Early Life

Laurence John Fishburne III was born on July 30, 1961, in Augusta, Georgia. He is the son of Hattie Bell, a junior high school mathematics and science teacher, and Laurence John Fishburne, Jr., a juvenile corrections officer. After his parents' divorce during his childhood, Fishburne moved with his mother to Brooklyn, New York, where he was raised. He attended Lincoln Square Academy in New York, which closed in the 1980s.

Career

Early Career and Stage Work (1972–1989)

Fishburne began his acting career at the age of 11, appearing in the ABC Theater teleplay "If You Give a Dance You Gotta Pay the Band" in 1972. He gained early recognition for his role as Joshua Hall on the soap opera "One Life to Live" and his performance in the film "Cornbread, Earl and Me" (1975). At 14, he secured a role in "Apocalypse Now" (1979) by lying about his age; filming extended over several years, and he was 17 upon its completion. Throughout the 1980s, Fishburne appeared in various films, including "The Color Purple" (1985) and "School Daze" (1988), and had a recurring role as Cowboy Curtis on "Pee-wee's Playhouse" (1986–1990).

Established Actor and Worldwide Recognition (1990–2007)

In the 1990s, Fishburne's career flourished with roles in "King of New York" (1990) and "Boyz n the Hood" (1991). He won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for "Two Trains Running" (1992) and an Emmy Award for his performance in "TriBeCa" (1993). His portrayal of Ike Turner in "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993) earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Fishburne gained international fame as Morpheus in "The Matrix" trilogy (1999–2003) and appeared in films like "Mystic River" (2003) and "Mission: Impossible III" (2006).

Continued Acclaim and Recent Work (2008–Present)

From 2008 to 2011, Fishburne starred as Dr. Raymond Langston in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." He portrayed Thurgood Marshall in the one-man play "Thurgood" (2008), which was later adapted into an HBO film (2011). Fishburne joined the cast of "Hannibal" (2013–2015) as Jack Crawford and played Earl "Pops" Johnson in the sitcom "Black-ish" (2014–2022). He reprised his role as Morpheus in a series of Kia commercials (2014) and appeared as Perry White in "Man of Steel" (2013) and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016). In 2017, he joined the "John Wick" franchise as the Bowery King and played Bill Foster in "Ant-Man and the Wasp" (2018). Fishburne also served as an executive producer for the series "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" (2023).

Personal Life

Fishburne married actress Hajna O. Moss in 1985, and they had two children: Langston (born 1987) and Montana (born 1991). The couple divorced in the 1990s. In 2002, he married actress Gina Torres, with whom he has a daughter, Delilah (born 2007). Fishburne and Torres separated in 2017, and their divorce was finalized in 2018. Fishburne resides in Hollywood and maintains a residence in New York City. He is an advocate for literacy and education, supporting various charitable organizations, including UNICEF and The Creative Coalition.

Awards and Nominations

Fishburne's accolades include:

• –Academy Award: Nominated for Best Actor for "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993).
• –Emmy Awards: Won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for "TriBeCa" (1993), Outstanding Made for Television Movie for "Miss Evers' Boys" (1997), and Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Series for "#FreeRayshawn" (2020).
• –Tony Award: Won Best Featured Actor in a Play for "Two Trains Running" (1992).

Filmography

Fishburne's notable film roles include:

• –"Apocalypse Now" (1979)
• –"The Color Purple" (1985)
• –"Boyz n the Hood" (1991)
• –"What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993)
• –"The Matrix" trilogy (1999–2003)
• –"Mystic River" (2003)
• –"Mission: Impossible III" (2006)
• –"Man of Steel" (2013)
• –"John Wick" series (2017–2023)
• –"Ant-Man and the Wasp" (2018)

Television Roles

Fishburne's significant television roles include:

• –"Pee-wee's Playhouse" (1986–1990) as Cowboy Curtis
• –"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2008–2011) as Dr. Raymond Langston
• –"Hannibal" (2013–2015) as Jack Crawford
• –"Black-ish" (2014–2022) as Earl "Pops" Johnson

Stage Work

Fishburne's stage performances include:

• –"Two Trains Running" (1992)
• –"The Lion in Winter" (1999)
• –"Fences" (2006)
• –"Thurgood" (2008)

Philanthropy

Fishburne is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors, supporting organizations such as UNICEF, The Creative Coalition, and Artists for a New South Africa. He advocates for literacy and education, working to promote access to quality education for underserved communities.

Recent Projects

In 2023, Fishburne reprised his role as the Bowery King in "John Wick: Chapter 4" and appeared in "Megalopolis" and "Slingshot." He also voiced Alpha Trion in "Transformers One" and served as an executive producer for "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur."

Legacy

Laurence Fishburne's extensive career spans over five decades, marked by versatile performances across film, television, and theater. His contributions to the arts have solidified his status as a prominent figure in American entertainment.