Martin Lawrence is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, talk show host, and writer. He started his career as a stand-up comedian and later starred in his own sitcoms, including What's Happening Now!! and Martin. He has appeared in films such as A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Bad Boys I & II, Life, Blue Streak and Big Momma's House I & II. As of 2020, Martin Lawrence's net worth is $110 million.
Born on April 16th 1965 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence was the youngest of four children born to African American parents John Ronald Lawrence Sr., a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Ray Barracks, and Chlora Amelia (née Beard). His father died when he was eight years old from a brain tumor which resulted in a seizure that caused him to drown while swimming in the pool at their home shortly afterwards. Following his father's death—along with financial difficulties that came with it—the family moved to Landover Hills near Prince George’s County where his mother worked two jobs to support them all; one as a cashier at Safeway grocery store and the other at The Pentagon where she was employed as a secretary for the Department of Defense. It was during this time that young Martin began working odd jobs himself to help out with expenses; starting with selling drugs before eventually finding work as an apprentice plumber
and then moving on to become a shoe salesman. Despite these humble beginnings however he always had big dreams and aspirations; determined to make something of himself he knew that comedy was his calling. After graduating from high school he enrolled into Maryland’s Bowie State University with hopes of becoming a teacher like his mother but soon found that wasn’t the right path for him; instead using campus events as an opportunity to showcase his talents as a stand-up comedian.
It wasn’t long before he dropped out altogether to pursue comedy full time; starting off by performing at various nightclubs throughout Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland before eventually relocating to New York City where he continued honing his craft by appearing on Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam alongside other up-and-coming comedians like Dave Chappelle
and Jay Leno. From there things really started taking off for him; landing small roles on TV shows like What’s Happening Now!! and Do