10) Akeelah and the Bee (2006): Fishburne makes a pitch perfect father figure as a spelling bee coach in this heartwarming and inspiring family film.
9) Deep Cover (1992): Now best remembered for the classic Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg cut from its soundtrack, this tough action film, in which Fishburne plays a compromised undercover cop, still holds up.
8) Hoodlum (1997): Fishburne sizzles as legendary Harlem gangster Bumpy Johnson in this unjustly overlooked period film.
7) Higher Learning (1995): As West Indian Professor Maurice Phipps, Fishburne was the heart of John Singleton’s controversial film on racial tensions on a college campus.
6) Apocalypse Now (1979): Then Larry Fishburne became a breakout star in Francis Ford Coppola’s infamous Vietnam epic. He played a trigger happy teen tragically cut down in his prime.
5) School Daze (1988): Fishburne played an earnest, self righteous student activist in Spike Lee’s uproarious ode to HBCU culture.
4) King of New York (1990): In this ultra-violent gangster film (beloved by Notorious BIG) Fishburne played against type as garish, gun-happy thug named Jimmy Jump.
3) The Matrix (1999): Arguably Fishburne’s most famous role (and biggest blockbuster). His wise Morpheus brought gravitas to this iconic sci-fi film.
2) What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993): Fishburne scored his first (and so far only) Oscar nomination for his chilling and unforgettable performance as a physically and verbally abusive Ike Turner.
1) Boyz n the Hood (1991): Fishburne played the prototype of an ideal father Furious Styles in this acclaimed John Singleton drama about inner-city gang violence.
This weekend Laurence Fishburne co-stars with an all-star cast in the highly anticipated thriller Contagion. Fishburne remains one of the most underrated Hollywood stars despite four decades in the business. theGrio has compiled a list of our favorite roles from this versatile and accomplished talent.
