Jesse L. Martin, born Jesse Lamont Watkins on January 18, 1969, in Rocky Mount, Virginia, is the third of five sons. His biological father, Jesse Reed Watkins, worked as a truck driver and passed away in 2003. His mother, Virginia Price, was a college counselor. The couple divorced when Jesse was still young. Following the separation, Virginia remarried, and Jesse later adopted his stepfather’s surname, becoming known as Jesse L. Martin.

During his early childhood, Martin and his family relocated to Buffalo, New York. The move and a noticeable Southern accent contributed to his initial shyness, especially in school. Recognizing this, one of his elementary school teachers encouraged him to join an after-school drama program to help overcome his reticence. Martin’s first role in a school play was that of a pastor, which helped him grow more confident and overcome his speech difficulties.

Martin attended The Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, where he emerged as a standout student in his senior year. He later enrolled at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, majoring in the Theater program, which laid the foundation for his professional acting career.