Skip to content
MovieCove
Jesse L. Martin

Jesse L. Martin

Actor, also producer · Born January 18, 1969 (57) · Rocky Mount, Virginia, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Jesse Lamont Martin (né Watkins; January 18, 1969) is an American actor and singer. He originated the role of Tom Collins on Broadway in the musical Rent and performed on television as NYPD Detective Ed Green on Law & Order and Captain Joe West on The Flash.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 18, 1969 (57)
From
Rocky Mount, Virginia, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 34 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 32% in 30 days

What are Jesse L. Martin's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
25%
Morality
23%
Self
19%
Society
11%
Survival
9%
Ideas
9%
Power
4%
Justice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 10
Mentor
3 of 10
Hero
3 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Hopeful
7
Melancholic
5
Bittersweet
4
Warm
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Hopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jesse L. Martin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jesse L. Martin's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

34 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 16 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • PH-1(2026)

    as Professor Huntley

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Re: Uniting(2023)

    Producer · as Michael

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Irrational(2023)

    Show 29 episodes · Producer · as Alec Mercer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Letter Carrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Executive Producer · Songs · Story

  • Supergirl(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe West

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • The Flash(2014)

    Show 177 episodes · as Joe West

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives(2013)

    as Greg Cooke

  • Smash(2012)

    Show 9 episodes · as Scott Nichols

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Joyful Noise(2012)

    as Marcus Hill

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Puncture(2011)

    as Daryl King

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • F--k (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Jesse

  • Buffalo Bushido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Shawn

  • The Philanthropist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 8 episodes · as Philip Maidstone

  • Peter and Vandy(2009)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa(2008)

    as Postal Worker

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Marvin Gaye: What's Going On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • The Cake Eaters(2007)

    as Judd

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Andy Barker, P.I.(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Ed Green

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Rent(2005)

    as Tom Collins

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Trial by Jury(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Green

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • A Christmas Carol: The Musical(2004)

    as Ghost of Christmas Present / Ticket Seller

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Season of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Roc Williams

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Green

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Rocky Horror 25: Anniversary Special(2000)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Detective Ed Green

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Restaurant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Quincy

  • Deep in My Heart(1999)

    as Don Williams

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • 413 Hope St. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 10 episodes · as Antonio Collins

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 12 episodes · as Dr. Greg Butters

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mustafa Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Josh Exley

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 202 episodes · as Ed Green

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Guiding Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Keith

  • Sexual Healing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Marvin Gaye

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 34 titles, 33 of them dated from 1952 to 2026; peak year 2004.

Biggest box office

Rent (2005)

$32M worldwide

Highest rated

Rent (2005)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Law & Order (1990)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19522026

Peak 2004 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting33 of 34: 32 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thDirecting1 of 34: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 34: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 34: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 34: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew2020s3 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

Awards

6 major nominations and no wins, 2000–2006.

  1. 2006
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Song
  2. 2004
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 2002
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  4. 2001
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  5. 2000
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Jesse L. Martin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of the 11 of 12 with a score; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th5

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Rocky Horror 25: Anniversary Special (2000)

93rd percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rent (2005)

Midcredits 79th · 71% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jesse L. Martin's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles26–49 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 49 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 64 · intenseMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 45 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jesse L. Martin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jesse L. Martin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mark Kassen shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors