You probably remember that moment in Orange Is the New Black. Sophia Burset, the glamorous and resilient trans inmate, has a flashback to her life as Marcus, a firefighter struggling with his identity. Most viewers just assumed the show used some high-end CGI or a really talented makeup artist to "de-transition" Laverne Cox for the scene. Honestly, the resemblance was so uncanny it felt a little eerie.
But it wasn't Hollywood magic. It was genetics.
The laverne cox twin is a real person named M Lamar. And while he stepped into the spotlight for a few minutes to help his sister tell Sophia’s story, he’s actually a massive deal in the underground art world. He isn't just "the brother." He’s a composer, an operatic countertenor, and a guy who describes his own aesthetic as "Negrogothic."
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The Casting Miracle That Saved Sophia Burset
When Jodie Foster was directing the episode "Lesbian Request Denied," the production hit a wall. They needed to show Sophia before her transition. Usually, shows just put a wig and some stubble on the actress, but Foster wasn't buying it. She didn't think Laverne looked "butch" enough to play a convincing male firefighter.
Laverne actually tried. She put on the gear, worked on the swagger, but the team still felt it wasn't quite hitting the mark. That’s when the casting director found out about M Lamar.
It was basically a "Christmas miracle" for the writers.
Lamar isn't an actor. He’s a musician. When they asked him to do it, his first question was literally, "How much does it pay?" He ended up playing Marcus in season one and returned for a Mother’s Day flashback in season three. It worked because they share the same bone structure and eyes, but Lamar brought a natural masculinity that allowed Laverne to stay true to her own identity without having to perform a version of herself she’d long since moved past.
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Who Exactly is M Lamar?
If you go looking for M Lamar expecting a male version of Laverne's red-carpet glamour, you’re in for a shock. He’s intense. He wears heavy black eyeshadow, spikes, and a lot of leather. He’s a "Negrogothic devil-worshipping black man in the blues tradition"—his words, not mine.
Born Reginald Lamar Cox in Mobile, Alabama, he and Laverne grew up in a strict AME Zion church. While Laverne was finding her way toward dance and acting, Lamar was obsessed with the piano and the church choir. He eventually studied painting at the San Francisco Art Institute and headed to Yale for sculpture, though he dropped out because music was calling too loud.
His work is deep. It’s not "pop."
- Doom Spirituals: He creates these haunting pieces that mix opera with black metal.
- The Theory: He’s heavily influenced by bell hooks and Toni Morrison, focusing on "radical becomings" and the horror of the Black experience in America.
- The Voice: He’s a countertenor, meaning he can sing in a range typically reserved for women, which creates this beautiful, ghostly sound.
That Emotional Moment on Claim to Fame
For a long time, Lamar stayed out of the mainstream "celebrity" loop. That changed a bit in 2022 when he appeared on the ABC show Claim to Fame under the pseudonym "X." He wore a long black cape and acted super mysterious—some of the other contestants literally thought he might be a vampire.
When he was finally unmasked as the laverne cox twin, he didn't just give a standard "thanks for having me" speech. He got incredibly emotional.
He talked about how much he respects his sister for enduring the "insanity" of being a trans woman in the public eye. He credited her for opening doors that simply didn't exist before she arrived. Laverne later posted on Instagram that Lamar has been her "moral compass" for her entire life. They’re close, but they don't always agree. They’ve done public talks where they argue about feminism and mainstream success. Lamar is a bit of a provocateur; he sometimes questions if his sister is "too mainstream," which is exactly the kind of honesty you only get from a twin.
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Realities of Growing Up as Twins in Alabama
Growing up trans and queer in the South during the 70s and 80s wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Both siblings have spoken about the bullying and the pressure to conform. They were raised by a single mother and a grandmother who were very involved in the church.
Interestingly, they’ve had different journeys with their family. In a 2014 discussion at Baruch College, it came out that while Laverne remained close with their mother, Lamar hadn't spoken to her in over a decade at that point. It’s a reminder that even though they share DNA and a "twin connection," their lives have taken very different emotional paths.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think M Lamar is just a "male version" of Laverne. That’s a mistake.
- He’s not an actor: Aside from Orange Is the New Black, he doesn't really do TV. He’s a "high art" guy.
- The "Identical" Label: While they are identical twins, they represent the diversity of identity within that bond. One is a trans woman and a household name; the other is a queer man and an avant-garde artist.
- The Name: He doesn't go by Reginald anymore. It’s just M Lamar. The "M" is part of the mystery.
Why This Connection Matters for the Trans Community
The casting of M Lamar was a watershed moment for trans representation. Historically, if a show needed a "pre-transition" version of a character, they’d just use a cisgender man who looked nothing like the actress, or they’d force the actress to dress in "drag" as a man, which can be pretty dysphoric and painful.
By using her twin, the production respected Laverne's journey while maintaining a physical reality that made the story hit harder. It showed that being trans isn't about "becoming" a different person—it’s about the person you’ve always been finally matching the world’s perception of you.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into M Lamar’s world, don't expect a sitcom. Check out his album Funeral Doom Spiritual or look up his "Negrogothic" manifesto. It’s heavy, it’s intellectual, and it’s a far cry from Litchfield Penitentiary.
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Watch Season 1, Episode 3 of Orange Is the New Black ("Lesbian Request Denied") to see their chemistry.
- Listen to M Lamar's "Lordship and Bondage" if you want to understand his operatic range.
- Follow both on social media to see their occasional, and very sweet, sibling shoutouts.