Photo: WENN

Marvin Gaye's ex-wife Janis Hunter has urged actor Jesse L Martin to quit his role as Gaye in an upcoming biopic.

Hunter was married to Gaye from 1977 to 1981, and was the star's second wife. She is furious about Sexual Healing, a planned biopic about Gaye's life, and is encouraging Martin to quit the project.

While Martin was originally attached to the biopic, his role was given to Lenny Kravitz, who then quit - causing Martin to reclaim the role. Hunter now wants Martin to follow Kravitz's lead.

"Ultimately, I think it was Lenny's heart and soul and conscience that caused him to step away," Hunter told New York Daily News. "Hopefully, that touches Jesse in the same way."

Hunter also disapproves of a play which is based on Gaye's sister's book My Brother Marvin, and is currently touring the US.

She added, "I don't think Marvin is a very happy spirit right now. This is the last thing he would want to have happen... I haven't read the script [of the play], but it's supposed to be based on [Zeola Gaye's] book and I did read the book from cover to cover, and it was very difficult to read.

"Some of the characterizations, like saying Marvin’s father killing him was a ‘mercy killing,’ you can only imagine how that makes the kids feel. It makes me feel bad enough."

Jesse L Martin could be stepping into the role of Marvin Gaye in Sexual Healing

Hunter also called the back 'sensational' and 'lacking in accuracy'. However, she did admit that Gaye's final years were dark, saying, "It wasn’t always the greatest, but it was tough times for him and for everyone."

Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father in 1984.

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