Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence (born April 16, 1965) is a German-born
American stand up comedian, actor, producer, talk show host, writer,
and former Golden Gloves boxer. Lawrence came to fame during the
1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor. He is known
for playing Maurice Warfield in What's Happening Now!! (1987-1988). He
was a leading actor in the Fox television sitcom Martin, the Bad Boys
franchise and the films House Party, Boomerang, Wild Hogs, Nothing to
Lose, Blue Streak, Life, Big Momma's House, and A Thin Line Between
Love and Hate.The fourth of six children, Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence
was born on April 16, 1965, in Frankfurt, Germany, to African-American
parents. His father, John Lawrence, was serving in the U.S. military
at the time of his birth. Lawrence was named after civil rights leader
Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. President John F. Kennedy. When
Lawrence was seven, his father left the military, and the family moved
from Germany back to the United States, settling in Landover,
Maryland, in the Washington, D.C., area. Following his parents'
divorce when he was eight years old, Lawrence rarely saw his father,
who was a police officer. His mother, Chlora (née Bailey), worked
several jobs, including as a sales representative and cashier at
various department stores to support her family.During his teen years,
Lawrence excelled at boxing. While living in Maryland, Lawrence
attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School and Friendly High School, and
he lived in Apple Grove, becoming a Mid-Atlantic Golden Gloves boxing
contender.
American stand up comedian, actor, producer, talk show host, writer,
and former Golden Gloves boxer. Lawrence came to fame during the
1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor. He is known
for playing Maurice Warfield in What's Happening Now!! (1987-1988). He
was a leading actor in the Fox television sitcom Martin, the Bad Boys
franchise and the films House Party, Boomerang, Wild Hogs, Nothing to
Lose, Blue Streak, Life, Big Momma's House, and A Thin Line Between
Love and Hate.The fourth of six children, Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence
was born on April 16, 1965, in Frankfurt, Germany, to African-American
parents. His father, John Lawrence, was serving in the U.S. military
at the time of his birth. Lawrence was named after civil rights leader
Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. President John F. Kennedy. When
Lawrence was seven, his father left the military, and the family moved
from Germany back to the United States, settling in Landover,
Maryland, in the Washington, D.C., area. Following his parents'
divorce when he was eight years old, Lawrence rarely saw his father,
who was a police officer. His mother, Chlora (née Bailey), worked
several jobs, including as a sales representative and cashier at
various department stores to support her family.During his teen years,
Lawrence excelled at boxing. While living in Maryland, Lawrence
attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School and Friendly High School, and
he lived in Apple Grove, becoming a Mid-Atlantic Golden Gloves boxing
contender.
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