American actor Duane Martin was born on January 1, 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was initially known as a basketball player, first with the New York University Violets, and later, with the New York Knicks. He was forced to retire early, however, after a debilitating injury. Only then did he decide to pursue an acting career.
After some small roles in television and films, Martin made his starring debut in the short-lived 1992 sitcom Out All Night, where he played the irresponsible best friend Vidal. The series folded after one season, after which Martin played several guest roles in shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Living Single, Between Brothers, Getting Personal and Girlfriends. He also appeared in films such as Above the Rim, The Inkwell, The Faculty, Any Given Sunday and The Groomsmen.
In 2003, Martin joined the cast of the comedy All of Us. Here, he played the lead character, television reporter Robert James, who takes care of his son Bobby (Khamani Griffin) with his fianc?e Tia Jewel (Elise Neal). However, he shares custody of his son with his ex-wife NeeSee (LisaRaye McCoy), with whom he has to share a friendship with for the sake of his son. The series lasted for four seasons, eventually getting cancelled in 2007 after barely escaping cancellation in 2005.
Martin’s guest roles during and after All of Us include those for Yes, Dear, Abby, Ghost Whisperer and One on One. He has also written several feature films: the 2003 action flick Ride or Die, and the 2004 romantic comedy The Seat Filler. He has also produced several episodes of the short-lived comedy Getting Personal. Other films he has starred in include Deliver Us from Eva and I Got You. Owing to his background as an athlete, he also owns a sports agency that represents some of the most sought-after professional athletes.