Jesse L. Martin Tapped to Play Marvin Gaye in New Biopic

By: Feb. 06, 2006
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rent star Jesse L. Martin will play the late soul crooner Marvin Gaye in a new film titled after the singer's most famous song.

An independent film written and directed by Lauren Goodman, Sexual Healing will begin filming in Hungary and Germany in May.  "The movie chronicles the final years of Gaye, who, after years of battling drugs and having parted ways with Motown, exiled himself to Europe. There, he was rescued by promoter Freddy Cousaert, who helped Gaye record his biggest-selling album, 'Midnight Love,' which produced Gaye's monster comeback hit, 'Sexual Healing.' Gaye's life was cut short the day before his 45th birthday in 1984, when his father killed him," according to the article, which also states that the film will give emphasis to the singer's later years due to rights issues concerning his records released by Motown.

Martin was recently seen on screen in the film version of Rent; he recreated his original Broadway role as Tom Collins.  He has also performed on Broadway in The Government Inspector and Timon of Athens, off-Broadway in Fully Committed and The Arabian Nights, and leant his voice to the studio cast recording of Bright Lights, Big City. He is perhaps best known for his TV work, which includes "Ally McBeal" and "Law and Order," on which he plays Detective Ed Green. 



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