Martin Lawrence

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. Martin's 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 Television ==Discography==

• 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) ==References==