Editing Laurence Fishburne

{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{short description|American actor (born 1961)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person 
| name               = Laurence Fishburne
| image              = National Memorial Day Concert 2017 (34117818524) (cropped).jpg
| imagesize          = <!-- only use if under 220px, and leave off "px" part -->
| caption            = Fishburne in 2017
| birth_name         = Laurence John Fishburne III
| other_names        =
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|7|30}}
| birth_place        = [[Augusta, Georgia]], U.S.
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* producer 
  }}
| years_active       = 1972–present
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Hajna O. Moss|1985|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Gina Torres]]|2002|2018|end=div}}
  }}
| children           = 3, including [[Langston Fishburne]]
| website            = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''Laurence John Fishburne III'''<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica | title = Laurence Fishburne | url = https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9399809/Larry-Fishburne | year = 2008 | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica Online | access-date=April 8, 2008}}</ref> (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor.{{efn|Credited onscreen as '''Larry Fishburne''' until 1993.}} Throughout his career, he has gained recognition for his roles on stage and screen as militant and authoritative characters. He first came to prominence appearing in ''[[Apocalypse Now]]'' (1979) and achieved further recognition for his supporting role in ''[[Boyz n the Hood]]'' (1991). Later, he became known for portraying [[Morpheus (The Matrix)|Morpheus]] in [[The Matrix (franchise)|''The Matrix'' trilogy]] (1999–2003) and the Bowery King in [[John Wick|''John Wick'' film series]] (2017–).

For his portrayal of [[Ike Turner]] in ''[[What's Love Got to Do with It (1993 film)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]'' (1993), Fishburne was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]. He has also won six [[Emmy Awards]] for various television projects, and a [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play]] for his performance in ''[[Two Trains Running]]'' (1992). He has also received nominations for a [[Golden Globe Award]] and five [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]].

Other notable film credits include ''[[The Color Purple (1985 film)|The Color Purple]]'' (1985), ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors]]'' (1987), ''[[School Daze]]'' (1988), ''[[King of New York]]'' (1990), ''[[Deep Cover]]'' (1992), ''[[Searching for Bobby Fischer]]'' (1993), ''[[Higher Learning]]'' (1995), ''[[Event Horizon (film)|Event Horizon]]'' (1997), ''[[Mystic River (film)|Mystic River]]'' (2003), ''[[Akeelah and the Bee]]'' (2006), ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]'' (2006), ''[[Predators (film)|Predators]]'' (2010), ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'' (2011), and ''[[The Mule (2018 film)|The Mule]]'' (2018). He also appeared in superhero franchises playing [[Perry White]] in the [[DC Extended Universe]] (2013, 2016) and [[Bill Foster (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Bill Foster / Goliath]] in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (2018–). On television, he had a recurring role as Cowboy Curtis in ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]'' (1986–1990) and starred in the [[CBS]] crime drama ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'' (2008–2011), as [[Jack Crawford (character)|Jack Crawford]] in the [[NBC]] thriller series ''[[Hannibal (TV series)|Hannibal]]'' (2013–2015), and as Earl "Pops" Johnson in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom ''[[Black-ish]]'' (2014–2022).

== Early life ==
Fishburne was born in [[Augusta, Georgia]], raised as 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 childhood, he moved with his mother to [[Brooklyn, New York]], where he was raised. His father saw him once a month.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800015265/bio | title = Laurence Fishbourne: Biography | work = Yahoo! Movies | access-date=January 31, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,171,00.html | title = Laurence Fishbourne: Flying Fish | work = Cigar Aficionado | author = Paul Chutkow | access-date=May 24, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607211020/http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,171,00.html | archive-date=June 7, 2007}}</ref> Fishburne is a graduate of Lincoln Square Academy in New York, which closed in the 1980s.<ref name="other"/>

In his 40s, Fishburne learned that Laurence John Fishburne, Jr. was not his biological father. In 2025, on an episode of ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'', Fishburne learned that his biological father was a man named William Seigel Bohannan. Bohannan was a member of the U.S. military stationed at [[Fort Gordon]] when he met Fishburne's mother, who was a volunteer for the [[USO]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Finding Your Roots {{!}} Finding My Roots {{!}} Season 11 {{!}} Episode 10 |url=https://www.pbs.org/video/finding-my-roots-b7sruc/ |access-date=9 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== 1972–1989: Early career and stage work ===
For most of his early career, he was credited as Larry Fishburne. In 1972, at the age of 11, Fishburne received positive reviews for his first acting role<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/features/laurence-fishburne1201375637-1201375637/  |work=Variety |quote=Straight out of the gate, when he was 11, ''Variety'' was singing his praises in the TV pic “If You Give a Dance You Gotta Pay the Band,” on Dec. 19, 1972.  |author=Steven Gaydos |title=Laurence Fishburne Looks Back on Childhood Acting Days |date=2014-12-10 |accessdate=2021-12-27}}</ref> in the initial [[ABC Theater]] teleplay ''[[If You Give a Dance You Gotta Pay the Band]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19721219&id=vLJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=clIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=930,5890819&hl=en  |location=Bryan, Ohio |newspaper=The Bryan Times |title= Tuesday [television listings] |quote=90-minute dramatic special |accessdate=2021-12-27 |date=1972-12-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/celebrities/2008/08/19/DeGeneres-de-Rossi-wed-Barr-goes-ballistic-the-story-of-Stanley-Gray/stories/200808190155 |author=Monica Haynes |title=DeGeneres, de Rossi wed; Barr goes ballistic; the story of Stanley Gray |date=2008-08-19 |quote=Quick, what was Laurence Fishburne's first movie gig? If you said it was a 1972 television film called "If Give a Dance You Gotta Pay the Band," you're right.  |accessdate=2021-12-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o68DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66  |magazine=Jet |title=Larry Fishburne, 11, Expands To ABC Teleplay |page=66 |date=1973-06-07 |volume=XLIV |issue=11}}</ref> Soon after, Fishburne portrayed [[Josh Hall (One Life to Live)|Joshua Hall]] on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] soap opera ''[[One Life to Live]]''.<ref name="roles">{{Cite web | title = Laurence Fishburne | date = November 7, 2005 | url = https://www.metacritic.com/person/laurence-fishburne | publisher = metacritic.com|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> His most memorable childhood role was in ''[[Cornbread, Earl and Me]]'',<ref>{{Cite news | title = Cornbread, Earl & Me (1975) | url = https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/11009/Cornbread-Earl-Me/overview | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041055/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/11009/Cornbread-Earl-Me/overview | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 24, 2014 | department = Movies & TV Dept. | work = [[The New York Times]] | author = Hal Erickson | author-link = Hal Erickson (author) | date = 2014 |access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> in which he played a young 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 actually was 17 years old upon its completion.<ref name="roles"/><ref>{{Cite web | title = The Little Lie That Launched Laurence Fishburne's Career | date=April 22, 2013 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA6Lr70kxlk | publisher = youtube|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</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, such as [[Cathay de Grande]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://alibi.com/film/39701/Talking-at-Ground-Zero.html | title = Documentarian Chris Metzler on Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone | date = December 8, 2011 | work = Weekly Alibi}}</ref> He appeared in the early 1980s movies ''[[Band of the Hand]]'', ''[[Death Wish 2]]'' and ''[[The Cotton Club (film)|The Cotton Club]]'', and had a minor role in the critically acclaimed Steven Spielberg film ''[[The Color Purple (1985 film)|The Color Purple]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | title = The Color Purple (1985) | url = https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/10301/The-Color-Purple/cast |access-date=September 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045412/https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/10301/The-Color-Purple/cast|archive-date=September 24, 2014| department = Movies & TV Dept. | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Fishburne had a recurring role as [[Cowboy Curtis]] on [[Paul Reubens]]' [[CBS]] children's television series ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]''.<ref name="roles"/> He also appeared in the ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' episode [[List of M*A*S*H episodes (Season 10)|"The Tooth Shall Set You Free"]]. In ''[[Spenser: For Hire]]'', he was a guest star for the second-season episode "Personal Demons". He also appeared alongside [[Kevin Bacon]] in ''[[Quicksilver (film)|Quicksilver]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Bad Movies We Love, Bike Messenger Edition: Kevin Bacon in Quicksilver | url = http://movieline.com/2012/08/23/bad-movies-we-love-bike-messenger-kevin-bacon-quicksilver-premium-rush/ | publisher = movieline.com|access-date=September 19, 2014 | date = August 23, 2012 | author = Brad Slager}}</ref> His stage work during the 1980s included ''[[Short Eyes (play)|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 [[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors|the third ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' film]] as a hospital orderly.<ref name="roles"/> Fishburne featured in ''[[Red Heat (1988 film)|Red Heat]]'' (1988) beside [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] and [[James Belushi]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = Red Heat | url = http://www.laurence-fishburne.com/work/red-heat | publisher = laurence-fishburne.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022190613/http://www.laurence-fishburne.com/work/red-heat|archive-date=October 22, 2014}}</ref> Fishburne also starred as "Dap" in [[Spike Lee]]'s ''[[School Daze]]'' (1988). Fishburne's character was a depiction of an African American, culturally inclined college student at a [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = School Daze (1988) Trailer (Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell-Martin) | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kTOohbg4eE | publisher = youtube|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref>

=== 1990–2007: Established actor and worldwide recognition ===
[[File:National Memorial Day Concert 2017 (34573574790).jpg|thumb|right|Fishburne at the National Memorial Day Concert in 2017]]
In 1990, Fishburne played Jimmy Jump in the controversial ''[[King of New York]]'',<ref>{{Cite news | title = Diddy to Remake '90s Cult Classic 'King of New York' | url = http://www.essence.com/2013/10/30/diddy-remake-90s-cult-classic-king-new-york/|access-date=September 19, 2014 | publisher = essence.com}}</ref> and in 1991, starred in ''[[Boyz n the Hood]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine | title = Best Men: The Top 10 Movie Dads We'd Use To Build the Perfect Father | url = https://entertainment.time.com/2012/06/15/best-men-the-top-10-movie-dads-wed-use-to-build-the-perfect-father/slide/jason-furious-styles-boyz-n-the-hood/|access-date=September 19, 2014 | magazine = Time | date = June 14, 2012}}</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">{{Cite web | title = Laurence Fishburne Biography | url = http://www.biography.com/people/laurence-fishburne-9295760#career-highlights | publisher = biography.com|access-date=September 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201162741/http://www.biography.com/people/laurence-fishburne-9295760#career-highlights|archive-date=February 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and an [[Emmy Award]]<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/laurence-fishburne | title = Laurence Fishburne | work = Television Academy|access-date=October 2, 2015}}</ref> for his performance in the opening episode, "The Box", of the short-lived [[anthology series]] television drama ''[[TriBeCa (TV series)|TriBeCa]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Laurence Fishburne | url = http://www.movieactors.com/actors/laurencefishburne.htm | publisher = .movieactors.com|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> He also starred in ''[[Deep Cover]]'' alongside Jeff Goldblum.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Deep Cover (1992) trailer | date=June 30, 2011 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3vSlRf-T8k | publisher = youtube|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> In 1993, he received his first [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nomination for his portrayal of [[Ike Turner]] in ''[[What's Love Got to Do with It (1993 film)|What's Love Got to Do With It]]''.<ref name="oscar"/><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.broadway.com/buzz/95457/laurence-fishburne-will-headline-alfred-uhrys-without-walls-in-ca/ | title = Laurence Fishburne Will Headline Alfred Uhry's Without Walls in CA | work = Broadway.com|access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> 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 (1995 film)|Othello]]'', the second African-American actor, after [[Paul Robeson]],<ref>{{Cite magazine | last1 = Tucker | first1 = Ken | title = Othello (1995) | url = https://ew.com/article/1995/12/22/othello-5/ | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=September 19, 2014 | date = December 22, 1995}}</ref> to perform the role.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Othello (1995) FILM REVIEW;Fishburne and Branagh Meet Their Fate in Venice | url = https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DE3DE1739F937A25751C1A963958260 | newspaper = nytimes.com|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last1 = Ebert | first1 = Roger | title = Othello | url = https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/othello-1995|access-date=September 19, 2014 | publisher = rogerebert.com | date = December 29, 1995}}</ref> In 1995, Fishburne wrote, directed, and starred in the play ''Riff-Raff'' at the now defunct [[Circle Repertory Company|Off-Broadway Circle Rep Theater]]. The cast included [[Titus Welliver]] and [[Heavy D]], who performed a nine-minute live-rap on stage.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marks |first=Peter |date=1995-10-29 |title=THEATER;Laurence Fishburne's Does-It-All Performance |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/theater/theater-laurence-fishburne-s-does-it-all-performance.html |access-date=2023-05-26 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1997, Fishburne starred in the science fiction horror ''[[Event Horizon (film)|Event Horizon]]'' alongside [[Sam Neill]]. Fishburne is perhaps best known for his role as [[Morpheus (The Matrix)|Morpheus]], the [[Hacker (computer security)|hacker]]-mentor of [[Neo (The Matrix)|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>{{Cite web | title = The Matrix Reloaded (2003) Trailer (Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Keanu Reeves) | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgbBR6dbybw | publisher = youtube.com|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]'' in 2003.<ref>{{Cite news | title = The Matrix Revolution : An Interview with Laurence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves | url = http://www.blackfilm.com/20031031/features/laurence_keanu.shtml|access-date=September 19, 2014 | publisher = blackfilm.com | date = October 2003}}</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, [[Impossible Missions Force|IMF]] superior of Cruise's character in ''[[Mission: Impossible III]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Alec Baldwin in Talks for 'Mission: Impossible 5′ [Updated] | url = https://www.slashfilm.com/alec-baldwin-mission-impossible-5/|access-date=September 19, 2014 | publisher = slashfilm.com | date = July 9, 2014 | author = Angie Han}}</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>{{Cite web | url = http://angiebnews.blogspot.com/2006/11/angela-bassett-and-laurence-fishburne_22.html | title = Angie B News | author = SimzBrazil | work = angiebnews.blogspot.com|access-date=October 2, 2015 | date = November 22, 2006}}</ref> In 2006, they appeared onstage in a [[Pasadena Playhouse]] production of [[August Wilson]]'s ''[[Fences (play)|Fences]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne to Reunite for Pasadena Playhouse's Fences | url = http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/07-2006/angela-bassett-and-laurence-fishburne-to-reunite-f_8589.html|access-date=September 20, 2014 | publisher = TheaterMania.com | date = July 7, 2006}}</ref> Fishburne also played a gay high school teacher in a Los Angeles production of [[Alfred Uhry|Alfred Uhry's]] ''Without Walls'' in the same year.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Without Walls | url = https://www.theatermania.com/news/without-walls_8436/ |access-date=November 6, 2024 | publisher = TheaterMania.com | date = June 13, 2006}}</ref> He played terrorist leader, Ahmat who was revealed to be CIA in the 2006 film ''[[Five Fingers (2006 film)|Five Fingers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/8955 | title = Fences | work = TheaterMania | author = Terri Roberts | date = September 2006|access-date=February 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104094937/http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/8955|archive-date=January 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He provided the voice of the narrator in the 2007 [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] film, ''[[TMNT (film)|TMNT]]'', which was a commercial success.<ref>{{Cite web | author = Heather Newgen | title = TMNT Studio Visit | url = https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=18433 | work = ComingSoon | date = January 25, 2007|access-date=February 1, 2007}}</ref> The same year, he provided the voice of the [[Silver Surfer]] in 2007 film ''[[Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Laurence Fishburne voicing the Silver Surfer | url = http://www.totalfilm.com/news/laurence-fishburne-voicing-the-silver-surfer|access-date=September 19, 2014 | publisher = totalfilm.com | date = April 19, 2007}}</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>{{Cite news | title = Harvard Foundation names Laurence Fishburne the 2007 Artist of the Year | url = http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/02/harvard-foundation-names-laurence-fishburne-the-2007-artist-of-the-year/|access-date=September 19, 2014 | publisher = harvard.edu | date = February 22, 2007}}</ref> He received this honor for his achievements as an actor and entertainer and for his humanitarian pursuits. Fishburne is a [[UNICEF]] ambassador.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.unicefusa.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=46279&ct=3574749 | title = Harvard Foundation names UNICEF Ambassador Laurence Fishburne 2007 Artist of the Year | publisher = UNICEF USA | date = February 20, 2007|access-date=February 25, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022829/http://www.unicefusa.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=46279&ct=3574749 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = September 27, 2007}}</ref>

=== 2008–present: Continued acclaim and return to stage work ===
In April 2008, Fishburne returned to the stage in the Broadway production of ''[[Thurgood (play)|Thurgood]]'', a new play by George Stevens, Jr. ''Thurgood'' opened at the Booth Theatre on April 30, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web | author=<!--Not stated-->  | url = http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=22426 | title = Laurence Fishburne is 'Thurgood' on Broadway Spring 2008 | date = October 24, 2007 | work = Broadway World|access-date=April 8, 2008}}</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>{{Cite news | url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/02/18/hbos-thurgood-is-an-exceptional-look-at-race-and-the-law/ | title = HBO's 'Thurgood' is an exceptional look at race and the law | first = David | last = Zurawik | date = February 18, 2011 | newspaper = The Baltimore Sun|access-date=January 2, 2012}}</ref> On February 16, 2011, the [[White House]] hosted a screening of the film as part of its celebrations of [[Black History Month]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/02/24/white-house-screening-thurgood?category=93 | title = White House Screening of "Thurgood" | author = White House | date = February 24, 2011 | via=[[NARA|National Archives]] | work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |access-date=January 2, 2012}}</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">{{Cite web | url = http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/07/16/laurence_fishburne_aamp_john_malkovich_i | title = Laurence Fishburne & John Malkovich Investigated For 'CSI' Role | work = World Entertainment News Network | via = Starpulse Entertainment News Blog | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120307073315/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/07/16/laurence_fishburne_aamp_john_malkovich_i | archive-date = March 7, 2012 | date = July 16, 2008 | access-date = November 21, 2011}}</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>{{Cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/18/csi.fishburne.ap/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080831164723/http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/18/csi.fishburne.ap/index.html | title = Fishburne joining 'CSI' | work = [[CNN]] | date = August 18, 2008 | archive-date = August 31, 2008 | url-status = dead}}</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>{{Cite web | url = https://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/concert/performers.html | title = PBS Memorial Day Concert | work = [[PBS]] | access-date = November 21, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090714072652/https://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/concert/performers.html | archive-date = July 14, 2009 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

Fishburne starred in ''[[Predators (film)|Predators]]'' in 2010<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20082 | title = Meet Laurence Fishburne as the Unstoppable Noland in New 'Predators' Character Profile | publisher = BloodyDisgusting | date = May 5, 2010}}</ref> and ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36334/jude-law-drops-some-hints-about-his-contagion-character | title = Jude Law Drops some hints about his Contagion Character | publisher = DreadCentral | date = August 11, 2012}}</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 (film)|Man of Steel]]'' (2013).<ref name="ew_2011">{{Cite magazine | url = https://ew.com/article/2011/08/02/laurence-fishburne-perry-white-man-of-steel-exclusive/ | title = Laurence Fishburne cast as Perry White in 'Man of Steel' – EXCLUSIVE | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = August 2, 2011 | access-date=August 2, 2011 | first = Vary | last = Adam B. | quote = 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.}}</ref> In 2013, Fishburne joined the cast of ''[[Hannibal (TV series)|Hannibal]]'', as Dr. Jack Crawford, head of Behavioral Sciences at the FBI. In 2014, Fishburne reprised his role as Morpheus in a series of [[Kia Motors|Kia]] [[Kia K9|K900]] commercials.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://jalopnik.com/kias-the-matrix-super-bowl-ad-sells-a-k900-with-morphe-1510752726 | title = Kia's ''The Matrix'' Super Bowl Ad Sells A K900 With Morpheus And Two Keys | author = Estrada, Zac | work = [[Jalopnik]] | date = January 28, 2014 |access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, Fishburne joined the ABC sitcom ''[[Black-ish]]'' in the recurring role of Pops; Fishburne is also an executive producer on the show.<ref>{{Cite news | first = Nellie | last = Andreeva | url = https://deadline.com/2013/10/anthony-anderson-toplines-abc-comedy-written-by-kenya-barris-produced-by-laurence-fishburne-who-may-guest-star-606896/ | title = Anthony Anderson Toplines ABC Comedy Written By Kenya Barris & Produced By Laurence Fishburne Who May Guest Star | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | date = October 9, 2013 |access-date=January 7, 2016}}</ref> Fishburne also serves as an executive producer for the Freeform sitcom ''[[Grown-ish]]'', a spin-off series to ''Black-ish''.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://deadline.com/2017/05/black-ish-spinoff-college-ish-yara-shahidi-series-order-freeform-kenya-barris-1202098461/ | title = 'Black-ish' Spinoff 'College-ish' Starring Yara Shahidi Gets Freeform Series Order | last = Andreeva | first = Nellie | date = May 19, 2017 | work = Deadline|access-date=September 3, 2018}}</ref>

In 2016, Fishburne reprised his role as White in the sequel ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]''<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.accesshollywood.com/galleries/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-pics-5260/#6 | title = 'Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice' Pics | publisher = [[Access Hollywood]]|access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref> and appeared in the science fiction/romance movie [[Passengers (2016 film)|''Passengers'']].

In June 2017, Fishburne's production company, Cinema Gypsy Productions, signed a two-year overall deal at [[ABC Studios]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Laurence Fishburne's Cinema Gypsy Prods. Re-Ups ABC Studios Overall Deal, Taps Melissa Gelineau As Head Of TV |url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/laurence-fishburne-cinema-gypsy-prods-abc-studios-overall-deal-melissa-gelineau-head-of-tv-1202118509 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=April 3, 2021 |date=June 22, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, he appeared in the [[neo-noir]] [[Action film|action]] [[Thriller (genre)|thriller film]] ''[[John Wick: Chapter 2]]'' as The Bowery King, in his first collaboration with [[Keanu Reeves]] since [[The Matrix (franchise)|''The Matrix'' trilogy]]. Also in 2017, Fishburne starred in the [[comedy film|comedy]]-[[drama film|drama]] ''[[Last Flag Flying]]'', as the character Rev. Richard Mueller. In 2018, Fishburne played [[Bill Foster (comics)|Bill Foster]] in [[Marvel Studios|Marvel]]'s ''[[Ant-Man and the Wasp]]'', directed by [[Peyton Reed]]. The film was released July 6.<ref>{{Cite magazine | title = Michelle Pfeiffer will play Janet Van Dyne in ''Ant-Man'' and ''The Wasp'' | url = https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/22/michelle-pfeiffer-ant-man-the-wasp/ | last1 = Breznican | first1 = Anthony | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = July 22, 2017}}</ref> Fishburne served as co-creator and executive producer in the [[Marvel Animation]]/[[Disney Television Animation]] series ''[[Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/marvels-moon-girl-devil-dinosaur-cartoon-headed-disney-channel-1234225|title=Marvel's 'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Cartoon Headed To Disney Channel|website=The Hollywood Report|date=August 24, 2019|access-date=August 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://mobile.twitter.com/DisneyTVANews/status/1212192237393715200 The first @Marvel & @DisneyTVA collaboration and from people on #BigHero6TheSeries & #KimPossible will make you want a Dinosaur for Pet/BFF!]</ref> He also appeared in the series as the [[Beyonder]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Channel Announces 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' Cast |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/disney-channel-moon-girl-devil-dinosaur-cast |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Marvel Entertainment}}</ref> and reprised his role as Bill Foster from ''Ant-Man and the Wasp''.

In January 2023, it was announced that Fishburne had been cast as Regis in the fourth season of ''[[The Witcher (TV series)|The Witcher]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Otterson |first1=Joe|title='Witcher' Season 4 Casts Laurence Fishburne |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/witcher-season-4-laurence-fishburne-regis-1235870071/|work=Variety |date=January 12, 2024}}</ref> He also starred in the American action spy espionage thriller, ''[[The Amateur (2025 film)|The Amateur]]'', set for debut in 2025.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0899043/ |title=The Amateur (2025) {{!}} Action, Thriller |language=en-US |access-date=2024-11-16 |via=m.imdb.com}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Fishburne married actress Hajna O. Moss in 1985,<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web | title = Laurence Fishburne- Biography | url = https://movies.yahoo.com/person/laurence-fishburne/biography.html | publisher = [[Yahoo! Movies]]|access-date=September 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214103013/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/laurence-fishburne/biography.html|archive-date=December 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> in New York. They have two children, son [[Langston Fishburne|Langston]] (b. 1987)<ref name="Bio"/> and daughter Montana Fishburne (b. 1991).<ref name="Bio"/><ref>{{Cite web | title = ID10T with Chris Hardwick: Laurence Fishburne | url = https://www.acast.com/thenerdist/laurence-fishburne | website = acast |access-date=August 20, 2018 | date = November 3, 2017}} Fishburne states he has 4 children, the oldest having just turned 40 (at the 50:52 mark).</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-laurence-fishburne/ | title = Episode 915: Interview with Laurence Fishburne | date = November 3, 2017 | website = The Nerdist Podcast |access-date=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113203006/https://nerdist.com/nerdist-podcast-laurence-fishburne/|archive-date=January 13, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hajna and Laurence divorced in the 1990s.<ref name="other">{{Cite web | title = Laurence Fishburne | url = http://www.buddytv.com/info/laurence-fishburne-info.aspx | publisher = [[BuddyTV]]|access-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115033/http://www.buddytv.com/info/laurence-fishburne-info.aspx|archive-date=August 26, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Fishburne dated actress [[Victoria Dillard]] from 1992 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.mcall.com/1995/02/17/cause-effect-with-three-films-showing-actor-laurence-fishburne-a-hot-hollywood-property/ | title = 'Cause' & Effect With Three Films Showing, Actor Laurence Fishburne A Hot Hollywood Property | website = tribunedigital-mcall| date = February 17, 1995 }}</ref>

Fishburne and actress [[Gina Torres]] got engaged in February 2001 and got married on September 22, 2002,<ref>Barron, James (September 24, 2002). [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07EFDB1539F937A1575AC0A9649C8B63 ''Boldface Names: An Amicable Merger'']. [[The New York Times]], Section B; Column 3; Metropolitan Desk; Pg. 2.</ref> at [[the Cloisters]], a museum in [[New York City]]. On January 8, 2007, Fishburne's spokesman Alan Nierob announced that the couple were expecting a child together.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.dailynews.com/gossip/ci_4972641 | title = LA Daily News&nbsp;– Laurence Fishburne and wife Gina Torres are expecting their first child, his publicist says | publisher = Dailynews.com |access-date=April 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803143540/http://www.dailynews.com/gossip/ci_4972641 |archive-date=August 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=4915904 | title = abc7.com: Southern California news leader -Laurence Fishburne And Wife Gina Torres Are Expecting Their First Child 1/08/07 | publisher = Abclocal.go.com | date = January 8, 2007 |access-date=April 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017182014/http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=4915904 |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Their daughter, Delilah, was born in June 2007.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url = https://people.com/parents/update-laurence/ | title = Update: Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres welcome first child; spotted out in Hollywood | magazine = [[People (magazine)|People]] | date = November 14, 2007|access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref> 

On September 20, 2017, it was confirmed that Torres and Fishburne were separated and had been keeping the separation private for the last year.<ref>{{Cite news | last1 = Deerwester | first1 = Jayme | title = Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres split last year and nobody noticed | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/09/20/laurence-fishburne-and-gina-torres-split-last-year-and-nobody-noticed/686880001/#|access-date=September 20, 2017 | newspaper = USA Today}}</ref> Fishburne filed for divorce on November 2, 2017;<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/laurence-fishburne-files-divorce-wife-gina-torres-article-1.3608903 | title = Laurence Fishburne files for divorce from wife Gina Torres | work = NY Daily News|access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> he and Torres reached a final settlement on April 16, 2018; and the divorce became effective May 11, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web | title = It's Over! Laurence Fishburne & Gina Torres Finally Sign Off On Divorce Settlement | url = https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2018/04/laurence-fishburne-divorce-documents-finalized/ | website = Radar Online | date = April 17, 2018 | publisher = Radar Online, LLC |access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>

Fishburne lives in Hollywood, and also maintains a residence in New York City, in the [[Castle Village, Manhattan|Castle Village]] [[Co-Op]] in the [[Hudson Heights (Manhattan)|Hudson Heights]] section of [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]].<ref>{{Cite news | author=<!--Not stated-->  | title = Hudson Heights delivers | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/services/realestate/2008/03/07/2008-03-07_hudson_heights_delivers.html | work = New York Daily News | date = March 7, 2008| access-date=April 8, 2008}}</ref> He is a fan of Brazilian author [[Paulo Coelho]]; in 2009 he said he was planning to produce a movie based on Coelho’s novel ''[[The Alchemist (novel)|The Alchemist]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Cannes Film Festival: Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist to be filmed by Laurence Fishburne – Telegraph | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1980755/Cannes-Film-Festival-Paulo-Coelhos-The-Alchemist-to-be-filmed-by-Laurence-Fishburne.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090601094106/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1980755/Cannes-Film-Festival-Paulo-Coelhos-The-Alchemist-to-be-filmed-by-Laurence-Fishburne.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 1, 2009 | location = London | work = The Daily Telegraph | first = Anita | last = Singh | date = May 18, 2008}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{{Main|Laurence Fishburne filmography}}

== Awards and nominations ==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Laurence Fishburne}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
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* {{IMDb name}}
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* {{Emmys person|laurence-fishburne}}
* {{Playbill person}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Laurence Fishburne
|list =
{{DramaDesk PlayFeaturedActor}}
{{DramaDesk One-PersonShow}}
{{EmmyAward DramaGuestActor}}
{{Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Fight}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television}}
{{TonyAward PlayFeaturedActor}}
{{Gregory Peck Award}}
}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fishburne, Laurence}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:African-American male child actors]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male soap opera actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]]
[[Category:Film producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Augusta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Male actors from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Male actors from Manhattan]]
[[Category:People from Washington Heights, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:Writers from Augusta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Children's and Family Emmy Award winners]]