Martin Lawrence has established himself as one of Hollywood’s best performers and comedians. It was not unexpected, then, that he was recently recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
He was joined by family and friends to commemorate his illustrious career and legacy in Hollywood, including Tichina Arnold, who played Pam in Lawrence’s sitcom “Martin,” and Lynn Whitfield, who co-starred with Lawrence in the 1996 romantic comedy “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” according to NBC News. Martin’s legacy was also celebrated by Steve Harvey and Tracy Morgan.
In an interview with NBC News, Lawrence spoke about how significant the recognition meant to him. “I’ve been crying all week,” Lawrence said. “So, you know, I figured if I had my glasses on today then maybe y’all won’t see the tears. But they’re most definitely tears of joy.”
The 58-year-old also thanked his fans during the ceremony and shared some advice with those who were inspired by him. “If I can pass one thing on to those coming after me, it would be to board your dream bus with confidence, grace, and humility,” Lawrence said during the ceremony, “and ride it till the wheels fall off.”
The start of his career in Hollywood
Lawrence began his career as a stand-up comedian in the Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. He supported himself by working odd jobs during the day and performing stand-up comedy at night.
On the advice of comedian Ritch Snyder, he relocated to New York City to try his luck in the comedy profession. He tried out for “Star Search,” where television execs saw him and offered him his first acting position on “What’s Happening Now!!”
He eventually moved into film, appearing in films such as “Do the Right Thing”, “House Party”, and “Boomerang”. He was also the star of the television sitcom “Martin,” which catapulted him to fame.
His talent as an actor has propelled him to the top of Hollywood’s pay scale. Lawrence reportedly made $6 million for the first Bad Boys feature, which starred his co-star William Smith, while Will earned only $2 million. In Bad Boys II, they supposedly made $20 million each.
Here are some movies he was featured in and the reported amount he made:
“Nothing to Lose”: $6 million
“Life: $8.5 million
“Blue Streak”: $20 million
“What’s the Worst That Could Happen?”: $13 million
“Black Knight”: $16.5 million.
“National Security”: $20 million
Personal life
Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence was born in Frankfurt, Germany, to American parents in 1965. He was named after Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy. His parents divorced in 1973 and he grew up under the care of his mother as he rarely saw his father.