Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne is part of an elite class of actors who have received acclaim for work in film, theater and television. Fishburne has been acting in films and on stage since the age of 10.

He began on television in the soap opera “One Life to Live” before making his feature film debut in “Cornbread, Earl and Me” at age 12. By 15, Fishburne was well on his way to an outstanding career as he headed off to the Philippines to work on the epic motion picture “Apocalypse Now” with Martin Sheen. Sheen later directed Fishburne in “Cadence,” as a street-wise military prisoner named Stokes, a role that he created for him.

Fishburne starred in “Akeelah and The Bee,” also serving as producer on the project. In 2005 he produced and starred in “Five Fingers” with Ryan Phillippe. In 2003, Fishburne revived one of his most memorable characters, Morpheus, in the box-office sensations “The Matrix: Reloaded” and “The Matrix: Revolutions,” the follow up films to the 1999 box-office hit “The Matrix.” Late in 2003, Fishburne showed his diversity in Clint Eastwood’s critically acclaimed “Mystic River,” starring with Oscar® winners Sean Penn and Tim Robbins. Fishburne also appeared in “Biker Boyz” in early 2003. His signature roles include Furious Styles in John Singleton’s “Boyz in the Hood” and the street-wise speed chess player in “Searching for Bobby Fisher.”

In 1992, Fishburne was awarded a Tony for Best Featured Actor In a Play, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critic’s Circle Award and a Theater World Award for his Broadway performance in August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running.” A rare television appearance in the 1993 premiere episode of “Tribeca” earned Fishburne an Emmy. To complete a triple crown, he was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar® in 1993 for his portrayal of Ike Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” In 1997, Fishburne starred in and executive produced HBO’s “Miss Evers’ Boys,” based on the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play about the Tuskegee Experiment, receiving an Emmy nomination and an NAACP Image Award.

Fishburne has dominated the big screen with confident and powerful characters like those seen in “Hoodlum” (1997), “Event Horizon” (1997) and “Fled” (1996). He has shown his depth and diversity with critically acclaimed roles in “Othello” (1995) and “Higher Learning” (1995). Fishburne’s other notable TV appearances include HBO’s “Always Outnumbered” which he executive produced; HBO’s “Tuskegee Airmen” for which he received an NAACP Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy and Cable Ace nominations for his leading role; “Decoration Day” for Hallmark Hall of Fame; “For Us the Living” for PBS; “Rumor of War” for CBS; and numerous guest starring roles.

In addition to his role as starring actor and producer, the film “Once in the Life” marked Fishburne’s directorial debut. The screen play, which he wrote, is based on the one-act play “Riff Raff,” in which Fishburne starred, wrote, and directed in 1994. Fishburne also appeared on Broadway in 1999 with the lead role of Henry II in “The Lion in Winter.”

The Weinstein Company