Began performing stand-up on the local nightclub circuit in Washington DC

Moved to NYC where he performed in Washington Square Park

Worked at Sears in Queens, New York with Salt-N-Pepa and Kid 'N' Play (Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin)

Won the first round of a "Star Search" competition

Cast in a recurring role on the syndicated sitcom, "What's Happening Now!!" as a smartmouthed busboy

Feature debut in Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing"

Teamed with Kid 'N' Play for the feature "House Party"; first collaboration with actress Tisha Campbell

Provided a voice for the short-lived cartoon, "Kid 'n' Play" (NBC)

Reunited with Kid 'N' Play and Campbell for a sequel, "House Party 2"

First film with Eddie Murphy, "Boomerang"; third film with Campbell

Starred in the HBO comedy special, "One-Night Stand"

Hosted the HBO comedy series, "Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam"

Starred (also executive produced) in the Fox sitcom, "Martin"; co-starring Campbell as his girlfriend

Released first concert album, Talkin' Shit

Founded production companies You So Crazy and You Go Boy

Starred in the concert film "You So Crazy"; feature debut as executive producer; film received an NC-17 rating

Banned from NBC after some controversial comments made while hosting "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)

Co-starred with Will Smith as two undercover Miami cops in Michael Bay's feature directorial debut, "Bad Boys"

Feature directorial debut (also co-wrote, co-starred and produced), "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate"

Starred opposite Tim Robbins in "Nothing to Lose"

Re-teamed with Eddie Murphy as prisoners in "Life"

Starred as a diamond thief impersonating a cop in "Blue Streak"

Scored a hit as an FBI agent going undercover in "Big Momma's House"; also executive produced

Starred opposite Danny DeVito in "What's the Worst That Could Happen?"

Starred (also executive produced) in "Black Knight"

Released "Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat" a concert film

Starred in the comedy feature "National Security"

Re-teamed with Will Smith for "Bad Boys 2"

Starred in the basketball comedy "Rebound" as flamboyant coach Roy McCormick

Produced and starred in "Big Momma's House 2" the sequel to the 2000 comedy

Voiced BOOG, a happily domesticated grizzly bear in the animated comedy "Open Season"

Cast in the comedy-adventure "Wild Hogs" as one of four middle-aged friends who decide to rev up their routine suburban lives with a freewheeling motorcycle trip

Starred in the comedy, "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins"

Co-starred with Raven-Symoné in the father/daughter comedy, "College Road Trip"