Martin Lawrence has inked his name as one of the greatest actors and comedians in Hollywood. It was therefore not surprising when he was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
He was joined by family and friends to celebrate his glorious career and legacy in Hollywood, including Tichina Arnold, who starred as Pam in Lawrence’s sitcom “Martin,” and Lynn Whitfield, who acted alongside Lawrence in the 1996 romantic comedy “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” NBC News reported. Steve Harvey and Tracy Morgan were also in attendance to celebrate Martin’s legacy.
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.”
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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 started his career as a comedian frequenting the standup comedy circuit in the Greater Washington D.C. Metro area. He worked odd jobs during the day to support himself and did comedy at night.
He moved to New York City to try the comedy industry there upon the recommendation of comedian, Ritch Snyder. He auditioned for “Star Search,” where television executives saw him and gave him his first acting role on “What’s Happening Now!!”
He later transitioned into film work, starring in movies like “Do the Right Thing”, “House Party”, and “Boomerang”. He was also the lead character in “Martin,” a television show that propelled him into the limelight.
His acting prowess has seen him rise to become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. For the first Bad Boys film, featuring his co-star William Smith, Lawrence reportedly made $6 million whereas Will earned just $2 million. They reportedly made $20 million each in Bad Boys II.
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.
