Martin Lawrence not only played the lead role of Martin Payne but also portrayed several other characters on the show, including Sheneneh Jenkins, Mama Payne, Ol' Otis, Jerome, Roscoe, Dragonfly Jones, Bob, King Beef, and Elroy Preston.

In November 1996, Tisha Campbell left the series during its final season, citing 'intolerable' working conditions, and in January 1997 she filed a lawsuit against Martin Lawrence and the show's producers for sexual harassment and verbal and physical assaults.

During Campbell's absence, the show explained Gina's absence as being 'out on business,' though the two-part episode 'Going Overboard' stated she had arrived too late to board a boat trip with the rest of the cast.

By April 1997, Campbell had settled her lawsuit and returned for the final two episodes of the series under the condition that she would not share any scenes or interact with Martin Lawrence.

Campbell and Lawrence have since reconciled and repaired their relationship after the legal dispute.

In 2022, surviving cast members Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, and Carl Anthony Payne II reunited for a 90-minute special called Martin: The Reunion, released on BET+ and directed by Stan Lathan, which paid tribute to Thomas Mikal Ford, who had died in 2016.

In 2024, the cast reunited again at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

A prequel series titled Young Martin was announced in July 2024, following a teenage Martin Payne in modern-day Detroit as both an origin story and a reimagining of the character, executive produced by Martin Lawrence among others.

A spin-off series called Varnell Hill was green-lit by BET+ in April 2025, starring Tommy Davidson reprising his Martin character Varnell Hill, with Kym Whitley joining as a series regular in August 2025.