Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor and comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor. He got his start playing Maurice Warfield in What's Happening Now!! (1987–1988), and is known for his lead performance in the Fox television sitcom Martin, as well as the Bad Boys film franchise. His other films include House Party, Boomerang, Life, Blue Streak, Big Momma's House, Open Season, and Wild Hogs.
Martin Lawrence was banned from Saturday Night Live after his opening monologue on the February 19, 1994 episode, the fourteenth episode of Season 19 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