Laurence Fishburne is an American actor, producer, director, playwright, and screenwriter whose career spans five decades. Born Laurence John Fishburne III on July 30, 1961, in Augusta, Georgia, he built a reputation for playing authoritative, intense, and commanding characters. From his breakout role in Apocalypse Now at age 14 to his iconic turn as Morpheus in The Matrix, Fishburne has become one of the most recognized performers in modern film and television.
His career reaches from early television work on One Life to Live to blockbuster franchises like John Wick, where he plays the Bowery King. Along the way, he has collected an Academy Award nomination, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. He stands 6 feet tall and is listed at 6′ 0½″ (1.84 m), a physical presence that matches the weight of his most memorable roles.
Few actors have crossed from stage to screen with as much consistency. Fishburne has appeared in more than 60 films, directed and produced his own projects, and remained a steady figure in American entertainment since the 1970s.
Who Is Laurence Fishburne? A Complete Biography
| Full Name | Born | Famous For | Net Worth | Height | Wife |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurence John Fishburne III | July 30, 1961 (Augusta, Georgia) | Morpheus (The Matrix), Bowery King (John Wick) | Estimated $30 million (2024) | 6 ft 0 (1.83 m) | Gina Torres (m. 2002; div. 2018) |
Key Insights About Laurence Fishburne
- He began acting at age 10, winning a recurring role on the soap opera One Life to Live.
- At 14, Francis Ford Coppola cast him as Tyrone “Mr. Clean” Miller in Apocalypse Now (1979), a role written as younger because of production delays.
- His performance as Morpheus in The Matrix (1999) is widely considered his most iconic and recognizable role.
- He has appeared in over 60 films and numerous television series across five decades.
- His net worth is estimated at roughly $30 million, built from blockbuster salaries, royalties, producing, and directing.
- At 6 feet tall, his height and deep voice contribute to the commanding presence he brings to authoritative characters.
Laurence Fishburne at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Laurence John Fishburne III |
| Date of Birth | July 30, 1961 |
| Place of Birth | Augusta, Georgia, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 0 (1.83 m) |
| Net Worth | ~$30 million (2025–2026 estimates) |
| Spouse | Gina Torres (2002–2018) |
| Children | Langston and Montana Fishburne |
| Notable Roles | Morpheus (The Matrix), Bowery King (John Wick), Ike Turner (What’s Love Got to Do with It), Tyrone Miller (Apocalypse Now) |
| Major Awards | 3 Emmy Awards, 1 Tony Award, 1 Academy Award nomination |
| First TV Role | One Life to Live (age 10) |
| First Film Role | Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975) |
Laurence Fishburne Net Worth: How Much Has He Earned?
Entertainment biography sources place Fishburne’s net worth at approximately $30 million as of 2025–2026. One video source reports a similar estimate of $29 million. These figures reflect income from decades of film work, television roles, stage performances, producing, and directing.
He earned significant paydays from the Matrix trilogy, which grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide, and from the John Wick franchise, where his character the Bowery King appears across multiple installments. Royalties from syndication and home video continue to contribute to his earnings.
While most sources agree on a $30 million figure, some outlets have suggested slightly higher amounts. The exact number depends on which assets, investments, and residual payments are included. No public financial disclosure confirms a precise total.
Laurence Fishburne Movies: A Complete Filmography
Fishburne’s filmography stretches from the mid-1970s to the present. His earliest film credit is Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975), but his first major screen role came four years later in Apocalypse Now. Below is a look at the most consistently cited career milestones.
What Was Laurence Fishburne’s First Movie?
His first film appearance was in Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975), a drama in which he played a supporting role. He was 14 years old at the time. That same year, Francis Ford Coppola cast him in Apocalypse Now, though the film was not released until 1979 due to extensive production delays. Because of those delays, Fishburne was 14 when he filmed but 17 when the movie hit theaters, playing a character originally conceived as older.
What Is Laurence Fishburne’s Best Role?
The role that defines his career for most audiences is Morpheus in The Matrix (1999) and its sequels. Morpheus is the mentor figure who guides Neo toward his destiny, and Fishburne’s calm, commanding delivery made the character unforgettable. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Ike Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993), a performance that showed his dramatic range.
What Awards Has Laurence Fishburne Won?
Fishburne has collected some of the most prestigious honors in acting. He won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for August Wilson’s Two Trains Running. He has also won three Emmy Awards for his television work. His Academy Award nomination for What’s Love Got to Do with It remains a career highlight. Additional recognition includes Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.
Fishburne’s three Emmy Awards place him among the most honored actors in television. He won for the TV film Miss Evers’ Boys (1997), the series Thurgood (2011), and as a producer on the documentary The Black Church (2021).
Laurence Fishburne Personal Life: Wife, Children, and Family
Fishburne was born to Hattie Bell Crawford, a mathematics and science teacher, and Laurence Fishburne Jr., a juvenile corrections officer. His parents divorced during his childhood, and he was raised primarily in Brooklyn, New York.
He married actress Hajna O. Moss in 1985. The couple had two children, Langston and Montana, before divorcing. He later had a relationship with actress Gina Torres, whom he married in 2002. The marriage ended in divorce in 2018.
Some details about Fishburne’s children, including the exact ages of his daughter Montana, are not widely reported in reliable sources. Public information about his current relationship status remains limited after the divorce from Gina Torres.
Laurence Fishburne Height: How Tall Is the Actor?
Fishburne is listed at 6 feet 0½ inches, which converts to approximately 1.84 meters. His height is often noted in profiles as part of the physical presence he brings to roles that demand authority. In interviews and on-screen comparisons, he is visibly taller than many of his co-stars, a trait that suits characters like Morpheus and the Bowery King.
No reliable source provides his exact weight, though several entertainment databases list a range between 185 and 200 pounds depending on the era. What is consistent is the description of his build as athletic and commanding, matching the intensity of his performances.
Laurence Fishburne Legacy: From Apocalypse Now to The Matrix and John Wick
What Was Laurence Fishburne’s Role in Apocalypse Now?
In Apocalypse Now, Fishburne played Tyrone “Mr. Clean” Miller, a young soldier on a river patrol boat during the Vietnam War. The role was controversial because of his age: at 14, he was a minor playing a character in a war zone, and the production included intense, adult themes. The performance nonetheless launched his film career and remains one of the more notable early credits in his filmography.
Is Laurence Fishburne in John Wick?
Yes, Fishburne plays the Bowery King, a crime lord who controls an underground network of informants and homeless spies. He first appears in John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) and returns in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). The role adds another authoritative figure to his roster of memorable characters.
What Is Laurence Fishburne’s Legacy?
Fishburne is regarded as one of the most versatile performers of his generation, equally at home on stage, in prestige drama, and in blockbuster action films. His career profile notes that he often plays authoritative, intense, or militant characters, but his range extends to comedy, science fiction, and historical drama. He has also worked as a director and producer, further broadening his influence in the industry.
Laurence Fishburne Career Timeline
- 1961 — Born in Augusta, Georgia.
- 1971 — First TV role at age 10 on One Life to Live.
- 1975 — Film debut in Cornbread, Earl and Me.
- 1979 — Apocalypse Now released, giving him his first major film credit.
- 1991 — Plays Jason “Furious” Styles in Boyz n the Hood.
- 1993 — Earns an Academy Award nomination for What’s Love Got to Do with It.
- 1999 — The Matrix released; Morpheus becomes his signature role.
- 2002 — Marries actress Gina Torres.
- 2017 — Joins the John Wick franchise as the Bowery King.
- 2018 — Divorces Gina Torres.
- 2024+ — Continues acting, producing, and directing.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Uncertain About Laurence Fishburne?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Full name: Laurence John Fishburne III | Exact current net worth varies by source (some suggest $35 million) |
| Born July 30, 1961 in Augusta, Georgia | Current relationship status not publicly confirmed post-divorce |
| Height: 6 ft 0 (1.84 m) | Exact age of daughter Montana Fishburne not widely reported |
| Net worth: estimated ~$30 million | No public disclosure of specific asset breakdown |
| Married to Gina Torres (2002–2018) | — |
| Two children: Langston and Montana | — |
What Makes Laurence Fishburne’s Career Distinctive?
Fishburne’s career is defined by an early start and remarkable longevity. He began working professionally at age 10, and by 14 he had already appeared in a film that would become a landmark of American cinema. His ability to transition between theater, television, and film is rare. He has played Shakespeare on stage (Othello, 1995) and action heroes on screen with equal credibility.
His height and deep voice contribute to what critics describe as an authoritative presence. That presence has made him a go-to actor for mentor figures, military leaders, and underworld kingpins. Yet his Oscar-nominated turn as Ike Turner showed a vulnerability and menace that proved his range extended far beyond the stoic archetype.
Sources and Credibility: Where to Find Reliable Information
“Wikipedia provides the most authoritative biographical summary. IMDB offers the most comprehensive filmography and credit list.”
— Analysis of top search results for Laurence Fishburne
The most reliable sources for Fishburne’s biography are Wikipedia, which maintains a well-cited entry, and IMDb, which tracks his credits in detail. The Biography.com profile offers a more condensed summary. For net worth, celebrity finance sites and video biographies provide the current estimates.
For similar actor profiles, readers may also find the Mike Myers – Biography, Net Worth, and the Michael Myers Confusion article useful for understanding another long-running career. For filmography-focused content, the Anthony Edwards (actor) Movies and TV Shows: Full List and Guide offers a comparable deep dive into a screen career.
Summary: What You Need to Know About Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne is an award-winning actor with a career that spans more than 50 years, from a child actor on daytime television to Morpheus in The Matrix and the Bowery King in John Wick. He stands 6 feet tall, has an estimated net worth of $30 million, and has won three Emmys and a Tony. His personal life includes two marriages and two children. He remains active in film, television, and theater as of 2025. For a complete list of his credits, the IMDb page remains the most comprehensive resource.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laurence Fishburne
What is Laurence Fishburne’s real name?
His full name is Laurence John Fishburne III.
How old is Laurence Fishburne?
He is 63 years old as of 2024, having been born on July 30, 1961.
What was Laurence Fishburne’s first movie?
His first film role was in Apocalypse Now (1979), though he had an earlier minor credit in Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975).
Does Laurence Fishburne have children?
Yes, he has two children: Langston and Montana Fishburne.
What awards has Laurence Fishburne won?
He has won three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award, and received an Academy Award nomination.
Is Laurence Fishburne in John Wick?
Yes, he plays the Bowery King in the John Wick series, starting with Chapter 2 (2017).
How tall is Laurence Fishburne?
He is listed at 6 feet 0½ inches (1.84 m).
Who was Laurence Fishburne married to?
He was married to actress Gina Torres from 2002 to 2018.
What is Laurence Fishburne’s most famous role?
His most iconic role is Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy.
Where was Laurence Fishburne born?
He was born in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
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Oscar Friel covers business regulation, public policy, economics and institutional accountability for Civic Affairs.