Martin Lawrence
Stand-up comedian

Martin Lawrence

Who Martin Lawrence is

Stand-up comedian and actor who hosted HBO's Def Comedy Jam (1992–1993) and co-created and starred in the Fox sitcom Martin (1992–1997). His stand-up films are You So Crazy (1994) and Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002), followed by Doin' Time on Showtime (2016); on screen he is best known as Marcus Burnett in the Bad Boys films and for Big Momma's House.

At a glance

Born
1965
Style
Physical storytelling, Storytelling
Came up through
Def Comedy Jam
Stand-up specials
You So Crazy, Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat and Martin Lawrence: Doin' Time
Albums
Martin Lawrence Live Talkin' Shit
On screen
Martin, Def Comedy Jam, What's Happening Now!! and 5 more
Next on stage
8 October 2026 — Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC

On stage

Lineups belong to the rooms and the comedians, and can change; each listing has the last word. Their nights on the Comedy Calendar →

Specials, shows and podcasts

Stand-up specials

Albums

On screen

Where they got their start

Came up the same way

Other comedians in SUCDb who came through Def Comedy Jam:

The Launching Pads: the shows the comedians came through →

Comedians like Martin Lawrence

Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.

Every stand-up comedian with a page, A to Z →

Career timeline

  1. 1965Born
  2. 1987What's Happening Now!! (Maurice Warfield, 1987–1988) On screen
  3. 1992Martin (Martin Payne; co-creator, 1992–1997) On screen
  4. 1992Def Comedy Jam (host, HBO, 1992–1993) On screen
  5. 1993Martin Lawrence Live Talkin' Shit (1993) Album
  6. 1994You So Crazy (1994, theatrical stand-up film) Special
  7. 1994Saturday Night Live (host, 1994) On screen
  8. 1995Bad Boys (Marcus Burnett, 1995) On screen
  9. 2000Big Momma's House (Malcolm Turner, 2000) On screen
  10. 2002Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002, theatrical stand-up film, Paramount) Special
  11. 2014Partners (Marcus Jackson, 2014) On screen
  12. 2016Martin Lawrence: Doin' Time (2016, Showtime) Special
  13. 2024Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Marcus Burnett, 2024) On screen

Questions about Martin Lawrence

Where is Martin Lawrence performing next?

Thursday 8 October 2026, 8:00 PM — with Loni Love (Martin Lawrence: Y'all Still Know What It Is! Tour) at Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC, then 6 more dates on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar. Each show's own listing has the last word.

What stand-up specials have they released?

You So Crazy, Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat and Martin Lawrence: Doin' Time.

What TV shows and films are they in?

Martin, Def Comedy Jam, What's Happening Now!!, Saturday Night Live, Partners and Bad Boys, among 8 credits.

Where did they get their start?

Def Comedy Jam (host).

When were they born?

In 1965.

Who are some comedians like them?

Adele Givens (also in Martin), Dave Chappelle (also came through Def Comedy Jam), Ali Siddiq (also came through Def Comedy Jam), Donnell Rawlings (also came through Def Comedy Jam) and J. B. Smoove (also came through Def Comedy Jam).

The full SUCDb record

The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with a button to add them to your D.O.C., your twelve.

Their SUCDb record →

Sources

Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026