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Laurence Fishburne Biography

Birth Name:Laurence John Fishburne

Birth Place:Augusta, Georgia, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director, Writer

Fast Facts

  • Honored in 2017 by the Atlanta UNICEF
  • Participated in the National Memorial Day Concert by performing on-stage in 2009
  • Named ambassador by UNICEF in 2007
  • Received the Harvard Foundation's award for Artist of the Year in 2007
  • Honored by the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who declared February 24 to be "Laurence Fishburne Day․"
  • Appeared in the play "In My Many Names and Days" at the age of ten
  • Acted as a cast member of "Pee-Wee's Playhouse․"
  • Quote: "I play characters․ I don't think I really have a persona per se․ I don't play the same guy every time․ I show up, you don't know what I'm gonna do․ I like it that way․ I've intentionally tried to do it that way․ I think that's what's interesting․"
  • Frequently takes on the role of wise or intelligent characters
  • Often portrays characters who are in a position of authority
  • Lived with fellow actor Giancarlo Esposito when the two were starting out
  • Reprised his role of Morpheus from "The Matrix" in 2014 for the "Kia K900" commercials
  • Changed his name from Larry Fishburne in 1993

Awards

  • 1991ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1992CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1992Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1993Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
  • 1993Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1994Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1994CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1994Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1996CableACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1996Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 1996Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series: winner
  • 1996Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
  • 1997CableACE-Movie: winner
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: winner
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
  • 1998Black Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: winner
  • 1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1998PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: winner
  • 1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2000Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2000Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Actor: nominated
  • 2000Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Action/Science-Fiction: winner
  • 2000Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2000MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Duo: nominated
  • 2000MTV Movie Award-Best Fight: winner
  • 2003ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2003BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2004BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2004Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2006Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2006Black Movie Award-Outstanding Motion Picture: winner
  • 2006Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
  • 2006Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2007Black Reel-Best Film: nominated
  • 2007Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2007Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2008Special Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2009Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
  • 2011Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2012Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Male: nominated
  • 2012Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
  • 2012Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2012Grace Award-Most Inspirational Television Acting: nominated
  • 2014BloodGuts UK Horror Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor on Television: winner
  • 2015Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2016Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance in a Animated Program: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017AAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2017Black Reel-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2017Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Pre-School Children's Animated Program: winner
  • 2017Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2017PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
  • 2018Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2018Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2018Black Reel-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Black Reel-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
  • 2018Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2020Black Reel-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2020Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series: winner
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2021Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Short-Form Series: winner
  • 2021Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2022Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2023Emmy-Outstanding Children's or Young Teen Animated Series: nominated
  • 2023Emmy-Outstanding Animated Special: winner
  • 2023Emmy-Outstanding Voice Performance in a Children's or Young Teen Program: nominated
  • 2025Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2025Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie): nominated
  • 2025Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
  • 2025Razzie Award-Worst Screen Combo: nominated