16 April 1965 16 April 1965 Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt, Germany

Martin Lawrence took his stand-up Martin Lawrence took his stand-up comedy act and turned it into the comedy act and turned it into the hit TV show hit TV show MartinMartin from 1992- from 1992-1997. 1997.

In addition to the title role, In addition to the title role, Lawrence portrayed several Lawrence portrayed several different characters. different characters.

The success of the series helped The success of the series helped launch Lawrence on a career that launch Lawrence on a career that has included comedy albums and has included comedy albums and several movies, including several movies, including A Thin A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,Line Between Love and Hate, which he also co-wrote and which he also co-wrote and directed, and two big-budget directed, and two big-budget buddy movies with buddy movies with Will SmithWill Smith, , Bad Bad BoysBoys (1995) and (1995) and Bad Boys IIBad Boys II (2003). (2003).

Lawrence's off-screen antics have Lawrence's off-screen antics have frequently made headlines, frequently made headlines, including a 1996 incident where he including a 1996 incident where he was found shouting incoherently in was found shouting incoherently in the middle of a busy intersection, the middle of a busy intersection, and a 1999 incident where he and a 1999 incident where he collapsed and fell into a coma.collapsed and fell into a coma.

Graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt Graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Landover, 1984. High School, Landover, 1984.

Comedian Martin Lawrence has Comedian Martin Lawrence has been one of the busiest been one of the busiest entertainers in show business. As entertainers in show business. As star of the FOX-TV series star of the FOX-TV series MartinMartin and host of Home Box Office's and host of Home Box Office's Def Def Jam Comedy HourJam Comedy Hour, Lawrence has , Lawrence has found a wide and varied audience found a wide and varied audience for his humor based on the black for his humor based on the black urban experience. urban experience.

Ratings for Lawrence's Ratings for Lawrence's situation comedy in particular situation comedy in particular indicate that the young indicate that the young performer has found a "young, performer has found a "young, multiracialmultiracial audience," to quote audience," to quote New York TimesNew York Times writer Mark writer Mark Stuart Gill. Stuart Gill.

The reporter added that most The reporter added that most of the appeal of of the appeal of MartinMartin "emanates from Mr. Lawrence "emanates from Mr. Lawrence himself.... He resembles a himself.... He resembles a teddy bear on teddy bear on caffeinecaffeine." ."

More recently, Lawrence has More recently, Lawrence has actively pursued his acting actively pursued his acting career on film, starring with career on film, starring with such renown comedians as such renown comedians as Will Smith and Eddie Murphy. Will Smith and Eddie Murphy.

In In The SourceThe Source, Eric D. Hatcher , Eric D. Hatcher wrote: "Despite [the 1992-93 wrote: "Despite [the 1992-93 television] season's explosion of television] season's explosion of new sitcoms featuring black casts, new sitcoms featuring black casts, MartinMartin is perhaps the only one that is perhaps the only one that successfully portrays a successfully portrays a sliceslice of of urban reality. urban reality.

The show tends to The show tends to exemplifyexemplify the the comedian's own beliefs in love, comedian's own beliefs in love, cultural pride and the black family cultural pride and the black family unit. unit.

And the on-screen love thang And the on-screen love thang between Martin and between Martin and upscaleupscale girlfriend Gina (Tisha Campbell) is girlfriend Gina (Tisha Campbell) is a true-to-heart depiction of a '90s a true-to-heart depiction of a '90s brotherman, his woman and their brotherman, his woman and their relationship." relationship."

Lawrence himself told the Lawrence himself told the New New York TimesYork Times that that MartinMartin is is closely based upon his own closely based upon his own experiences, his own joys and experiences, his own joys and pain. pain.

"Martin is a black man in his "Martin is a black man in his own world," the entertainer own world," the entertainer said. "He does hard, physical said. "He does hard, physical comedy. comedy.

But he can be silly and gentle But he can be silly and gentle and romantic. His persona is and romantic. His persona is about trying to find a place in about trying to find a place in society and a loving society and a loving relationship that works." relationship that works."

Where was Martin Lawrence born?Where was Martin Lawrence born?

A. EnglandA. England

B. GermanyB. Germany

C. FranceC. France

What is his B-day?What is his B-day?

A.A. October 13October 13

B. March 1B. March 1

C. April 16C. April 16

What was his goal?What was his goal?

A. working at dominos A. working at dominos

B. being an comedian, actress, and B. being an comedian, actress, and directordirector

C. working at papa johnsC. working at papa johns

Is he really romantic?Is he really romantic?

True True

False False

Is he really funny Is he really funny

YesYes

NoNo