Martin Lawrence Martin Lawrence makes easy work of making people laugh, and though his comedic acting career has been a fair success, his personal life has been anything but easy or funny. Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence was born in Frankfurt, Germany on April 16, 1965 where his father was serving in the United States military. His mother and father separated when Martin was six years old. At the age of eight, he moved with his mother and five siblings to Landover, Maryland ,where his mother had to work several jobs to support the family. Martin Lawrence showed an early interest in comedy and would often entertain his classmates with his comedic talents. He attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School when he became a Mid-Atlantic Golden Gloves boxing contender. However, it wasn’t boxing but comedy, where his interests lay strongest. At the urging of one his teachers who had frequently given him class time to entertain, he attended an open mike night at a local comedy club. His comedy career was launched after he appeared at the Kings Wood comedy club in California and was subsequently given a shot to compete on Star Search. It was there that Columbia Tri-Star Television agents discovered Martin’s talents and offered him a television role on What’s Happening Now!. Martin’s acting career was launched when he was selected to host the HBO series Def Comedy Jam, which ran from 1992 to 1997. Lawrence hosted Saturday Night Live on February 19, 1994, but was further banned from the show because of crude remarks that were later edited out of rerun and syndicated airings. On the set isn’t the only place Martin’s actions have been questioned. He has been arrested more than once, including in August of 1996 at Burbank Airport for carrying a loaded gun.
In his personal life, Martin Lawrence has been engaged to former Saved By the Bell star Lark Voorhies, and was married to former Miss Virginia, Patricia Southall, with whom he has one daughter. Lawrence and Southall were divorced in September of 1996, the month after his Burbank Airport arrest. Though his personal life holds a tough childhood, a failed marriage, and a criminal record, Martin Lawrence’s career has been an overall success. He has starred in many blockbuster films including Bad Boys and Bad Boys II with co-star Will Smith, and Big Mamma’s House and Big Mamma’s House 2, which opened at number 1 in January, 2006. He is credited with producing a number of films including both Big Mamma’s House films. |
