Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (2025)

From its nail-biting cold cases to the characters' calculated problem-solving, there are many reasons to watchThe Irrational—especially with powerhouse performerJesse L. Martinleading the way.

How to Watch

Watch The Irrational Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC and next day on Peacock.

Martin is an acclaimed star of stage, television, and the big screen, turning in compelling performances since his big break in the '90s. From his Broadway debut to hisdays, Martin has never failed to astound audiences with his raw talent and compelling characters.

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The Irrationalwill be a thrilling continuation of Martin's robust acting odyssey. Below, learn about Martin's career history, from his most esteemed television series to his dynamite stage credits.

Jesse L. Martin's Broadway Career from Rent to Shakespeare

Martin's breakthrough to superstardom started on Broadway: He made his Broadway debut in 1993 as an Officer (as well as Alcibiades' understudy) in Shakespeare'sTimon of Athens. In 1994, Martin kept the thespian ball rolling with his role as the shopkeeper, Abdulin, inNikolai Gogol'sThe Government Inspector.

Jesse L. Martin as Tom Collins inRent

Martin garnered mythic status in the Broadway realm for originating the role ofTom Collins inRent, Jonathan Larson's cherished musical about a chosen family of artists and creatives living on the Lower East Side's Alphabet City.Martin opened the 1996 off-Broadway rendition of the show and, after its smash success, debuted Rent on Broadway the same year. After two years of heart-wrenching power belts and tearful serenades, Martin and the cast took the show across the pond for the West End's 1998 run ofRent.

Martin chatted about the character of Collins in an interview withFemale. “He is probably the only one that doesn’t have any real creative ambitions like striving to be the best artist or the best filmmaker. He just wants to keep his family around him," Martin revealed. "I mean, you move to New York and you basically adopt the family that you want and he found his family and he wanted to make sure he didn’t lose them, whether it be to a disease or what have you.”

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (1)

Adam Pascal, Tracie Thoms, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs and Rosario Dawson from the movie Rent performing at the 2005 Today Show Summer Concert series. Photo: James Devaney/WireImage

n 2005, Martin starred as Tom Collins in the film adaptation ofRentalongside originating original Off-Broadway cast members Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Anthony Rapp, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, and Taye Diggs. In 2019, Martin and the original Rent cast made exciting cameos in the television specialRent: Live.

Jesse Martin's Later Stage Roles

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (2)

Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Linda Emond and Jesse L. Martin take a bow during the curtain call on the opening night of The Winter's Tale at Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater on June 30, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Outside ofRent tenure, Martin appeared in the 2003 production of Bertolt Brecht'sThe Threepenny Opera as Mack the Knife.In 2010, he starred in Shakespeare in the Park'sThe Winter's Taleas King Polixenes. The same year, Martin returned to Broadway as Gratiana inThe Merchant of Venice.Martin then starred in the Delacorte Theatre's 50th anniversary production ofRomeo and Julietas Friar John in 2012.

"Once you’re in the Broadway community, you’re always in the Broadway community and you’re treated as such," Martin gushed in a 2016 interview withThe Actors Work. "There’s a real camaraderie, there’s a real brotherhood, real sisterhood if you need to say, and you felt it immediately. I was beyond happy."

Martin continued, "I couldn’t even believe that A) there I was, it was all I ever wanted, I never really planned to be famous, or rich or anything like that, I always thought the big deal would be that you are a working actor and yes, you do have a Broadway career. And once I was on Broadway, and I was like, Yes, I’ve done it! I’ve made it!"

Jesse L. Martin's Television Credits fromLaw & OrdertoThe Irrational

Like many budding performers, Martin got his start while grinding in New York City, auditioning for commercials, soap operas, and television projects while waiting tables to support his passion. Martin's first television credit was in a 1992 episode of the soap operaGuiding Light.He then appeared on the soap operaOne Life to Live in1995,and later appeared in two episodes of the Dick Wolf-createdNew York Undercover(in 1995 and 1998).

RELATED:Jesse L. Martin Talks Character on New Show The Irrational

From there, Martin's on-screen acting credits just kept adding up. Martin scored his first leading role in the 1997 drama series413 Hope St.as Antonio Collins. His role inHope St.paved the way for a recurring guest role as Dr. Greg Butters in Seasons 1 and 2 ofAlly McBeal(1998). The next year, Martin appeared inThe X FilesSeason 6, Episode 19 ("The Unnatural"). In 2009, Martin also starred in the NBC action dramaThe Philanthropist.

Jesse L. Martin in Law & Order

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (3)

Detective Ed Green (Jesse L Martin) appears in a scene from Law & Order, Season 18 Episode 14. Photo: Will Hart/NBCU Photo Bank

Martin landed his mythic role asDetective Edward "Ed" Greenin Dick Wolf'sLaw & Order in 1999. Green was tenacious, dedicated, and thoughtful as one of the most within the sprawling franchise. Wolf saw this in Martin's performance, leading him to guest star in two episodes of's debut season as well as inLaw & Order: Criminal Intentfor Season 1, Episode 7 ("Poison").

Martin was aLaw & Orderfan favorite from Seasons 10-18 of the flagship series until Green's departure in 2008. As a stage actor to his core,to explore more roles in the theatre realm.

Jesse L. Martin in Smash

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (4)

Scott (Jesse L. Martin) appears in Smash, Season 2 Episode 8. Photo: Will Hart/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

A role that served as the perfect fusion between his stage work and his television talent was Martin's dynamite part in the musical drama seriesSmash.Martin played theatre producer Scott Nichols in Season 2 of the hit series, which shined a spotlight on the many peaks and pitfalls of making it big on Broadway.

Jesse L. Martin in The Flash

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (5)

Jesse L. Martin and Grant Gustin pose for a portrait during the CW and Showtime's 2014 Summer TCA Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 18, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Another role that earned Martin widespread acclaim was his recurring role inThe Flash(2014-2023), an action series following the hyper-fast superhero Barry Allen.

From Seasons 1-9, Martin starred as Joe West, a police captain and leader of the Anti-Meta-human Task Force. Martin'sLaw & Orderbackground provided the perfect inspiration for the role, with Martin becoming a beloved fixture within the action series during its run. Martin also appeared in the 2017Arrowversecrossover event, guest starring as Joe West inSupergirlSeason 3, Episode 8 ("Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1").

Jesse L. Martin in The Irrational

Martin is now starring as Alec Mercer in NBC's new dramaThe Irrational, a cerebral remix of Martin's previous procedural roles. The official teaser reads, "Alec Mercer is a world-renowned leader in behavioral science who lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement, and corporations with his unique and unexpected approach to understanding human behavior."

Martin's otherIrrationalcast members are Travina Springer, Molly Kunz, Arash DeMaxi, and Maahra Hill.

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (6)

Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin), Phoebe (Molly Kunz), and Rizwan (Arash Demaxi) in a scene from The Irrational, Season 1 Episode 1. Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC

Martin has said he is excited to take on the role of Mercer, who will prove invaluable in several nail-biting cases.

RELATED:Everything to Know About The Irrational, New NBC Drama

“After the second read [ofThe Irrational's script], I was like, ‘This is absolutely brilliant,’”Martin told NBC.“What a great gift to be given, to be handed, because I’ve never been given such delicious things to do and say.”

Jesse L. Martin's Filmography fromRestauranttoJoyful Noise

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (7)

Chris Evans and Jesse L. Martin attend the Puncture premiere at the Angelika Film Center on September 15, 2011 in New York City. Photo: D Dipasupil/Getty Images

Martin boasts some larger-than-life talent, so it only makes sense that he made his way to the big screen outside of his mesmerizing role inRent.

In 1998, Martin made his film debut inRestaurantas the waiter Quincy. He then appeared as Roc Williams inSeason of Youthin 2003. Martin Martin's other must-watch movies includeThe Cake Eaters(2007),Peter and Vandy(2009),Puncture(2011) with Chris Evans, and the 2012 filmJoyful Noise.

Jesse L. Martin's Awards and Recognitions

With a multi-decade career and several esteemed credits under his belt, Martin has collectedseveral award nominationsthroughout the years. Martin's role as Green inLaw & Orderearned him four Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Martin is also the recipient of eight separate nominations at the NAACP Image Awards, seven of which were for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series inLaw & Order.

In 2017, Martin won theLeo Awardfor Best Musical Score in a Short Drama forThe Letter Carrier, a musical short film written and directed by Martin.

Jesse L. Martin's Career From Rent to The Irrational (2025)

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