Where Are They Now? The Cast of 'Big Momma's House'

Martin Lawrence, Nia Long, Terrence Howard and more starred in this hilarious movie.

Big Mama's House 2, Monday at 4:30P/5:30C   - Watch this FBI agent work.(Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation / Regency Enterprises / Runteldat Entertainment / Friendly Productions / Taurus Film / Nina Saxon Film Design)

1 / 13

Before Madea, there was Big Momma! Big Momma's House was released 23 years ago today and became one of the biggest films of the early 2000s. Martin Lawrence went undercover as a Southern grandma to protect his family — gotta do what you gotta do, right? Also part of the star-studded cast is Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson and more. So, with so much time passed, it's only natural to wonder, where are they now? Click on to see for yourself. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation / Regency Enterprises / Runteldat Entertainment / Friendly Productions / Taurus Film / Nina Saxon Film Design)

Martin Lawrence as Malcolm Turner (undercover Big Momma) - The comedy's main star dished the funny for three full installments (Big Momma's House, Big Momma's House 2, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son). Since the original's release in 2000, Lawrence's star continued to rise, with several film projects loaded on deck. Among his blockbuster smashes were Bad Boys II, Death at a Funeral and National Security. He even went back to his stand-up roots, releasing a film titled Martin Lawrence Live: Ruteldat two years after the film premiered.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

2 / 13

Martin Lawrence played Malcolm Turner -- undercover Big Momma)! The comedy's main star dished the funny for three full installments (Big Momma's House, Big Momma's House 2, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son). Since the original's release in 2000, Lawrence's star continued to rise, with several film projects loaded on deck. Among his blockbuster smashes is the Bad Boys franchise. Lawerence is currently in production for Bad Boys 4. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Nia Long as Sherry Pierce - Big Momma's House saw Nia Long steal the hearts of moviegoers everywhere with her sweet demeanor. After the film dropped, the actress became one of Hollywood's best — and anti-aging — assets with her snagging roles in Are We There Yet?, Good Hair, The Best Man Holiday and The Single Moms Club. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

3 / 13

Big Momma's House saw Nia Long as Sherry Pierce steal the hearts of moviegoers everywhere with her sweet demeanor. After the film dropped, the actress became one of Hollywood's best — and anti-aging — assets. Her work has continued in The Best Man franchise, with a series that dropped on Peacock last year. You can also see her playing a mom in trouble in Missing, which is currently on Netflix. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Paul Giamatti as John Maxwell - With more than 10 years of acting experience already under his belt at the time, Paul Giamatti joined the Big Momma's House cast as a seasoned vet. Everyone needs a wingman, and Giamatti's character proved to be just that for Malcolm in the film. The Yale alum later landed roles in Planet of the Apes, Big Fat Liar, Cinderella Man and The Hangover Part II after the 2000 film wrapped up production. He is set to be involved in the upcoming NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton later this year.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

4 / 13

Paul Giamatti joined the Big Momma's House cast as a seasoned vet. Everyone needs a wingman, and Giamatti's character proved to be just that for Malcolm in the film. The Yale alum later landed roles in Planet of the Apes, Big Fat Liar, Cinderella Man and played the infamous manager in the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton. Recently, he's been using his voice for the animated series Big Mouth and Rick and Morty. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Terrence Howard as Lester Vesco - Terrence Howard is no stranger to playing the villain, so his portrayal as Lester Vester in this action/comedy was right up his alley. Since Big Momma's House, Howard basically blew up, snagging bigger roles as the years went by. In 2004, he starred in the critically acclaimed film Crash. That same year, he played Gossie McKee in the Oscar-winning biopic Ray. 2005 was Howard's biggest year, however, seeing him star in the culture classic Hustle & Flow. With several more blockbuster smashes coming soon after, the actor was on a roll, becoming a bona fide Hollywood A-lister in the process. In 2015, however, his career reached new heights when he starred as Lucious Lyon in the monster series that is Empire.(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

5 / 13

Terrence Howard is no stranger to playing the villain, so his portrayal as Lester in this action/comedy was right up his alley. Since Big Momma's House, Howard blew up, snagging more prominent roles as the years went by. His resume spans all genres and he was even nominated for an Oscar for his work in 2005's Hustle & Flow. In 2015, however, his career reached new heights when he starred as Lucious Lyon in Empire. You can see him now in The Best Man: The Final Chapters steaming on Peacock. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Anthony Anderson as Nolan - Remember that ditsy security guard that just always seemed to get in Malcolm's way? Well, that was Anthony Anderson. The actor/comedian became one of the movie's most hilarious characters, and he kept the laughs going with his following projects. Every year Anderson would star in five or more movies at a time, with Kingdom Come, Exit Wounds and Two Can Play That Game all being listed in his resume in 2001 alone. While the movie roles just expanded for Anderson, he made headlines for another reason in 2014 when he created and starred in the new ABC series Black-ish alongside Tracee Ellis Ross. That same year, he lent his talents to the Food Network, hosting his own show titled Eating American With Anthony Anderson. He hasn't given up on movies though. He appeared in the third installment of Barbershop this year.(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

6 / 13

Remember that ditsy security guard that always seemed to get in Malcolm's way? Well, that was Anthony Anderson. The actor/comedian became one of the movie's most hilarious characters, and he kept the laughs going with his following projects. In 2014, Anderson became a household name with the ABC series Black-ish, alongside Tracee Ellis Ross. The series won him an Emmy. He uses his voice for the popular animated show The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Jacsha Washington as Trent Pierce - Little Trent is all grown up! Having been only 11 when the film was released, Jascha Washington got his start in Hollywood early on. After the movie dropped, the then-adolescent starred in Antwone Fisher, Last Holiday, Like Mike 2: Streetball, and Big Momma's House 2. Now, at 25, Washington is a proud father to a baby girl and just recently had his second child in March of 2015.(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

7 / 13

Little Trent is all grown up! Having been only 11 when the film was released, Jascha Washington got his start in Hollywood early on. After the movie dropped, the then-adolescent starred in Antwone Fisher, Last Holiday, Like Mike 2: Streetball, and Big Momma's House 2. His last acting credit was in 2012, but last we heard he is a father of two living a quiet life. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Ella Mitchell as Hattie Mae Pierce (the real Big Momma) - Ella Mitchell is known just as widely for her role as Big Momma in the 2000 comedy as she is for her big voice. Not much has been heard from Mitchell since the role, but she is credited as a star and co-director in the short film Tropfest Junion 2011: The Bar Bee Q, her most recent recorded project to date.(Photo: Andrew Putler/Redferns/Getty Images)

8 / 13

Ella Mitchell played Hattie Mae Pierce -- the real Big Momma. Not much has been heard from Mitchell since the role, but she is credited as a star and co-director in the short film Tropfest Junion 2011: The Bar Bee Q, her last recorded project. (Photo: Andrew Putler/Redferns/Getty Images)

Tichina Arnold as Ritha - A comedic tag team between Tichina Arnold and Anthony Anderson sounds too good to be true, right? Well, they made it happen in Big Momma's House with the actress playing Anderson's sister. Now, years after the film's debut, her filmography has more than doubled, raking up roles in More to Love, The Great Divide, Wild Hogs and, most recent, Top Five. On the television front, Arnold has been much more active, being featured in TV favorites like Hit the Floor, BET's Let's Stay Together, The Boondocks and, of course, Everybody Hates Chris.(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel)

9 / 13

A comedic tag team between Tichina Arnold and Anthony Anderson sounds too good to be true. Well, they made it happen in Big Momma's House with the actress playing Anderson's sister. What hasn't Arnold done since? She has taken up many roles, including five years on the sitcom The Neighborhood. Arnold has also hosted the Soul Train Awards with her BFF Tisha Campbell. (Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Super Bowl Gospel)

Octavia Spencer as Twila - Before her Oscar win, Octavia Spencer was making us laugh as Twila in Big Momma's House. Following her performance in the comedy, she served in a few more small roles in movies like Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Breakin' All the Rules and The Nines. In 2011, however, she made it big, scoring an Academy Award for her performance in The Help. Her roles only expanded since then with her starring in movie smashes like Fruitvale Station and The Divergent Series: Insurent. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

10 / 13

Before her Oscar win, Octavia Spencer was making us laugh as Twila in Big Momma's House. Following her performance in the comedy, she served in a few more small roles in movies like Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Breakin' All the Rules. In 2011, however, she made it big, scoring an Academy Award for her performance in The Help. Her roles only expanded since then with her starring in movie smashes like Hidden Figures and Ma. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Cedric the Entertainer as the Reverend - Before becoming a movie star, Cedric the Entertainer was more known in the television and stand-up worlds. The action/comedy was one of the comedian's first few movie roles, and after the success of the film, more just kept coming. Following Big Momma's House, Cedric starred in the likes of Barbershop, Ice Age, Johnson Family Vacation and A Haunted House. Most recently, he revived his role Barbershop 3. On the television front, Ced has starred in BET's Real Husbands of Hollywood and The Proud Family and serves in the lead role of his own sitcom The Soul Man.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

11 / 13

Cedric the Entertainer was the hilarious Reverend in Big Momma's House. Before becoming a movie star, he was more known in the television and stand-up worlds. But following Big Momma's House, Cedric starred in the likes of Barbershop, Ice Age, Johnson Family Vacation and A Haunted House. He currently stars in The Neighborhood, which was just renewed for season six. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Carl Wright as Ben Rawley - This actor was no stranger to Black film classics. Prior to his role as Big Momma's hilariously annoying boyfriend in the film, Carl Wright starred in Soul Food and Early Edition. Following the film's release, he kept starring in stories showcasing the African-American community with films like The Cookout, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Platinum Playaz and When Thugs Cry, to name a few. Wright, unfortunately, died of cancer in 2007.(Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

12 / 13

Carl Wright was no stranger to Black film classics. Prior to his role as Big Momma's hilariously annoying boyfriend in the film, he starred in Soul Food and Early Edition. Following the film's release, he kept landing roles in stories showcasing the African-American community with films like The Cookout, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Platinum Playaz and When Thugs Cry, to name a few. Wright, unfortunately, died of cancer in 2007. (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Raja Gosnell - Big Momma's House is just one of many film blockbusters that Raja Gosnell has directed throughout his career. Some of his other well-known projects include Home Alone 3, Scooby-Doo, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and, his most recent directorial endeavor, The Smurfs. The famed director has been out of the game since his last project, but here's to hoping he makes a return soon.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for SONY)

13 / 13

Big Momma's House is just one of many film blockbusters Raja Gosnell has directed throughout his career. Some of his other well-known projects include Home Alone 3, Scooby-Doo, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and, his most recent directorial endeavor, The Smurfs. The famed director has been out of the game since his last project, but here's to hoping he makes a return soon. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for SONY)