Celebrating 25 Lethal Years—Snakkle Takes a Look Back at the Stars of the Lethal Weapon Series

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Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon

Mel Gibson portrayed LAPD detective Martin Riggs, a former narcotics officer who plays fast and loose with everything, including his life as a result of his wife’s death. Throughout the series, Riggs manages to overcome his personal demons while managing a perfect balance of tough-as-nails hero and comedian.

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Mel Gibson—Today

After his successes in the Mad Max series, Mel Gibson’s work in Lethal Weapon solidified him as both a leading man and action hero. After a string of box-office successes, he went on to direct and star in the Academy Award winner Braveheart. Gibson took a hiatus from acting after the success of 2002’s Signs; he returned to film in 2010 with Edge of Darkness. Struggles in his personal life have since caused the actor to fall from grace in the public eye.

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Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon

Danny Glover plays Roger Murtaugh, a straight-laced veteran detective considering retirement. In the series, Murtaugh is often saying “I’m too old for this shit,” which later became a trademark for Glover, who used it in other movies.

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Danny Glover—Today

The Lethal Weapon movies gave Danny Glover his most memorable role, but he continues to act and direct, including a supporting role in the 2006 award winner Dreamgirls. In addition to his acting, Glover is a very involved political activist and humanitarian.

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Darlene Love as Trish Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon

Darlene Love plays the matriarch of the Murtaugh family as Roger’s wife, Trish. In the fourth movie, it is revealed that she is a wildly popular romance novelist writing under a pen name.

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Darlene Love —Today

Darlene Love is an accomplished singer who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Every year since 1986, she has performed her song “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on The Late Show with David Letterman just before Christmas.

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Steve Kahan as Captain Ed Murphy in Lethal Weapon

Steve Kahan plays Ed Murphy, the often disheveled captain in charge of keeping Riggs and Murtaugh out of trouble.

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Steve Kahan—Today

Steve Kahan was cast in the Lethal Weapon movies by his cousin, director Richard Donner. Though he hasn’t acted much since the last installment, he also appeared with Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory and Maverick, both of which were also directed by Donner.

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Traci Wolfe as Rianne Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon

Traci Wolfe portrays the eldest daughter of main character Roger Murtaugh and his wife, Trish. In the first film, her character is taken hostage by drug smugglers. In the fourth film, her character is pregnant and secretly married to a young rookie detective played by Chris Rock.

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Traci Wolfe—Today

Traci Wolfe’s only film appearances were in the Lethal Weapon series. She was and continues to be a catalog/commercial model working for the Wilhelmina Agency out of New York City.

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Damon Hines as Nick Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon

Damon Hines plays the middle child and only son of Roger and Trish Murtaugh. Although he is in all four movies, he gets the most screen time in the third movie. During an investigation into stolen police weapons, a friend of his is shot and killed by his father after attempting to kill Riggs.

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Damon Hines—Today

Since appearing in the Lethal Weapon films, Damon Hines has been relatively absent. In 2000 he appeared in the direct-to-video comedy Soul Talkin'. He also guest-starred on an episode of Happy Endings.

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Ebonie Smith as Carrie Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon

Ebonie Smith portrays Carrie, the youngest daughter in the Murtaugh family.

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Ebonie Smith—Today

Before appearing in the Lethal Weapon franchise, Ebonie Smith had small recurring roles in the '80s series Webster and Family Matters. Currently she is pursuing work as a model and screenwriter.

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Joe Pesci as Leo Getz in Lethal Weapon

Joe Pesci stars as loudmouthed accountant Leo Getz in all three Lethal Weapon sequels. After helping Riggs and Murtaugh bust drug smugglers that he used to launder money for, Getz fancies himself the third member of the team. In the fourth film, he is working as a private investigator.

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Joe Pesci—Today

After shooting the fourth and final Lethal Weapon, Joe Pesci took a hiatus from acting to concentrate on his music career. He worked as a producer on the 2005 Broadway hit Jersey Boys. Pesci himself is portrayed in the musical, as he was present when Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were formed. In 2010 he costarred with Helen Mirren in the dramedy Love Ranch, about the first legal brothel in Nevada.

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Rene Russo as Lorna Cole in Lethal Weapon

Rene Russo plays internal affairs sergeant Lorna Cole. Her character is partnered with Riggs and Murtaugh in the third film to help bring down a suspected arms dealer who is also an LAPD lieutenant. Throughout the course of the movie, she and Riggs fall in love. In the fourth movie, Cole and Riggs get married and have a baby.

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Rene Russo—Today

After her 2005 films Two for the Money and Yours, Mine, and Ours, Russo took a six-year break from acting. She returned in 2011 to star in the action movie Thor as the mother of the hero. She is set to star in the upcoming movie Frank and Cindy, based on the life of Frank Garcia.

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Chris Rock as Lee Butters in Lethal Weapon

Chris Rock portrays rookie detective Lee Butters in Lethal Weapon 4. His character is secretly married to Roger Murtaugh’s eldest daughter, Rianne, with whom he is expecting his first child.

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Chris Rock—Today

In 2005, Rock produced and narrated the UPN show Everybody Hates Chris, which was loosely based on the actor's school days. He also voiced the character of Marty in the popular animated series Madagascar, the third of which is set to release later this year. He can also be seen in the comedy What to Expect When You’re Expecting.