Duane Martin


Duane Martin is an American actor. He began his career making appearances on numerous television sitcoms before starring as Robert James on the UPN/CW sitcom All of Us and as Detective Ben Baines on the police-procedural series L.A.'s Finest. Martin has also appeared in many films throughout his career including White Men Can't Jump, Above the Rim and The Inkwell, The Faculty and Woo, Deliver Us from Eva and Ride or Die, and The Seat Filler.

Early life and education

Martin was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City and graduated from New York University. He played NCAA Division III basketball at NYU and was signed as an undrafted free agent to a non-guaranteed contract in the National Basketball Association with the New York Knicks in 1989. However, he was soon cut and never actually played in the NBA.

Career

Martin's early television work includes an appearance on the NBC comedy series Out All Night, starring Patti LaBelle, Vivica A. Fox and Morris Chestnut. He also appeared in the music video for Boyz II Men's 1994 song "I'll Make Love to You". In 1998, Martin was a cast member of the short-lived Fox sitcom Getting Personal, with Vivica A. Fox and Jon Cryer. From 2003 to 2007, he portrayed TV reporter Robert James on the UPN/CW sitcom All of Us. Acting alongside his then-wife Tisha Campbell, he had a recurring role as Chuck on the sitcom Rita Rocks. He later played Fernando on The Paul Reiser Show.
Martin's notable feature film roles include Willie in White Men Can't Jump, Jr. Philips in The Inkwell, and Kyle Lee Watson in Above the Rim. In the romantic comedy film The Seat Filler, he starred as Derrick Harver, a law student who falls in love with a celebrity. Martin plays himself in the BET comedy series Real Husbands of Hollywood. In 2017, he portrayed Louil Silas, Jr. in the television miniseries The New Edition Story.

Personal life

Martin met actress Tisha Campbell in 1990. The couple wed on August 17, 1996, and have two sons. In February 2018, Campbell filed for divorce, which was finalized in December 2020.
In February 2024, Martin announced he was engaged to model Ashley Marie Jones.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992White Men Can't JumpWillie Lewis
1994Above the RimKyle Lee Watson
1994The InkwellJr. Phillips
1996Down PeriscopeJefferson 'Stoneball' Jackson
1997Fakin' da FunkBrandon
1997Scream 2Joel Martin
1998WooFrankie
1998The FacultyOfficer #1
1999MutinyB.J. TeachTV movie
1999Any Given SundayWillie's Agent, “Wayne”
2003Deliver Us from EvaMichael 'Mike'
2003What Boys LikePhil
2003Ride or DieConrad 'Rad' McRaeVideo
2004The Seat FillerDerrick
2015Sister CodeDuane Shakir

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Against the Law-Episode: "Hoops"
1992RocKennyEpisode: "All That Jazz"
1992CBS Schoolbreak SpecialJordanEpisode: "Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love"
1992–93Out All NightVidal ThomasMain Cast
1993The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirDuaneEpisode: "It's Better to Have Loved and Lost It..."
1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildThe Prince Episode: "Rapunzel"
1995The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirDuaneEpisode: "I, Ooh, Baby, Baby"
1997Living SingleTy RichardsonEpisode: "Living Single Undercover"
1997Between BrothersMasonEpisode: "The List"
1998The Wonderful World of DisneyJimEpisode: "Mr. Headmistress"
1998Getting PersonalMilo DoucetteMain Cast
2000GirlfriendsPreston C. Hall Episode: "Fried Turkey"
2001One on OneElliottEpisode: "Phantom Menace"
2002Intimate PortraitHimselfEpisode: "Tisha Campbell-Martin"
2002Yes, DearAlanEpisode: "Greg's New Friend"
2003Abby-Episode: "Abby Gets Her Groove Back"
2003-07All of UsRobert JamesMain Cast
2006Ghost WhispererAshton BellusoEpisode: "The Vanishing"
2007E! True Hollywood StoryHimselfEpisode: "Will Smith"
2008The GameHimselfEpisode: "A Delectable Basket of Treats"
2009Rita RocksChuck DeShannonRecurring Cast: Season 2
2011The Paul Reiser ShowFernandoMain Cast
2013–16Real Husbands of HollywoodHimselfMain Cast
2015Unsung HollywoodHimselfEpisode: "Vivica A. Fox"
2017The Odd CoupleMichaelEpisode: "The God Couple"
2017The New Edition StoryLouil Silas Jr.Main Cast
2017Unsung HollywoodHimselfEpisode: "Tupac Shakur"
2018Meet the PeetesHimselfEpisode: "The Guilt Trip"
2019–20L.A.'s FinestBen BainesMain Cast
2022Real Husbands of HollywoodHimselfMain Cast
2022Bel-AirSteven LewisRecurring Cast: Season 1

Awards and nominations

BET Comedy Awards
  • 2004: Nominated, "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Box Office Movie" – Deliver Us From Eva
  • 2005: Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series" – All of Us
Daytime Emmy Award
  • 1993: Nominated, "Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special" – CBS Schoolbreak Special
NAACP Image Award
  • 2007: Nominated, "Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series" – ''All of Us''