8 Things You Didn’t Know About Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne has been in the film industry for many years and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most recognized black performers. Fishbourne appeared in the renowned film The Matrix and has since become the face of everything and practically everything related to the matrix fan base and his character, Morpheus.

If you want to learn more about this talented man, we have some interesting unknown facts about him that will surely pique your interest.

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Laurence Fishburne

1. Appeared In Apocalypse Now As A Child

When you think ‘Of Laurence Fishburne, some legendary performances come to mind. Even many film enthusiasts may be unaware that a very young ‘Larry Fishburne’ featured in one of the greatest films of all time, Apocalypse Now, long before his most renowned appearances.

2. Title Role In Othello

He was the second African-American actor, after Paul Robeson, to play the title role in Othello. This is a huge achievement for Lauren as very few actors get the chance of working is such prestigious projects. ^[1]

3. Life Saver For Emilio Estevez

Finally, we return to Apocalypse Now and the intriguing story of how a young Laurence Fishburne saved the life of future film star Emilio Estevez during the film’s shooting. Estevez was on set in the Philippines with his father, Martin Sheen, when he nearly drowned in a lake. Fortunately, Fishburne was nearby to whisk him away. ^[2]

4. Age Difference With His On Screen Son

The connection between Fishburne’s character, Furious Styles, and his son Tre, played by Cuba Gooding Jr., is one of the film’s key plot arcs. It feels really authentic, which is quite an accomplishment given the seven-year age difference between the two performers.

5. Memorable Role In Childhood

His most notable youth performance was in the film Cornbread, Earl, and Me, in which he played a little boy who witnessed the police shooting of a popular high school basketball star.

6. Lied About His Age To Get A Part In Apocalypse Now

He was 14 years old when production of Apocalypse Now began in March 1976, having lied about his age to get the part. The filming went on so long that he was actually 17 years old when it was finished. ^[3]

7. A Family Man

Fishburne met actress Gina Torres in February 2001, and the couple married on September 22, 2002, at The Cloisters museum in New York City. Alan Nierob, Fishburne’s publicist, confirmed the couple’s first child together on January 8, 2007. Delilah, the couple’s daughter, was born in June 2007.

8. Nominee For Oscar

He garnered his first Academy Award nomination in 1993 for his performance as Ike Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It? However, he did not receive the honor. We are confident that he will win an Oscar for his outstanding performance in the future.