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{{Infobox comedian
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Martin Lawrence
| name = Martin Lawrence
| image =
| image =
[[File:Martin Lawrence.jpg|thumbnail|right|Martin Lawrence]]
| birth_name = Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence
| birth_name = Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1965|4|16}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1965|4|16}}

Revision as of 17:43, 14 June 2013

Martin Lawrence
File:Martin Lawrence.jpg
Martin Lawrence
Birth nameMartin Fitzgerald Lawrence
Born (1965-04-16) April 16, 1965 (age 59)
Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany
MediumStand up
Television
Film
NationalityAmerican
Years active1987–present
GenresObservational comedy
Physical comedy
Satire
Black comedy
Subject(s)Human sexuality
African-American culture
Racism
Race relations
Self-deprecation
SpousePatricia Southall (1995–1996) (divorced); Shamika Gibbs (2010–2012) (divorced)
Partner(s)Lark Voorhies (1993-94) (Broken engagement)
Notable works and rolesMartin Payne on Martin
Miles Logan in Blue Streak
Boog in Open Season
Bobby Davis in Wild Hogs
Marcus Burnett in Bad Boys and Bad Boys 2
Malcolm Turner / Big Momma in the Big Momma's House (film series)

Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence[2] (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and stand up comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor, most notably the films Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House. Lawrence has starred in numerous film roles and his very own highly-rated television series, which ran from 1992 to 1997. His television series and starring role in question were both named after him with "Martin" Payne in Martin.

Early life

Lawrence, second of six children, was born in Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, in Germany, on April 16, 1965, to American parents. He was given his first name after civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and his middle name after U.S. President John F. Kennedy.[2] His father, John Lawrence, served in the U.S. military.[2] After his parents divorced when he was eight,[3] Lawrence rarely saw his father, who worked as a police officer at the time.[4] His mother, Chlora Lawrence (née Bailey, July 24, 1930 – August 28, 2008), began working several jobs to support her family.[5][6] During his teen years, Lawrence excelled at boxing.[2] He lived in Maryland, and attended Thomas G. Pullen School of Creative and Performing Arts (Landover, Maryland), Fairmont Heights High School (Fairmount Heights, Maryland), Eleanor Roosevelt High School,[2] and also Friendly High School in Fort Washington, Maryland, becoming a Mid-Atlantic Golden Gloves boxing contender.

Career

Lawrence moved to Denver and found his way to the legendary Kings Wood comedy club.[citation needed] Shortly after appearing at the Wood, he won a performance spot on Star Search.[2] He did well on the show and made it to the final round before ultimately losing. However, executives at Columbia TriStar Television saw Martin's performance and offered him the role of "Maurice" on the television sitcom What's Happening Now!!; this was his first acting job.[2] Upon cancellation of that show, Lawrence found bit parts in various films and television roles. His breakthrough role was as Cee in the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. Other roles followed in films such as the House Party series, Talkin' Dirty After Dark, and the Eddie Murphy vehicle Boomerang. During this period, entertainment mogul Russell Simmons selected him to host the groundbreaking series Def Comedy Jam on HBO. Def Comedy Jam gave many comedians (including Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle, Mike Epps, Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer) mainstream exposure.

During his stint with Def Comedy Jam, Lawrence appeared in his own hit series, Martin, which aired on Fox TV.[2] The show ran from 1992 to 1997 and was an enormous success. Martin was the flagship of Fox's Thursday-night line-up, which drew millions of viewers away from NBC's "Must See TV" line-up. He hosted Saturday Night Live on February 19, 1994, where he made crude remarks about women's genitalia and personal hygiene; the monologue was completely edited out of NBC reruns and syndicated versions, and Lawrence was banned from the show for life. 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.

After Martin ended its run in 1997, Lawrence found ample work in comedy films. He often starred as the second lead opposite actors including Eddie Murphy and Tim Robbins.[2] Many of his films were blockbusters at the box office, including Nothing to Lose, Life, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House. He also starred in critical and box office failures including, What's the Worst That Could Happen?, Black Knight and National Security. Regardless, his salary steadily increased to over $10 million per film role. He continues to work in film, with such films as Big Momma's House 2, which opened #1 at the North American box office and grossed almost $28 million its first weekend,[7] and Wild Hogs (2007), in which he plays 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'd portrayed on Martin.

In 2008, Lawrence starred in Disney's College Road Trip co-starring with Raven-Symoné. This particular film was his first G-rated film. Even though it was his first film to be G-rated, it is not his first time appearing in a children's film; he played a voiceover role in Open Season (2006) opposite Ashton Kutcher.

At the 2009 BET Awards he appeared in a spoof movie trailer with Jamie Foxx for a fictional movie The Skank Robbers that featured, their respective television characters Sheneneh Jenkins and Ugly Wanda. in 2010, Fox announced that it was producing a film based on the sketch, featuring Foxx, Lawrence, and actress Halle Berry.[8]

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's House series, which was released in 2011.[9]

In January 2013, it was announced Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer are considering pairing up to star in a comedy together for Lionsgate TV. The series will likely follow the same production model as Charlie Sheen's Anger Management, which is also produced by Lionsgate TV. That show was recently given a hardy back-90 pickup following its initial 10-episode order.[10] In March 2013, it was announced television producers/writers Bob Boyett and Robert Horn are aboard writing and executive producing. They have worked on popular hit sitcoms like Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, Full House, Living Single and Designing Women.[11]

Personal life

Relationships and family

Lawrence was engaged to actress Lark Voorhies in 1993. He married Patricia Southall, a former Miss Virginia USA, in 1995. Lawrence and Southall have one child together, daughter Jasmin Page (born January 15, 1996). They divorced in 1997.[citation needed] Throughout late 1997, Lawrence was in a relationship with Shamicka Gibbs. They married on July 10, 2010 at Lawrence's Beverly Hills home. Actors Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington were among the 120 wedding guests;[12] Shanice serenaded the couple by singing the Minnie Riperton classic "Lovin' You".[13] Lawrence and Gibbs have two daughters: Iyanna Faith (born November 9, 2000) and Amara Trinity (born August 20, 2002).[14] Lawrence filed for divorce from Gibbs on April 25, 2012, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for joint legal and physical custody of the children.[15]

Lawrence owns a farm near Purcellville, Virginia.[16][17] For many years, he owned a large mansion in the exclusive Beverly Park community, but sold it in June 2012 following his divorce.[18]

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.[19]

On May 8, 1996, he became increasingly erratic and was arrested after he reportedly brandished a pistol and screamed "They're trying to kill me!" at tourists on Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles and was then hospitalized, with his PR stating "exhaustion and dehydration".[2] On August 19, 1996, he was arrested at Burbank Airport for carrying a loaded gun in his suitcase. In March 1997, Lawrence was arrested again after punching a man in a Hollywood nightclub.[2]

In 1997, Lawrence's Martin co-star, Tisha Campbell-Martin, filed a lawsuit against Lawrence and the show's producers for sexual harassment and verbal and physical assaults. HBO Studios settled the lawsuit so the show's final season could actually be completed. Campbell-Martin agreed to complete the season on the condition that she not appear in any scenes in the last two episodes with Lawrence.[20][citation needed] No criminal charges were ever filed and the accusations were never brought to court.

During August 1999, Lawrence slipped into a three-day coma after collapsing from heat exhaustion while jogging in 100-degree heat while wearing several layers of heavy clothing.[2] He recovered in the hospital after nearly dying from a body temperature of 107°F (41.7°C), his breathing assisted by a respirator.

Television

Filmography

Year Title Role Note
1989 Do the Right Thing Cee
1990 House Party Bilal
1991 Talkin' Dirty After Dark Terry Wilson
1991 House Party 2 Bilal
1994 You So Crazy Himself Stand-up special
Executive producer and writer
1995 Bad Boys Det. Marcus Burnett
1996 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Narrator/Darnell Wright Also director, executive producer, music supervisor, and writer
1997 Nothing to Lose Terrance Paul Davidson
1999 Life Claude Banks
1999 Blue Streak Miles Logan/Detective Malone
1999 Girl's Best Friend by Jay-Z Miles Logan as "The Pizza Man" / Himself Music video
2000 Big Momma's House Malcolm Turner/Big Momma Also executive producer
2001 What's the Worst That Could Happen? Kevin Caffrey
2001 Black Knight Jamal Walker/Skywalker
2002 Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat Himself Also executive producer
Stand-up special
2003 National Security Earl Montgomery Also executive producer
2003 Bad Boys II Det. Marcus Burnett
2005 Rebound Roy McCormick/Preacher Don Also executive producer
2006 Big Momma's House 2 Malcolm Turner/Big Momma
2006 Open Season Boog Voice only
Animation debut
2007 Wild Hogs Bobby Davis
2008 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Dr. R.J. Stevens/Roscoe Steven Jenkins, Jr.
2008 College Road Trip Chief James Porter
2010 Death at a Funeral Ryan Barnes
2011 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Malcolm Turner/Big Momma

Albums

Year 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 movie Life
    • nominated for Favorite Actor (2001) for the movie 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
  • 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 movie Big Momma's House
  • MTV Movie Award
    • nominated with Will Smith for Best On-Screen Duo (1999) for the movie Bad Boys
    • nominated for the movie Big Momma's House
    • nominated with Will Smith for Best On-Screen Team (2003) for the movie Bad Boys II
  • ShoWest – Male Star of Tomorrow (1995)
  • Teen Choice Award – nominated for Wipeout Scene of the Summer (2000) for the movie Big Momma's House
  • BET Comedy Award – won Icon Comedy Award (2005)

References

  1. ^ Allis, Tim (April 12, 1993). "Court Jester". People. Retrieved August 23, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio
  3. ^ "Martin Lawrence Biography – Yahoo! Movies". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved March 26, 2007.
  4. ^ "Martin Lawrence Biography (1965–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  5. ^ "Martin Lawrence – Profile, Latest News and Related Articles". E! Online. Retrieved March 26, 2007.
  6. ^ "Chlora Lawrence-Crandell". The Transylvania Times.
  7. ^ "Yahoo! Movies – Weekend Box Office and Buzz". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved March 26, 2007.
  8. ^ "'Skank Robbers': Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence to reprise drag roles". Catch. October 11, 2010.
  9. ^ Heritage, Stuart (November 10, 2010). "Big Momma's House 3: once, twice, three times a fake lady". The Guardian. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ "Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence Teaming Up?". Terence?date=January 4, 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ "Comedy Vets To Run Kelsey Grammar-Martin Lawrence Series (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. March 29, 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Wihlborg, Ulrica (July 10, 2010). "Martin Lawrence Ties the Knot". People. Retrieved July 10, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Comedian Martin Lawrence Marries Longtime Girlfriend". theroot.com.
  14. ^ "Martin Lawrence Files for Divorce". TMZ. April 30, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  15. ^ Marisa Laudidio (24 April 2012). "Martin Lawrence and Wife are Divorcing". People.
  16. ^ The Reliable Source (7 August 2009). "Hey, Isn't That...?". The Washington Post.
  17. ^ "Geese Give Martin Lawrence a Goose". TMZ. 31 July 2008.
  18. ^ http://realestalker.blogspot.com/2012/07/bruce-makowsky-budding-real-estate.html
  19. ^ Lang, Steven (May 12, 1997). "Disorderly Conduct". People. Retrieved November 26, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Marie Morreale. "Rebound: Old School Meets Middle School". Scholastic. Retrieved March 26, 2007.
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