Martin Lawrence (born April 16, 1965 in Frankfurt, Germany) is a popular American actor, comedian, director and producer, who first became popular for his 1992-1997 FOX comedy series, Martin, which was nominated for 2 awards (2 Kids' Choice Awards) and won 2 other awards. (NAACP Image Awards)
Martin Lawrence was banned from the show after his opening monologue on the February 19, 1994 episode included comments about female genitalia.
Note: The monologue has been edited out in both the network repeats and syndicated version, with just a graphic describing in general what Lawrence had said. The graphic also told viewers that it was a lively monologue and it almost cost many SNL employees their jobs.
While not a reason for the ban, another factor that harmed Lawrence was a Stuart Smalley sketch where he told the title character "Shut up you ass pirate". That line had not been in the script; it was ad-libbed, which Lorne is famously not a fan of.
Unlike most other banned performers, one of the conditions of Lawrence's ban was that no one on the show-guest host or cast member-was even allowed to mention him by name, although it is unknown how well this is enforced, as he has been mentioned at least once since.
Filmography[]
- Do the Right Thing (1989)
- House Party (1990)
- Talkin' Dirty After Dark (1991)
- House Party 2 (1991)
- Boomerang (1992)
- You So Crazy (1994)
- Bad Boys (1995)
- A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) (also director and writer)
- Nothing to Lose (1997)
- Life (1999)
- Blue Streak (1999)
- Big Momma's House (2000)
- What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)
- Black Knight (2001)
- Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002)
- National Security (2003)
- Bad Boys II (2003)
- Rebound (2005)
- Big Momma's House 2 (2006)
- Open Season (2006) (voice)
- Wild Hogs (2007)
- Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
- College Road Trip (2008)
- Death at a Funeral (2010)
- Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son (2011)
Television Work[]
- What's Happening Now!! (cast member from 1987-1988)
- A Little Bit Strange (1989) (unsold pilot)
- Hammer, Slammer, & Slade (1990) (unsold pilot)
- Private Times (1991)
- Martin (1992-1997)
- Def Comedy Jam (host from 1992-1993)
Awards and nominations[]
- BET Comedy Award - Icon Comedy Award (2005)
- Blockbuster Entertainment Award
- nominated for Favorite Actor (2001) for the movie Big Momma's House
- nominated with Eddie Murphy for Favorite Comedy Team (2000) for the movie Life
- NAACP Image Award
- nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1997) for the series Martin
- won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1996) for the series Martin
- won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1995) for the series Martin
- Kids' Choice Award
- nominated for Favorite Movie Actor (2001) for the movie Big Momma's House
- nominated for Favorite Television Actor (1996) for the series Martin
- nominated for Favorite Television Actor (1995) for the series Martin
- MTV Movie Award
- nominated with Will Smith for Best On-Screen Team (2003) for the movie Bad Boys II
- nominated for the movie Big Momma's House
- nominated with Will Smith for Best On-Screen Duo (1996) for the movie Bad Boys
- ShoWest - Male Star of Tomorrow (1995)
- Teen Choice Award -
- Nominated for Wipeout Scene of the Summer (2000) for the movie Big Momma's House