Actor and comedian Martin Lawrence was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Thursday. Lawrence, 58, was joined by friends and family, including his three daughters and fiancée Roberta Moradfar.
Also present at the ceremony were 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.” Fellow comedians Steve Harvey and Tracy Morgan were also there and shared remarks about Lawrence’s legacy and his impact in the world of television.
The ceremony was a touching moment for Lawrence, who couldn’t hold back his tears. “I’ve been crying all week,” he 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.”
Lawrence is best known for his work in television and film. He first gained fame in the 1990s hosting HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and starring in his own sitcom, Martin. He later appeared in the Bad Boys franchise and Big Momma’s House, among other films.
In his remarks at the ceremony, comedian Tracy Morgan praised Lawrence’s impact on the world of television. “In my generation, when you say Martin, you don’t have to say his last name,” Morgan said. “Everybody knows who you’re talking about.”
Off-screen, Lawrence is a father to three adult daughters: Jasmin, Iyanna, and Amara. Jasmin, who is Lawrence’s eldest daughter, was born to him from his first marriage with Patricia Southall, a former Miss Virginia USA. He shares two daughters, Iyanna and Amara, with Shamicka Gibbs, a TV personality and entrepreneur whom he married in 2010.
