Laurence Fishburne
Laurence John Fishburne III<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor, playwright, director and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, Jason "Furious" Styles in the 1991 drama film Boyz n the Hood and Tyrone "Mr. Clean" Miller in the 1979 war film Apocalypse Now.
Fishburne became the first African-American to portray Othello in a motion picture by a major studio when he appeared in Oliver Parker's 1995 film adaptation of the Shakespeare play. For his portrayal of Ike Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Two Trains Running (1992), and an Emmy Award for Drama Series Guest Actor for his performance in TriBeCa (1993).
Fishburne starred in several cult classics, including Deep Cover and King of New York. From 2008 to 2011, he starred as Dr. Raymond Langston on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and from 2013 to 2015 starred as Special Agent Jack Crawford on the NBC thriller series Hannibal. In 2013, he portrayed Perry White in the Zack Snyder-directed Superman reboot Man of Steel and in 2016 will reprise his role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Early life
Fishburne was born in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Hattie Bell (née Crawford), a junior high school mathematics and science teacher, and Laurence John Fishburne, Jr., a juvenile corrections officer.<ref name="Bio"/> After his parents divorced during his *****hood, his mother moved with him to Brooklyn, New York, where he was raised. Fishburne's father saw him once a month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>*****o</ref> Fishburne is a graduate of Lincoln Square Academy in New York, which closed in the 1980s.<ref name="other"/>
Career
1973–1989
For most of his early career, he was credited as Larry Fishburne. In 1973, Fishburne had his first job portraying Joshua Hall on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.<ref name="roles">Template:Cite web</ref> He was initially cast in the hit television series Good Times, but the role went to Ralph Carter.<ref name="roles"/> His most memorable *****hood role was in Cornbread, Earl and Me,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in which he played a ***** boy who witnessed the police shooting of a popular high school basketball star. He later earned a supporting role in Apocalypse Now, in which he played Tyrone Miller, a cocky 17-year-old Gunner's Mate 3rd Class from the Bronx, nicknamed Mr. Clean. When production began in March 1976, he was just 14 years old, having lied about his age to get the part. Filming took so long that he was actually 17 years old upon its completion.<ref name="roles"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fishburne spent much of the 1980s in and out of television and periodically on stage. In the early 1980s, he worked as a bouncer at punk rock clubs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also had a role in the early 1980s movie Band of the Hand, and he had a minor role in the critically acclaimed Steven Spielberg film The Color Purple.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also had a role in the 1984 movie The Cotton Club. Fishburne had a recurring role as Cowboy Curtis on Paul Reubens' CBS *****ren's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse.<ref name="roles"/> He also appeared in the M*A*S*H episode, "The Tooth Shall Set You Free", as Corporal Dorsey. In Spenser: For Hire, he was a guest star for the 2nd season episode "Personal Demons". He appeared as a thug named Cutter in Death Wish 2 (1982). He also appeared alongside Kevin Bacon in Quicksilver.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His stage work during the 1980s included Short Eyes (1984), and Loose Ends (1987), both produced at Second Stage Theatre in New York City. Also in 1987 he played a part in the third Nightmare On Elm Street film as a hospital orderly.<ref name="roles"/> Fishburne played as Lt. Charlie Stobbs in Red Heat (1988) beside Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Belushi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fishburne also starred as "Dap" in Spike Lee's School Daze (1988). Fishburne's character was the depiction of an African American, culturally inclined college student at a Historically Black College.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1990–2007
In 1990, he played Jimmy Jump in the controversial King of New York,<ref>*****o</ref> and in 1991, Fishburne starred in Boyz n the Hood.<ref>*****o</ref> The following year, in 1992, he won a Tony Award for his stage performance in the August Wilson play Two Trains Running<ref name="oscar">Template:Cite web</ref> and an Emmy Award<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for his performance in the opening episode, "The Box," of the short-lived anthology series television drama TriBeCa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also starred in Deep Cover alongside Jeff Goldblum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1993, he received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Ike Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It.<ref name="oscar"/> Fishburne won an Image Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture" for his performance as West Indian Professor Maurice Phipps in the 1995 American drama ensemble film, Higher Learning. He played the title role in Othello, the second African-American actor, after Paul Robeson,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to perform the role.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>*****o</ref> In 1997, Fishburne starred in the science fiction horror Event Horizon alongside Sam Neill. Fishburne is perhaps best known for his role as Morpheus, the hacker-mentor of Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, in the 1999 blockbuster science fiction film The Matrix.<ref name="oscar"/>
Fishburne provided the voice of Thrax in Osmosis Jones in 2001. He reprised his role as Morpheus in the Matrix sequels The Matrix Reloaded,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003.<ref>*****o</ref> He briefly featured as a stretcher-bearer in one version of the video for The Spooks' song "Things I've Seen" (2000) and appeared with Tom Cruise as Theodore Brassell, IMF superior of Cruise's character in Mission: Impossible III.<ref>*****o</ref> Fishburne has worked with actress Angela Bassett on four projects. He said that "An electrifying thing happens when the two of us work together. I haven't experienced it with anyone else. A freedom happens when we work together."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006, they appeared onstage in a Pasadena Playhouse production of August Wilson's Fences.<ref>*****o</ref> He played terrorist leader, Ahmat who was revealed to be CIA in the 2006 film Five Fingers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He provided the voice of the narrator in the 2007 *****age Mutant Ninja Turtles film, TMNT.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The same year, he provided the voice of the Silver Surfer in 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.<ref>*****o</ref> On February 24, 2007, Fishburne was honored with the Harvard Foundation's Artist of the Year award at the annual show Cultural Rhythms.<ref>*****o</ref> He received this honor for his achievements as an actor and entertainer and for his humanitarian pursuits. Fishburne is a UNICEF ambassador.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Kenneth Reeves, awarded him the key to the city and declared February 24 "Laurence Fishburne" day in the city.<ref>Laurence Fishburne: Biography from. Answers.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.</ref>
2008–present
In April 2008, Fishburne returned to the stage in the Broadway production of Thurgood, a new play by George Stevens, Jr. Thurgood opened at the Booth Theatre on April 30, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for his performance. On February 24, 2011, HBO screened a filmed version of the play performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 16, 2011, the White House hosted a screening of the film as part of its celebrations of Black History Month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On August 18, 2008, it was reported that Laurence Fishburne would join the cast of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation after William Petersen, who played Gil Grissom, left the series. John Malkovich was also considered for the role prior to the announcement.<ref name="CSI">Laurence Fishburne & John Malkovich Investigated For 'CSI' Role – Starpulse Entertainment News Blog. Starpulse.com (2008-07-16). Retrieved on 2011-11-21.</ref> Fishburne joined the show on the ninth episode of the 9th season as a college professor and former pathologist whose area of expertise involves some criminals' predisposition to commit acts of violence.<ref name=CNN>Fishburne joining 'CSI'. CNN. August 18, 2008</ref> The character was introduced as a consultant on a case ("19 Down"), who winds up joining the CSI team ("One to Go"). In May 2009, Fishburne performed on-stage in the National Memorial Day Concert on the Mall in Washington, D.C.<ref>PBS Memorial Day Concert. Pbs.org. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.</ref>
Fishburne starred in Predators in 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Contagion in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On June 7, 2011, Fishburne announced that he was leaving CSI to return to movies and theatre, opting not to renew his contract and would not appear in Season 12. Fishburne played Perry White in the Zack Snyder-directed Superman reboot Man of Steel (2013).<ref name="ew_2011">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, Fishburne joined the cast of Hannibal, as Dr. Jack Crawford, head of Behavioral Sciences at the FBI. Fishburne is confirmed to reprise his role as White in the sequel Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.Template:Citation needed In 2014, Fishburne reprised his role as Morpheus in a series of Kia K900 commercials.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Fishburne married actress Hajna O. Moss in 1985,<ref name="Bio">Template:Cite web</ref> in New York. They have two *****ren together: a son, Langston, born in 1987,<ref name="Bio"/> and a daughter, Montana Fishburne, born in 1991.<ref name="Bio"/> Hajna and Laurence divorced in the 1990s.<ref name="other">Template:Cite web</ref>
Fishburne met actress Gina Torres and they were engaged in February 2001 and married on September 22, 2002,<ref>Barron, James (September 24, 2002). Boldface Names: An Amicable Merger. The New York Times, Section B; Column 3; Metropolitan Desk; Pg. 2.</ref> at The Cloisters museum in New York City. On January 8, 2007, Fishburne's spokesman Alan Nierob announced the couple were expecting their first ***** together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A daughter, Delilah, was born to the couple in June 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fishburne lives in Hollywood,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also maintains a residence in New York City, in the Castle Village Co-Op in the Hudson Heights section of Washington Heights.<ref>*****o</ref> He is a big fan of Paulo Coelho and plans to produce a movie based on his novel The Alchemist.<ref>*****o</ref>
Filmography
Stage
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Eden | Solomon Barton |
| 1985 | Short Eyes | |
| 1988 | Urban Blight | |
| 1988 | Loose Ends | Doug |
| 1992 | Two Trains Running | Sterling |
| 1995 | Riff Raff | Mike |
| 1999 | The Lion in Winter | Henry II |
| 2006 | Fences | Troy |
| 2006 | Without Walls | Morocco |
| 2008 | Thurgood | Thurgood Marshall |
Awards and nominations
Film
| Academy Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 1994 | Academy Award | Best Actor in a Leading Role | What's Love Got to Do with It | Template:Nom |
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 2000 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actor | The Matrix | Template:Nom |
| 2015 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actor on Television | Hannibal | Template:Win |
| Acapulco Black Film Festival | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 1997 | Black Film Award | Best Actor | Hoodlum | Template:Nom |
| BET Awards | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 2004 | BET Award | Best Actor | The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions Mystic River |
Template:Nom |
| Black Movie Awards | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 2006 | Black Movie Award | Outstanding Motion Picture (Producer) | Akeelah and the Bee | Template:Nom |
| 2006 | Black Movie Award | Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role | Akeelah and the Bee | Template:Won |
| Black Reel Awards | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 2000 | Black Reel Award | Best Actor | The Matrix | Template:Nom |
| 2007 | Black Reel Award | Best Supporting Actor | Akeelah and the Bee | Template:Nom |
| 2007 | Black Reel Award | Best Motion Picture (Producer) | Akeelah and the Bee | Template:Nom |
| MTV Movie Awards | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 2000 | MTV Movie Award | Best Fight Template:Small | The Matrix | Template:Won |
| 2000 | MTV Movie Award | Best On-Screen Duo Template:Small | The Matrix | Template:Nom |
| NAA***** Image Award | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 1994 | NAA***** Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | What's Love Got to Do with It | Template:Nom |
| 1995 | NAA***** Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Higher Learning | Template:Won |
| 1996 | NAA***** Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Othello | Template:Nom |
| 1998 | NAA***** Image Award | Hoodlum | Template:Nom | |
| 2000 | NAA***** Image Award | The Matrix | Template:Nom | |
| 2004 | NAA***** Image Award | The Matrix Revolutions | Template:Nom | |
| 2006 | NAA***** Image Award | Assault on Precinct 13 | Template:Nom | |
| 2007 | NAA***** Image Award | Akeelah and the Bee | Template:Nom | |
| 2012 | NAA***** Image Award | Contagion | Template:Nom | |
Television
Theatre
| NAA***** Theatre Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Category | Play | Result |
| 2007 | Best Male Lead – Equity | Without Walls | Template:Won |
| 2005 | Lifetime Achievement Award | N/A | Template:Won |
| Tony Awards | |||
| Year | Category | Play | Result |
| 1992 | Best Actor in a Featured Role | Two Trains Running | Template:Won |
References
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<references group=""></references>External links
- 1961 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Actors from Augusta, Georgia
- African-American dramatists and playwrights
- African-American male actors
- American film producers
- American male ***** actors
- American male film actors
- American male soap opera actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- American theatre directors
- Drama Desk Award winners
- Living people
- Male actors from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Male actors from New York City
- Primetime Emmy Award winners
- People from Washington Heights, Manhattan
- Tony Award winners
- Writers from Augusta, Georgia
