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Laurence Fishburne has been in the movie game for a very long time. He started when he was only 14 years old by lying on an application to get a role in a film. From there, his career took off as he stared in many roles from the great and wise Morpheus, where he asked if you wanted to take the red or blue pill. Fishburne is a man who always plays the authoritative figure and does a good job doing it.
Morpheus- The Matrix (1999) and series
Would you take the red pill or bill pill? In one of the greatest and ground breaking films of all time, Fishburne plays a captain who believes in Neo and fights against the machines. Fishburne is great in this role as a man who is a father to all and has undying faith. Also, dude has stylish clothes and can whip a ton of ass.
Tyrone ‘Mr. Clean’ Miller- Apocalypse Now (1979)
In Francis Ford Coppola epic war drama with one of the best lines ever: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” Fishburne plays the cocky seventeen-year-old South Bronx-born crewmember. What was crazy about this role is that Fishburne was only 14 when shooting began as he lied about his age. By the time the film came out, he was 18.
Cowboy Curtis- Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986-1990)
Awwwww man. We had to go way back in the day to find a clip. Fishburne played Cowboy Curtis on Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Maybe not an iconic role but you should never hate and look down upon where you start. Homeboy rocked the jheri curl mullet. I didn’t even know that was possible.
Ike Turner, Sr.- What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
In the legendary, influential, hip shaking queen Tina Turner’s biography, Fishburne plays Ike Turner. You know you did your role well when you can’t stand the person. I disliked Fishburne so much in this role because it revealed how much of a pathetic person Ike Turner was. It also showed the abuse Tina went through. Fishburne also garnered an Academy Award nomination for this role.
Vinnie- Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
Fishburne plays Vinnie a chess park regular who is the complete opposite of the teacher that Josh had. Fishburne showed Vinnie as a fast talking but mentor to Josh and a person where chess was a game to have fun with rather than stress over.
Earl “Pops” Johnson- Black-ish (2014-2022)
Playing Dre’s father, Fishburne is funny in this role as he brings that old school thinking to the family. He is a bridge between the old world and the new way of thinking. The spanking episode was hilarious because he was dead set on it. He represented all old black grandpa’s and what they think about certain things (i.e., the doctor and IRS).
The Bowery King- John Wick series
The John Wick series is an awesome series and keeps getting better and better with each movie. Fishburne joined the series in the second film as the Bowery King, an underground criminal lord. Fishburne’s character was pleasantly interesting as he seemed to want the shake up the very foundation of the assassin world and give John all the help he can get.
Jason ‘Furious’ Styles- Boyz n the Hood (1991)
The film is the story of Tre Styles, who is sent to live with his father Furious Styles in South Central Los Angeles which is surrounded by the booming gang culture. Fishburne is strong as “Furious” Styles, a father who takes in his young son and doesn’t want him to end up like every other gang member. Fishburne is tough as that father figure who is intelligent but lives in a shitty neighborhood.
Captain Miller- Event Horizon (1997)
The film was way ahead of its time. A film that follows a crew of astronauts sent on a rescue mission, when a ship that disappeared years ago suddenly reappears. Fishburne as usual plays the tough nose authority figure who wants to make sure his crew is safe. If the film was made today, it might be a box office hit but it is also creepy.
Thrax- Osmosis Jones (2001)
Providing the voice of an extremely deadly pathogenic agent, Fishburne is delightful and evil. Thrax wants to be known as the world’s deadliest disease and already known as the Red Death. Fishburne provides a type of glee and malevolence for the character.
