Martin was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is a graduate of New York University. Martin played NCAA Division III basketball at NYU and was signed as an un-drafted free agent to a non-guaranteed contract in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the New York Knicks in 1989.However, he was soon cut and never actually played in the NBA. This led to him pursuing an acting career. Martin first made his TV appearance in the NBC comedy series Out All Night, which also starred Patti LaBelle, Vivica A. Fox and Morris Chestnut. He appeared in the Boyz II Men music video "I'll Make Love to You". After he left the cast shortly after Out All Night ended its run. He was a cast member with Vivica A. Fox and Jon Cryer in the short-lived Fox sitcom Getting Personal. He portrayed TV reporter Robert James on The CW TV series All of

Us. He guest starred on his wife's sitcom Rita Rocks (2009) as Chuck; and Fernando on The Paul Reiser Show (2011). Notable feature film roles include Willie in White Men Can't Jump (1992), Jr. Philips in The Inkwell (1994), and Kyle Lee Watson in Above the Rim (1994). In the romantic comedy The Seat Filler (2004), Martin plays a lead role as law student Derrick who falls in love with a celebrity. He portrays himself in the BET comedy Real Husbands of Hollywood. He is married to former Martin and My Wife and Kids star Tisha Campbell-Martin. The couple wed on August 17, 1996. Together they have two sons: Xen and Ezekiel Czar Martin. In 2016, the couple filed for bankruptcy listing $15 million in debts while claiming only $313,000 in assets. The debts included payments on a leased 2016 Range Rover, a 2016 Jeep Wrangler and a 2014 Rang