- Laurence Fishburne
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Laurence Fishburne 
Laurence Fishburne, September 2008Born Laurence John Fishburne III
July 30, 1961
Augusta, Georgia, U.S.Other names Larry Fishburne Occupation Actor, director, producer, playwright Years active 1972–present Spouse Hajna O. Moss (1985 – 199?),
Gina Torres (2002 – current)Children Langston Fishburne (b.1987)
Montana Fishburne (b.1991)
Delilah Fishburne (b.2007)Website http://www.laurence-fishburne.com Laurence John Fishburne III[1] (born July 30, 1961) is an American film and stage actor, playwright, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Morpheus in the Matrix science fiction film trilogy, as Cowboy Curtis on the 1980's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, and as singer-musician Ike Turner in the Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got to Do With It. He 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. From 2008 to 2011, he starred as Dr. Raymond Langston on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Fishburne has 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).
Contents
Early years
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.[2] His parents divorced during his childhood, and he moved with his mother to Brooklyn, New York, where he was raised. Fishburne's father saw him once a month.[3][4] He is a graduate of Lincoln Square Academy in New York, which closed in the 1980s.
Career
1970s
Fishburne started acting at age twelve, getting his first job in 1973 as a short-lived member of the Mod Squad followed by portraying Joshua Hall on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live. He was initially cast in the hit television series Good Times, but the role was eventually given to Ralph Carter. Fishburne's most memorable childhood role was in Cornbread, Earl and Me in which he played a young boy who witnessed the police shooting of a popular high school basketball star. Fishburne later earned a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, in which he played a 17-year-old sailor nicknamed 'Mr. Clean'. When production began in March 1976 he was just fourteen, apparently lying about his age to get the part. Filming took so long that he was seventeen upon its completion.
1980s
Fishburne spent much of the 1980s in and out of television and periodically on stage. In the early 1980s, Fishburne had a minor role in the critically acclaimed Steven Spielberg film The Color Purple. Fishburne had a recurring role as Cowboy Curtis on Paul Reubens' CBS children's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse. He also appeared in the M*A*S*H episode, "The Tooth Shall Set You Free", as Corporal Dorsey (billed as Larry Fishburne in the credits). 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. 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. Fishburne played as Lt. Charlie Stobbs (under Larry Fishburne) in Red Heat(1988) beside Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Belushi. 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 an HBCU (Historically Black College/University).
1990s
In 1990, he played Jimmy Jump in the controversial King of New York, and in 1991, Fishburne starred in Boyz n the Hood. The following year, in 1992, he won a Tony Award for his stage performance in the August Wilson play, Two Trains Running and an Emmy Award for his performance in the opening episode, "The Box," of the short-lived anthology series television drama TriBeCa.He also starred in "Deep Cover" along side Jeff Goldblum. In 1993, he received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Ike Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It. In an 1995 American drama film, starring an ensemble cast, Laurence Fishburne won an Image Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture" for his performance in Higher Learning as West Indian Professor Maurice Phipps. He played the title role in Othello, the second African American actor, behind Paul Robeson to be so cast. 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, he gained a significant amount of weight for the following sequels to give the character more screen presence.
2000s – 2010s
Fishburne provided the voice of Thrax in Osmosis Jones in 2001. Fishburne reprised his role as Morpheus in the Matrix sequels, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003. 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.
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."[cite this quote] In 2006, they appeared onstage in a Pasadena Playhouse production of August Wilson's Fences.[5]
He provided the voice of the narrator in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) movie, which was released on March 23, 2007.[6] The same year, he provided the voice of the Silver Surfer in 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
On February 24, 2007, Fishburne was honored with the Harvard Foundation's Artist of the Year award at the annual show Cultural Rhythms. He received this honor for his prowess as an actor and entertainer and for his humanitarian pursuits. Fishburne is a UNICEF ambassador.[7] The mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mayor Kenneth Reeves awarded him the key to the city and declared February 24 "Laurence Fishburne" day in the city of Cambridge.[8]
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.[9] He won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for his performance.
On August 18, 2008, it was reported that Laurence Fishburne would join the cast of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation after William Petersen (aka Gil Grissom) left the series. John Malkovich was also considered for the role prior to the announcement.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
Fishburne starred in 2010's Predators.[13] He co-starred with Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, and Marion Cotillard in Steven Soderbergh's Contagion (2011).[14]
Fishburne also starred in a one-man play about Thurgood Marshall at the Kennedy Center.
On June 7, 2011, Fishburne announced that he was leaving C.S.I. to return to movies and theatre, opting not to renew his contract and would not appear in Season 12.
On August 2, 2011 it was announced that Fishburne had been cast in the role of Perry White in the Christopher Nolan produced, Zack Snyder directed Superman reboot Man of Steel.[15] This will mark the first time that the character has been played by an African American actor.
Personal life
Fishburne in September 2006.
Fishburne married actress Hajna O. Moss in 1985[citation needed], in New York. They have two children together: a son, Langston, born in 1987[citation needed], and a daughter, Montana, born in 1991. Hajna and Laurence divorced in the 1990s. In 2010, it was reported that Fishburne had cut ties with his daughter Montana Fishburne after she started making pornography.[16][17][18]
Fishburne met actress Gina Torres while filming The Matrix Reloaded. He and Torres were engaged in February 2001 and married on September 22, 2002,[19] at The Cloisters museum in New York City. On January 8, 2007, Fishburne's spokesman Alan Nierob announced the couple were expecting their first child together.[20][21] A daughter, Delilah, was born to the couple in June 2007.[22]
Fishburne lives in Hollywood[23] and also maintains a residence in New York City, in the Castle Village Co-Op in the Hudson Heights section of Washington Heights.[24] He is a big fan of Paulo Coelho and plans to produce a movie based on the novel The Alchemist.[25]
Filmography
Main article: Laurence Fishburne filmographyStage and screen credits
Stage
- Eden (1976)
- Short Eyes (1985)
- Urban Blight (1988)
- Loose Ends (1988)
- Two Trains Running (1992)
- Riff Raff (1995)
- The Lion in Winter (1999)
- Fences (2006)
- Without Walls (2006)
- Thurgood (2008)
- National Memorial Day Concert on the Mall in Washington, D.C. (2009)
Awards and nominations
Film
Academy Awards Year Award Category Title Result 1994 Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role What's Love Got to Do with It Nominated Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Year Award Category Title Result 2000 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor The Matrix Nominated Acapulco Black Film Festival Year Award Category Title Result 1997 Black Film Award Best Actor Hoodlum Nominated BET Awards Year Award Category Title Result 2004 BET Award Best Actor The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Mystic RiverNominated Black Movie Awards Year Award Category Title Result 2006 Black Movie Award Outstanding Motion Picture (Producer) Akeelah and the Bee Nominated 2006 Black Movie Award Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Akeelah and the Bee Won Black Reel Awards Year Award Category Title Result 2000 Black Reel Award Best Actor The Matrix Nominated 2007 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actor Akeelah and the Bee Nominated 2007 Black Reel Award Best Motion Picture (Producer) Akeelah and the Bee Nominated MTV Movie Awards Year Award Category Title Result 2000 MTV Movie Award Best Fight (shared with Keanu Reeves) The Matrix Won 2000 MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Duo (shared with Keanu Reeves) The Matrix Nominated Television
Emmy Awards Year Category Title Result 2011 Outstanding Actor in a Mini-Series or Television Special Thurgood Nominated 1997 Outstanding Made for Television Movie Miss Evers' Boys Won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or Television Special Miss Evers' Boys Nominated 1996 Outstanding Actor in a Mini-Series or Television Special The Tuskegee Airmen Nominated 1993 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series TriBeCa Won NAACP Image Award Year Category Title Result 2011 Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nominated 2010 Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nominated 2009 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nominated 1999 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series Always Outnumbered Nominated 1998 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series Miss Evers' Boys Won 1996 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series The Tuskegee Airmen Won Theatre
NAACP Theatre Awards Year Category Play Result 2007 Best Male Lead – Equity Without Walls Won 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award N/A Won Tony Awards Year Category Play Result 1992 Best Actor in a Featured Role Two Trains Running Won References
- ^ "Laurence Fishburne". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2008. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9399809/Laurence-Fishburne. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ "Laurence Fishbourne". Filmreference. 2008. http://www.filmreference.com/film/15/Laurence-Fishburne.html. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ "Laurence Fishbourne: Biography". Yahoo! Movies. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800015265/bio. Retrieved 2007-01-31.
- ^ Paul Chutkow. "Laurence Fishbourne: Flying Fish". Cigar Aficionado. http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,171,00.html. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ Terri Roberts (September 2006). "Fences". TheaterMania. http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/8955. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
- ^ Heather Newgen (25 January 2007). "TMNT Studio Visit". ComingSoon. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=18433. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
- ^ "Harvard Foundation names UNICEF Ambassador Laurence Fishburne 2007 Artist of the Year". UNICEF USA. 20 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927022829/http://www.unicefusa.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=46279&ct=3574749. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
- ^ Laurence Fishburne: Biography from. Answers.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
- ^ Staff writers (24 October 2007). "Laurence Fishburne is 'Thurgood' on Broadway Spring 2008". Broadway World. http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=22426. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ Laurence Fishburne & John Malkovich Investigated For 'CSI' Role – Starpulse Entertainment News Blog. Starpulse.com (2008-07-16). Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
- ^ Fishburne joining 'CSI'. CNN. August 18, 2008
- ^ PBS Memorial Day Concert. Pbs.org. Retrieved on 2011-11-21.
- ^ "Meet Laurence Fishburne as the Unstoppable Noland in New 'Predators' Character Profile". BloodyDisgusting. http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20082.
- ^ "Jude Law Drops some hints about his Contagion Character". DreadCentral. http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36334/jude-law-drops-some-hints-about-his-contagion-character.
- ^ Vary, Adam B. (August 02, 2011). "Laurence Fishburne cast as Perry White in 'Man of Steel' – EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/08/02/laurence-fishburne-perry-white-man-of-steel-exclusive/. Retrieved August 02, 2011. "Lois Lane and Clark Kent just got their boss: Laurence Fishburne will play Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White in Man of Steel, EW has learned exclusively. White has traditionally been a hard-charging, old fashioned newspaperman, who relies on his ace reporters, Clark and Lois, to get the big scoop. Jackie Cooper played White in the Christopher Reeve era Superman films, and Frank Langella took on the role in director Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns in 2006."
- ^ "Personal Bio: Montana Fishburne". IAFD.com. http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=MontanaFishburne/gender=f/Montana-Fishburne.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
- ^ "Laurence Fishburne Daughter Inspired by Kim Kardashian". National Ledger. August 1, 2010. http://www.nationalledger.com/ledgerpop/article_272633678.shtml. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ WENN.com (2010-08-17). "Fishburne cuts ties with daughter". WENN.com. http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2010/08/17/15048476-wenn-story.html. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
- ^ Barron, James (September 24, 2002). Boldface Names: An Amicable Merger. The New York Times, Section B; Column 3; Metropolitan Desk; Pg. 2.
- ^ "LA Daily News – Laurence Fishburne and wife Gina Torres are expecting their first child, his publicist says". Dailynews.com. http://www.dailynews.com/gossip/ci_4972641. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
- ^ (2007-01-08). "abc7.com: Southern California news leader -Laurence Fishburne And Wife Gina Torres Are Expecting Their First Child 1/08/07". Abclocal.go.com. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=4915904. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
- ^ Edie Falco, on My Kids Look Like Fabio and Chucky!. "Update: Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres welcome first child; spotted out in Hollywood : Celebrity Baby Blog". Celebrity-babies.com. http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2007/11/update-laurence.html. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
- ^ Gary Brumburgh (2008). "Biography of Lawrence Fishburne". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000401/bio. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ Staff writers (7 March 2008). "Hudson Heights delivers". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/services/realestate/2008/03/07/2008-03-07_hudson_heights_delivers.html. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ Singh, Anita (2008-05-18). "Cannes Film Festival: Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist to be filmed by Laurence Fishburne – Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1980755/Cannes-Film-Festival-Paulo-Coelhos-The-Alchemist-to-be-filmed-by-Laurence-Fishburne.html.
External links
- The Official Website of Actor Laurence Fishburne
- Laurence Fishburne at the Internet Broadway Database
- Laurence Fishburne at the Internet Movie Database
- Laurence Fishburne at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Laurence Fishburne at Yahoo! Movies
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (1975–2000) Frank Langella (1975) · Judd Hirsch (1976) · Bob Dishy (1977) · Jeffrey DeMunn (1978) · George Rose (1979) · David Rounds (1980) · Brian Backer (1981) · Željko Ivanek / Adolph Caesar (1982) · Alan Feinstein (1983) · John Malkovich (1984) · Barry Miller / Charles S. Dutton (1985) · Joseph Maher (1986) · John Randolph (1987) · B. D. Wong (1988) · Peter Frechette (1989) · Charles Durning (1990) · Kevin Spacey (1991) · Laurence Fishburne (1992) · Joe Mantello / Stephen Spinella (1993) · Jeffrey Wright (1994) · Nathan Lane (1995) · Martin Shaw (1996) · Brian Murray (1997) · Alfred Molina (1998) · Kevin Anderson (1999) · Roy Dotrice (2000)
Complete list · (1975–2000) · (2001–2025) Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show (2001–present) Pamela Gien (2001) · Elaine Stritch (2002) · Tovah Feldshuh (2003) · Jefferson Mays (2004) · Billy Crystal (2005) · Antony Sher (2006) · Vanessa Redgrave (2007) · Laurence Fishburne (2008) · Lorenzo Pisoni (2009) · Jim Brochu (2010) · John Leguizamo (2011)
Complete list · (1984–2000) · (2001–present) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor – Drama Series (1975–2000) Patrick McGoohan (1975) · Gordon Jackson (1976) · Louis Gossett, Jr. (1977) · Barnard Hughes (1978) · John Lithgow (1986) · Joe Spano (1989) · Patrick McGoohan (1990) · David Opatoshu (1991) · Laurence Fishburne (1993) · Richard Kiley (1994) · Paul Winfield (1995) · Peter Boyle (1996) · Pruitt Taylor Vince (1997) · John Larroquette (1998) · Edward Herrmann (1999) · James Whitmore (2000)
Complete List · (1975–2000) · (2001–2025) Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play (1976–2000) Edward Herrmann (1976) · Jonathan Pryce (1977) · Lester Rawlins (1978) · Michael Gough (1979) · David Rounds (1980) · Brian Backer (1981) · Zakes Mokae (1982) · Matthew Broderick (1983) · Joe Mantegna (1984) · Barry Miller (1985) · John Mahoney (1986) · John Randolph (1987) · B. D. Wong (1988) · Boyd Gaines (1989) · Charles Durning (1990) · Kevin Spacey (1991) · Laurence Fishburne (1992) · Stephen Spinella (1993) · Jeffrey Wright (1994) · John Glover (1995) · Ruben Santiago-Hudson (1996) · Owen Teale (1997) · Tom Murphy (1998) · Frank Wood (1999) · Roy Dotrice (2000)
Complete list · (1949–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Categories:- 1961 births
- Actors from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Actors from New York City
- African American film actors
- African American television actors
- American child actors
- American soap opera actors
- American voice actors
- Drama Desk Award winners
- Emmy Award winners
- Living people
- People from Augusta, Georgia
- People from Washington Heights, Manhattan
- Tony Award winners
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