack 2020 Bad Boys for Life Detective Marcus Burnett 2022 Mindcage Jake Doyle 2024 Bad Boys: Ride or Die Detective Marcus Burnett Also executive producer 2025 Sneaks JB Voice only

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987–1988 What's Happening Now!! Maurice Warfield 22 episodes 1989 A Little Bit Strange Sydney Masterson Unsold pilot 1990 Kid 'n Play Wiz, Hurbie Voice Hammer, Slammer, & Slade Willie Television film 1991 Private Times Mike Unaired pilot 1992–1993 Def Comedy Jam Himself (host) 1992–1997 Martin Martin Payne and other various characters 132 episodes 1994 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Martin Lawrence/Crash Test Dummies" 2010–2011 Love That Girl! Executive producer 2012 Untitled Martin Lawrence / CBS Sitcom Ray Barker Unsold pilot 2014 The Soul Man Crazy Rudy Episode: "All the Way Live" Partners Marcus Jackson 10 episodes 2024 Knuckles Detective Marcus Burnett Episode: "Don't Ever Say I Wasn't There For You"; archive footage from Bad Boys 2025 Demascus Uncle Forty 3 episodes 2026 The Varnell Hill Show Martin Payne Executive producer

Discography Years Album Chart positions US US Hip-Hop 1993 Martin Lawrence Live Talkin' Shit 76 10 1995 Funk It – 35

Awards and nominations Blockbuster Entertainment Award nominated with Eddie Murphy for Favorite Comedy Team (2000) for the film Life nominated for Favorite Actor (2001) for the film Big Momma's House NAACP Image Award won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1995) for the series Martin won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1996) for the series Martin nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1997) for the series Martin won Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (2025) for the film Bad Boys: Ride or Die Kids' Choice Award nominated for Favorite Television Actor (1995) for the series Martin nominated for Favorite Television Actor (1996) for the series Martin nominated for Favorite Movie Actor (2001) for the film Big Momma's House MTV Movie Award nominated with Will Smith for Best On-Screen Duo (1996) for the film Bad Boys nominated for the film Big Momma's House nominated with Will Smith for Best On-Screen Team (2003) for the film Bad Boys II ShoWest – Male Star of Tomorrow (1995) Teen Choice Award – nominated for Wipeout Scene of the Summer (2000) for the film Big Momma's House BET Comedy Award – won' Icon Comedy Award (2005) AMDA - received Lifetime Achievement Award and Honorary Masters Degree (2025)