MULTI-TALENTED MARK CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE A 'STAND UP' GUY FOR GOD
The multi-talented Mark Christopher Lawrence on stage performing stand-up comedy and the faithful servant of God chilling out.
▶ INTERVIEW BY KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER
Mark Christopher Lawrence is primarily known for his stand-up comedy, but he’s also a multi-talented individual who has carved out impressive accomplishments as an actor and voice-over artist. On the silver screen, Lawrence has co-starred in a string of popular films, such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Tales From the Hood, Planet of the Apes, Lost Treasure and The Pursuit of Happyness.
In the world of television, he's known for his role as Big Mike on the NBC series Chuck, and has appeared in a variety of TV programs including Heroes, My Name Is Earl, Crossing Jordan, Dharma & Greg, Malcolm in the Middle, Touched by an Angel, Malcolm & Eddie, Men Behaving Badly, Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, Good Luck Charlie and Martin.
He is also featured on the Radio Series Adventures in Odyssey as Ed Washington.
I recently had the pleasure of tossing Mark Christopher Lawrence a few questions, resulting in responses that are a slice of life, a sprinkle of humor, and a heaping serving of faith.
CM: You grew up one of three children to a single mother. How did those times in life affect how you see things today with a successful, God-blessed career?
MCL: Growing up the way I did is the foundation of my faith. It is what keeps me grounded. This choice of career is a very difficult road to travel, but with God, all things are possible.
CM: Tell us about Prayer Dudz, your website.
MCL: Prayer Dudz is my production company. We try to produce funny stuff. We are purveyors of fine, funny family entertainment. However, everything that I do as an entertainer falls under the Prayer Dudz umbrella. Our talk show Pure Comedy on PureFlix.com is a stellar example of what we do. Go check it out.
CM: You're been in some pretty major mainstream motion pictures, and enjoyed countless appearances on TV. Which do you prefer most between the two, TV or movies, and why?
MCL: Yes, I’ve been blessed with an awesome TV/film career and enjoy doing both with equal enthusiasm, but it’s not like the rush of doing live performances. I actually prefer live theater and stand-up comedy. Both engage the audience in a very personal way that can only come from being in the room with them.
CM: Explain how stand-up comedy isn't like TV or movies, you don't get "re-takes," do you?
MCL: I think my previous answer covers this but in short. As a performer, stand-up comedy gives you instant feedback. You know if you suck in real time. Lol. You don’t have to wait for the editor to help you out. You will sink or swim alone.
CM: As a Christian, you can touch others who are searching by your example. Share one such example where you were at the right place at the right time to provide the message of Christ?
MCL: There are many opportunities to share the love of Christ, and it’s not always a situation where you lead someone to a decision for Christ, but more often it’s the right word at the right time.
I’m not saying I have any right words, I’m saying God will use you in the way He needs to use you. So I try to live in a way that affords me the opportunity to be used by God to share His love.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m no perfect Christian by any stretch of the imagination. I’m human and unworthy and fail daily, but by the grace of God I am able to repent and move forward and hopefully, in the process, serve the kingdom of God in a way that is pleasing to Him.
CM: What came first. The chicken or the egg? (lol)
MCL: In the beginning there was God! Amen?
CM: Do you work often in Christian films, and if you do, how does the experience inspire you?
MCL: I have had the opportunity to work on a few TV and film faith-based projects and as a performer. The work is the same. I’m not sure the experience is any different than any other project. But it’s nice to sometimes start the day with a prayer with others who are trying to accomplish the same thing you are. Good work.
CM: I think you began your TV career appearing on Hill Street Blues. What was that first big TV acting job like?
MCL: Hill Street Blues was my first audition in the industry outside of theater. I was fascinated and intimidated at the same time, because there was so much I didn’t know and I was a huge fan of the show. The show was the road map to the way cop shows are made today. Groundbreaking work. It changed the way that we watch TV and the way TV is made.
CM: Was Caddyshack II your first big movie? If so, you're looking pretty good over 30 years later. What's your secret?
MCL: Caddyshack II was my second job in the industry. It came about one year after I did Hill Street Blues. As far as looks go, I live pretty clean. Though I do battle the bulge. Lol
CM: Do you do much voice-over work?
MCL: Voice Over is a tough nut to crack and is the hardest acting job in the industry, because everything you do performance-wise as an actor in front of the camera has to be accomplished with your voice.
I’ve been blessed to spend about eight years as a character on the radio drama Adventures In Odyssey. From that I voiced a character of a book on tape, AFFABEL, a moving piece that is based on the John Bevere book Driven By Eternity. Over the years, voice-over work has been occasional, but I tend to work for the same producers and directors over and over again. #blessed
CM: Do you see the Christian film market expanding, with more opportunities, and with indie filmmakers ramping up the quality?
MCL: It seems like the major studios have seen the enormous opportunity to capitalize on the Christian market. So I think it is opening up to mainstream studios and budgets.
CM: Why are you NOT allowed to take a shower by yourself anymore?
MCL: You know, you slip and fall out of the shower and crush your T-11 one time and all of a sudden you’re incapable of showering by yourself.
CM: How has God blessed your pathway in life?
MCL: God has demonstratively closed doors he hasn’t wanted me to enter throughout my career and opened doors where He had prepared the way! 33 years later by the incredible loving grace of God I am still here. Amen and Amen!
CM: Thank you so much for your time.
MCL: Thanks, Kevin.
Mark Christopher Lawrence is primarily known for his stand-up comedy, but he’s also a multi-talented individual who has carved out impressive accomplishments as an actor and voice-over artist. On the silver screen, Lawrence has co-starred in a string of popular films, such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Tales From the Hood, Planet of the Apes, Lost Treasure and The Pursuit of Happyness.
In the world of television, he's known for his role as Big Mike on the NBC series Chuck, and has appeared in a variety of TV programs including Heroes, My Name Is Earl, Crossing Jordan, Dharma & Greg, Malcolm in the Middle, Touched by an Angel, Malcolm & Eddie, Men Behaving Badly, Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, Good Luck Charlie and Martin.
He is also featured on the Radio Series Adventures in Odyssey as Ed Washington.
I recently had the pleasure of tossing Mark Christopher Lawrence a few questions, resulting in responses that are a slice of life, a sprinkle of humor, and a heaping serving of faith.
CM: You grew up one of three children to a single mother. How did those times in life affect how you see things today with a successful, God-blessed career?
MCL: Growing up the way I did is the foundation of my faith. It is what keeps me grounded. This choice of career is a very difficult road to travel, but with God, all things are possible.
CM: Tell us about Prayer Dudz, your website.
MCL: Prayer Dudz is my production company. We try to produce funny stuff. We are purveyors of fine, funny family entertainment. However, everything that I do as an entertainer falls under the Prayer Dudz umbrella. Our talk show Pure Comedy on PureFlix.com is a stellar example of what we do. Go check it out.
CM: You're been in some pretty major mainstream motion pictures, and enjoyed countless appearances on TV. Which do you prefer most between the two, TV or movies, and why?
MCL: Yes, I’ve been blessed with an awesome TV/film career and enjoy doing both with equal enthusiasm, but it’s not like the rush of doing live performances. I actually prefer live theater and stand-up comedy. Both engage the audience in a very personal way that can only come from being in the room with them.
CM: Explain how stand-up comedy isn't like TV or movies, you don't get "re-takes," do you?
MCL: I think my previous answer covers this but in short. As a performer, stand-up comedy gives you instant feedback. You know if you suck in real time. Lol. You don’t have to wait for the editor to help you out. You will sink or swim alone.
CM: As a Christian, you can touch others who are searching by your example. Share one such example where you were at the right place at the right time to provide the message of Christ?
MCL: There are many opportunities to share the love of Christ, and it’s not always a situation where you lead someone to a decision for Christ, but more often it’s the right word at the right time.
I’m not saying I have any right words, I’m saying God will use you in the way He needs to use you. So I try to live in a way that affords me the opportunity to be used by God to share His love.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m no perfect Christian by any stretch of the imagination. I’m human and unworthy and fail daily, but by the grace of God I am able to repent and move forward and hopefully, in the process, serve the kingdom of God in a way that is pleasing to Him.
CM: What came first. The chicken or the egg? (lol)
MCL: In the beginning there was God! Amen?
CM: Do you work often in Christian films, and if you do, how does the experience inspire you?
MCL: I have had the opportunity to work on a few TV and film faith-based projects and as a performer. The work is the same. I’m not sure the experience is any different than any other project. But it’s nice to sometimes start the day with a prayer with others who are trying to accomplish the same thing you are. Good work.
CM: I think you began your TV career appearing on Hill Street Blues. What was that first big TV acting job like?
MCL: Hill Street Blues was my first audition in the industry outside of theater. I was fascinated and intimidated at the same time, because there was so much I didn’t know and I was a huge fan of the show. The show was the road map to the way cop shows are made today. Groundbreaking work. It changed the way that we watch TV and the way TV is made.
CM: Was Caddyshack II your first big movie? If so, you're looking pretty good over 30 years later. What's your secret?
MCL: Caddyshack II was my second job in the industry. It came about one year after I did Hill Street Blues. As far as looks go, I live pretty clean. Though I do battle the bulge. Lol
CM: Do you do much voice-over work?
MCL: Voice Over is a tough nut to crack and is the hardest acting job in the industry, because everything you do performance-wise as an actor in front of the camera has to be accomplished with your voice.
I’ve been blessed to spend about eight years as a character on the radio drama Adventures In Odyssey. From that I voiced a character of a book on tape, AFFABEL, a moving piece that is based on the John Bevere book Driven By Eternity. Over the years, voice-over work has been occasional, but I tend to work for the same producers and directors over and over again. #blessed
CM: Do you see the Christian film market expanding, with more opportunities, and with indie filmmakers ramping up the quality?
MCL: It seems like the major studios have seen the enormous opportunity to capitalize on the Christian market. So I think it is opening up to mainstream studios and budgets.
CM: Why are you NOT allowed to take a shower by yourself anymore?
MCL: You know, you slip and fall out of the shower and crush your T-11 one time and all of a sudden you’re incapable of showering by yourself.
CM: How has God blessed your pathway in life?
MCL: God has demonstratively closed doors he hasn’t wanted me to enter throughout my career and opened doors where He had prepared the way! 33 years later by the incredible loving grace of God I am still here. Amen and Amen!
CM: Thank you so much for your time.
MCL: Thanks, Kevin.
