Xen Whaheed Martin is the firstborn son of actress Tisha Campbell and actor Duane Martin. He was born on August 8, 2001, in Los Angeles, California. His mother built her career on the sitcom Martin and later My Wife and Kids. His father is known for roles in All of Us and White Men Can’t Jump. As the eldest of two boys, Xen was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, a subject his mother has spoken about publicly for over a decade.
Despite growing up inside a famous family, he has kept a private life away from the entertainment industry. This article covers his diagnosis, his family, his education, and where he stands today.
Who Is Xen Martin? (Profile & Quick Facts)
| Category | Detail |
| Full Name | Xen Whaheed Martin |
| Date of Birth | August 8, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital Status | Single, Private |
| Father | Duane Martin |
| Mother | Tisha Campbell |
| Sibling | Ezekiel Czar Martin (Zeke) |
| Education | High School Graduate (2020), college student |
| Occupation | Student, Autism Awareness Advocate |
| @thexenverse | |
| Known For | Son of Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin |
| Net Worth | Not publicly known |
How Old Is Xen Martin?
Xen turned 24 in August 2026. He was born under the sign of Leo. His family still marks his birthday every year, usually with a post from his mother on social media.
Early Life and Family Background
Xen grew up in Los Angeles, surrounded by the entertainment world his parents worked in. Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin married in 1996, five years before Xen was born. His mother had already built a name for herself through Martin and My Wife and Kids. His father had appeared in Above the Rim and All of Us.
Home life stayed grounded despite the Hollywood backdrop. Both parents pushed for a normal, steady routine rather than one built around fame. Xen’s maternal grandparents, Mona and Clifton Campbell, remained close to the family throughout his childhood.
Xen Martin’s Autism Diagnosis and Journey
Doctors diagnosed Xen with autism when he was 18 months old. Tisha Campbell has said she noticed something different earlier than that, but it took several visits before a diagnosis stuck. She saw four other doctors before the fifth one confirmed it, and the news came around the time Xen turned 23 months old.
The early years centered on speech therapy and behavior work. Xen started sessions at LA Speech Language Therapy at 17 months old, before the diagnosis was even official. He was non-verbal for a stretch of his childhood, which made those early therapy sessions critical.
Campbell has described that period as disorienting. She spoke about it publicly in 2013 during a joint interview with Duane Martin on CNikky, and later returned to the topic on Today, The Real, and in Essence. Each interview added a new layer: how the family adjusted, how they found specialists, and how they focused on building Xen’s independence rather than limiting his expectations.
Early intervention therapies, occupational support, and structured educational programs followed. Milestones came slowly at first, then picked up speed. Xen hit developmental markers that doctors once said might not happen at all.
Is Xen Martin Still Autistic Today?
Autism is a lifelong condition, not something a person outgrows. Tisha Campbell has said her son has come to see himself as having moved past many of the early challenges tied to his diagnosis. What has changed is his independence and confidence, not the diagnosis itself.
Tisha Campbell’s Advocacy and Support for Xen
Xen’s diagnosis pushed his mother into advocacy work almost immediately. She used her platform to talk about early diagnosis and intervention long before it was common for celebrities to discuss family health matters publicly. That openness gave other parents something to hold onto.
In 2011, Campbell co-founded Colored My Mind, a non-profit focused on autism awareness within Black communities. The organization produced a short film under the same name and paired families raising autistic children with resources and support networks. Campbell also co-authored a children’s book, My Brother Doesn’t Want to Play: Autism from a Sibling’s Perspective, aimed at helping siblings understand what their autistic brothers and sisters experience.
She has repeatedly said her main goal was never to shield Xen from difficulty. It was to teach him life skills and let him build confidence on his own terms. That approach, she has said, mattered more than any single therapy or program.
Tisha Campbell’s Memoir: The A Word
In February 2026, Campbell announced a new memoir titled The A Word: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Love. She told PEOPLE the book covers both the triumphs and the harder moments of raising Xen. Campbell described stepping away from her usual comedic persona to show her vulnerabilities and tenacity on the page. She called the project a love letter to autistic children and the families raising them.
The Spectrum Shield Program and IDD Safe
Xen’s diagnosis led to something beyond his own family. His uncle, Stan Campbell, a former police officer and law enforcement trainer, co-founded a company called IDD Safe. The organization builds training programs and apps designed to prepare people with intellectual or developmental disabilities for interactions with police.
One of those programs is Spectrum Shield, which teaches practical steps for staying safe during a police encounter. Xen became the first person to complete the training. He later spoke about the experience in a video posted to the Instagram account for D.O.P.E The Movement, short for De-escalating Officer Patrol Encounters.
In that video, Xen said the training gave him a sense of accomplishment and a stronger sense of having a voice. He encouraged other people on the spectrum to feel heard rather than overlooked, a message that resonated well beyond his own family circle.
Xen Martin and His Brother Ezekiel Martin
Xen has one sibling, a younger brother named Ezekiel Czar Martin, who goes by Zeke. Ezekiel was born on September 8, 2009, making him roughly eight years younger than Xen. The two share a close bond that shows up often in family videos their mother posts online.
Their relationship carries a playful edge. In July 2023, Tisha Campbell posted a video of Zeke feeding ducks at a park, only for a large flock to surround him while Xen and their mother watched and laughed. Zeke has also been known to call his mother “Gina,” a nod to the character she played on Martin, which she has jokingly complained about on camera.
The brothers do not always agree, either. In March 2025, when Xen shared his interest in pursuing a singing career, Zeke was blunt about it on camera, telling his brother directly that he lacked the talent for it. Xen kept singing anyway.
Xen Martin’s Education and Zoology Career Goals
Animals have interested Xen since childhood. He launched a YouTube channel back in 2016 that mixed superhero content with a recurring series called Zoologist Network, where he shared facts about animals ranging from felines to bald eagles.
That early interest turned into a career path. Xen enrolled at Moorpark College to study zoology, working toward a goal of becoming an animal conservationist. He has stayed on the dean’s list while also holding down jobs, driven by a desire to be financially independent rather than rely on his family’s resources.
His long-term plan involves earning a doctorate in zoology and eventually teaching at the university level. He has described wanting to work directly with animals rather than pursue a more traditional Hollywood path, a choice that sets him apart from both of his parents’ careers.
Xen Martin’s Parents: Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin
Tisha Michelle Campbell was born on October 13, 1968, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and grew up in Newark, New Jersey. She built her acting career through House Party, School Daze, and later Martin, where she played Gina Waters-Payne for five seasons. She followed that with My Wife and Kids and earned award recognition, including an Independent Spirit Award nomination and an NAACP Image Award.
Duane Martin was born on August 11, 1965. He became known for All of Us, White Men Can’t Jump, Above the Rim, and The Inkwell, and he played college basketball at NYU before moving into acting.
Campbell and Martin married in 1996. Campbell filed for divorce in 2018, and the split was finalized in December 2020 after more than two decades together. The proceedings became public in part due to reports involving domestic abuse allegations and financial disputes, though both parents have consistently kept their sons out of that conflict. Duane Martin got engaged to Ashley Marie Jones in 2024.
Milestones and Personal Growth
Xen’s list of personal milestones has grown steadily. He graduated from high school in 2020, a moment his parents celebrated publicly online. He later earned his driver’s license, sharing the excitement with his grandfather before his mother posted about it.
Music has become another outlet for him, particularly the piano, which he has described as a way to express himself outside of academics. He has also shown a lighter side online, including videos of himself cooking that his mother has shared on social media.
Xen Martin’s Net Worth and Lifestyle
Xen’s personal net worth has not been made public. As a full-time student, he does not appear to have independent income streams tied to acting, music, or other entertainment work. He benefits from a stable family background, but reports consistently describe him as financially cautious and eager to build his own path.
His social media presence stays minimal by design. His Instagram account remains largely inactive, and most public glimpses of his life come through his mother’s posts rather than his own.
Xen Martin’s Public Presence and Recent Appearances
Public appearances by Xen are rare but notable when they happen. He attended the Martin: The Reunion private screening in June 2022 alongside his mother and brother, and he has joined Campbell at events such as the HollyRod DesignCare Gala.
More recently, Xen has shown up in short-form video content that reaches beyond his mother’s usual audience. In April 2025, a TikTok clip showed Campbell testing Xen on his familiarity with Black cultural phrases, a lighthearted moment that spread widely online. That same year, his interest in singing became a small viral moment of its own after his mother and brother reacted to his ambitions on camera.
Conclusion: Xen Martin’s Story So Far
Xen Martin’s life reflects steady growth rather than a single defining moment. From an early autism diagnosis to a college path built around his love of animals, his story has developed largely outside the spotlight his parents occupy. His mother’s advocacy work, including her new memoir, keeps adding context to a journey that started with a diagnosis many families face without public attention. What stands out is his continued push for independence, on his own terms, at his own pace.
FAQ’s
Who is Xen Martin?
Xen Martin is the son of actress Tisha Campbell and actor Duane Martin, known publicly for his autism advocacy and private life outside the entertainment industry.
How old is Xen Martin?
Xen Martin was born on August 8, 2001, making him 24 years old as of 2026.
Does Xen Martin have autism?
Yes, Xen Martin was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old, and his mother has spoken openly about his growth and progress since then.
Who are Xen Martin’s parents?
Xen Martin’s parents are actress Tisha Campbell and actor Duane Martin, both well known figures in American entertainment.
Does Xen Martin have any siblings?
Yes, Xen has a younger brother named Ezekiel Czar Martin, often called Zeke, and the two share a close bond.
What is Xen Martin’s net worth?
Xen Martin’s personal net worth is not publicly known, as he is a full-time student without disclosed independent income.
What is Xen Martin studying?
Xen Martin is studying zoology at Moorpark College, working toward a career as an animal conservationist and eventually a doctorate in the field.
Where is Xen Martin now?
Xen Martin currently lives a private life in Los Angeles, focused on his zoology studies while occasionally appearing in his mother’s social media posts.
