Martin Lawrence

Born in Frankfurt, West Germany, Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence soon moved to the United States and was raised in Landover, Maryland. Early on, he engaged in street fights and even excelled in boxing, but the influence of his mother and older brothers kept him out of jail and steered him towards a more promising path. Lawrence started his comedic career in Washington, D.C. where he was spotted by Ritch Snyder who advised him to establish himself in New York. Lawrence transitioned from small roles to his breakthrough role in 'Do the Right Thing' and was selected by Russell Simmons to host Def Comedy Jam on HBO, contributing to the mainstream exposure of several future stars. His own show, 'Martin', aired on Fox from 1992 to 1997, and was a huge success. Additionally, he was seen in the 'Bad Boys' franchise and in successful comedy movies. His salary increased notably, even if the films were not always box office hits.

Lawrence's personal life has seen adversities and changing relationships. Previously, Lawrence was engaged to Lark Voorhies and married Patricia Southall, with whom he has a daughter. He later married Shamicka Gibbs and had two daughters before citing irreconcilable differences in their divorce. While his career was progressing, his controversial misdemeanors attracted lawsuits and hospitalizations. Lawrence made a successful comeback, nonetheless, with his first dramatic role and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023. His enduring television presence has been recognized with wins and nominations at various awards.