Jesse L. Martin, star of NBC's Law & Order and the feature film "Rent", will portray Motown's finest, Marvin Gaye in the independently-financed film "Sexual Healing", due to begin production in May.

The movie, to be directed by Lauren Goodman from her own script, will focus on the years preceding his sudden shooting death at the hands of his father on April 1, 1984, one day before his 45th birthday. The film will include his self-imposed exile in Europe after years of battling drugs, domestic issues and label headaches. There, he was rescued by a promoter who helped Gaye record his biggest-selling album, Midnight Love, supported by his comeback smash, Sexual Healing.   BlackFilm.Com