Martin Lawrence

April 16, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Martin Lawrence, born on April 16, 1965, is a German-born American actor, comedian, presenter, screenwriter, and producer. Lawrence rose to fame in the 1990s, establishing a successful career in Hollywood, most notably in the sitcom “Martin” and in films such as “House Party,” “Boomerang,” “Blue Streak,” “Wild Hogs,” “Nothing to Lose” and the “Bad Boys” and “Big Momma’s House” series. We’ll help you celebrate his achievements and journey on his birthday right here!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence

Birth date:

April 16, 1965

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Aries

Height:

5' 7"

Relationship Status:

Divorced

Net Worth:

$110 million

Background

Martin Lawrence is the fourth of six children and was born in Frankfurt, Germany on April 16, 1965. His parents divorced when he was just eight years old and Lawrence rarely saw his father, John Lawrence, who worked as a police officer. His mother, Chlora (whose given name is Bailey), had to work several jobs to support her family.

During his teenage years, Lawrence excelled a lot in boxing. At that time, he lived in Queens, New York, and Landover, Maryland. He attended the Thomas G. Pullen School of Creative and Performing Arts, Fairmont Heights High School, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he won the Golden Gloves in boxing. He was serious about pursuing a professional career in the ring until he had an accident, which caused him to reconsider.

Lawrence then moved to New York, where he went on to star in “The Improv.” After that, he was on “Star Search” and did well on the show. While Lawrence made it to the final round, he didn’t win the contest. However, Columbia Pictures Television executives saw Lawrence’s performance and offered him the role of Maurice in the television series “What’s Happening Now!!” Some of the popular movies in which he acted were “Bad Boys” and the “Big Momma’s House” trilogy.

Career timeline

1985

His Breakthrough

Lawrence gets his breakout role in the series "What's Happening Now!!"

1992

A T.V. Show With His Name

On the Fox channel, the television series called "Martin" premiers, in which Lawrence plays, in addition to the titular role, many other characters.

1994

He Wins His First Award

Lawrence wins his first award for ‘Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.’

2006

He Tries Voice Acting

Lawrence shows that he is an incredible voice actor in the animation "Open Season," where he voices the bear Boog.

2020

He Stars in the “Bad Boys” Sequel

Lawrence returns in the "Bad Boys For Life" movie alongside Will Smith.

Why We Love Martin Lawrence

He started stand-up for his mother
Lawrence started doing comedy because he loved making his mother laugh. As a single mother, she sometimes had to work three jobs at a time to support her six children, so Lawrence would make up little jokes and routines to keep her happy.
He helped other budding comedians
Between 1992 and 1993, Lawrence hosted “Def Comedy Jam,” which offered a platform to several new comedians. The show featured numerous comedians who are very well known today, from Tiffany Hadish and Vanessa Fraction to Cory Fernandez and DeRay Davis.
He isn’t afraid to be vulnerable
Just like us, Lawrence also gets nervous at important moments. But even though he still sometimes feels the same stage fright that he faced early on in his career, that hasn't stopped him from achieving success, showing that anything is possible.

5 Surprising Facts

He once fell into a coma
He collapsed from heat exhaustion after jogging in a fat suit while preparing for "Big Momma’s House" in 38°C heat and was in a three-day coma.
He popularized the phrase “you go girl!”
Lawrence used the phrase “you go girl!” in several of his stand-up routines before he started using it on T.V.!
His biggest idol is Richard Pryor
As a child, Lawrence watched both his stand-up specials and films, and he has always called Pryor his main comedic influence.
He was named after giants
He was named after pioneers Martin Luther King and President Kennedy.
He has been banned from “S.N.L.”
When Lawrence hosted the “Saturday Night Live” show in 1994, he cracked some sexist and crude jokes, which led to his being banned from the show for life.