Larenz Tate
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Larenz Tate (born September 8, 1975)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his roles as O-Dog in Menace II Society (1993), Anthony Curtis in Dead Presidents (1995), Frankie Lymon in Why Do Fools Fall In Love, and as Councilman Rashad Tate in Power (2017–20) and Power Book II: Ghost (2020–24).
Tate's other films and television series include the films The Inkwell (1994), Love Jones (1997), A Man Apart (2003), Crash (2004), Ray (2004), Waist Deep (2006) and the television series Rush (2014) and Game of Silence (2016).
Early life
Tate was born in Chicago, to Peggy and Larry Tate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is the youngest of three siblings; his two brothers, Larron and Lahmard, are also actors.<ref name="thompson">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="peters">Template:Cite news</ref> The family moved to California during the early 1980s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Convinced by their parents to enter a drama program at the Inner City Cultural Center, the trio did not take the lessons seriously until classmate Malcolm-Jamal Warner's ascent to fame after being cast on the sitcom The Cosby Show. Subsequently, realizing that they could parlay their efforts into a tangible form of success, the siblings began to receive small roles and in 1985, Tate made his small-screen debut in an episode of The New Twilight Zone.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tate attended Palmdale High School, graduating in 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
Following appearances in such television series as 21 Jump Street and The Wonder Years, Tate was cast in the television movie The Women of Brewster Place before receiving the recurring role of Steve Urkel's nemesis, Willie Fuffner, in the sitcom Family Matters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also appeared as Curtis, a grandson of Redd Foxx's character on the CBS series The Royal Family.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Foxx died of a heart attack a month after The Royal Family debuted, and a reworking with Jackée Harry as part of the cast failed to save the series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
After numerous acting roles on television, collaborative filmmaking siblings Albert and Allen Hughes approached him to star in their debut feature Menace II Society in 1993. In the film, Tate portrayed "O-Dog", a trigger-happy teenager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Frederick I. Douglass of the Baltimore Black-American opined Tate's performance in the film made it an instant classic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tate had a regular role on the short-lived television series South Central (1994) as Andre.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Tate acted in The Inkwell (1994) as Drew. One reviewer praised his performance and called Tate a "promising" actor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, in negative reviews Tate was seen as "overacting"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and compared unfavorably to Jim Carrey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1995, Tate portrayed Vietnam veteran Anthony Curtis in the Hughes brothers' Dead Presidents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A film reviewer stated Tate proved he could play sympathetic characters with his performance in the film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He took on the role of love-stricken young poet Darius in Love Jones (1997).<ref name="thompson"/> Critic Jay Carr found Tate "engaging" in the role.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tate also played Kenny in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the episode "That's No Lady, That's My Cousin",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was produced by Quincy Jones who Tate would later portray in the 2004 film Ray.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1997, Tate appeared as Ford Lincoln Mercury in The Postman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played Frankie Lymon in the biopic Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998). One critic praised Tate's dancing prowess in the film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was the lead character, Neville, in 2000's Love Come Down.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Throughout the 2000s, Tate continued his film career. Tate portrayed Vin Diesel's drug officer partner in A Man Apart (2003),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with his other film work including Biker Boyz (2003),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Crash (2004),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Waist Deep (2006).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tate was featured in R&B singer Ashanti's 2003 released music video Rain on Me, where he played the jealous, abusive spouse of Ashanti. The video touched on the subject of domestic abuse. In the video game 187 Ride or Die, Tate voices the main character, Buck.
Tate portrayed Shooter Cooper in Love Monkey,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which was cancelled after three episodes. He starred in seasons 4-7 of FX's Rescue Me as Bart "Black Shawn" Johnston.Template:Citation needed Tate appeared as Malcolm, the brother of Don Cheadle's character, in House of Lies<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and guest starred on an episode of The Mindy Project.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Tate starred as beta tester Max in Beta Test (2016)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and appeared in the 2017 film Girls Trip.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Starting in 2017, Tate played Councilman Rashad Tate on Power,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and continued portraying the character in sequel series Power Book II: Ghost.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He was announced to portray Motown executive Berry Gordy in the Michael Jackson biopic Michael.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tate is a national spokesman for sickle cell disease.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Menace II Society | Kevin "O-Dog" Anderson | |
| 1994 | The Inkwell | Drew Tate | |
| 1995 | Dead Presidents | Anthony Curtis | |
| 1997 | Love Jones | Darius Lovehall | |
| The Postman | Ford Lincoln Mercury | ||
| 1998 | Why Do Fools Fall in Love | Frankie Lymon | |
| 2000 | Love Come Down | Neville Carter | |
| 2003 | Biker Boyz | "Wood" | |
| A Man Apart | DEA Agent Demetrius Hicks | ||
| 2004 | Crash | Peter Waters | |
| Ray | Quincy Jones | ||
| 2006 | Waist Deep | "Lucky" | |
| 2011 | Sacks West | Larenz | Short |
| 2016 | Beta Test | Max Troy | |
| 2017 | Girls Trip | Julian Stevens | |
| Deuces | "Deuces" | ||
| 2019 | Business Ethics | Zachery Cranston | |
| 2026 | Michael | Berry Gordy | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Older Brother | Episode: "Night of the Meek" |
| 1987 | Hunter | Sporty's Nephew | Episode: "Crossfire" |
| Frank's Place | Other Boy | Episode: "Cool and the Gang: Part 1 & 2" | |
| 1988 | Sonny Spoon | Tim | Episode: "Cheap & Chili" |
| Amen | LeShawn | Episode: "Get Em Up, Scout" | |
| 1989 | 21 Jump Street | Young Adam Fuller | Episode: "Wolly Bullies" |
| The Wonder Years | Basketball Team Captain | Episode: "Loosiers" | |
| The Women of Brewster Place | Sammy | TV mini series | |
| Matlock | Street Kid #3 | Episode: "The Scrooge" | |
| 1990 | New Attitude | "Chilly D" | Main cast |
| You Take the Kids | Tyrone | Episode: "The Eggs & I" | |
| 1990–1991 | Family Matters | Willie Fuffner | Recurring cast: season 2 |
| 1991 | Clippers | T.J. | TV movie |
| Seeds of Tragedy | Cornelius | TV movie | |
| The Royal Family | Curtis Royal | Main cast | |
| 1992 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Kenny | Episode: "That's No Lady, That's My Cousin" |
| 1993 | Harts of the West | Marcus | Episode: "Cowboyz in the Hood" |
| 1994 | South Central | Andre Mosely | Main cast |
| 2006 | Waterfront | Marcus | Main cast |
| Love Monkey | Derrick "Shooter" Cooper | Main cast | |
| 2007–2011 | Rescue Me | Bart "Black Sean" Johnston | Recurring cast: seasons 4-5, main cast: seasons 6-7 |
| 2008 | Blue Blood | Tre | TV movie |
| 2011 | Justified | Clinton Moss | Episode: "For Blood or Money" |
| Gun Hill | Trane Stevens / Bird Stevens | TV movie | |
| 2013 | The Mindy Project | Tracy | Episode: "Mindy Lahiri Is a Racist" |
| 2013–2015 | House of Lies | Malcolm Kaan | Recurring cast: seasons 2-4 |
| 2014 | Rush | Alex Burke | Main cast |
| 2015 | White Water | Terrance | TV movie |
| 2016 | Game of Silence | Shawn Cook | Main cast |
| 2017 | Salamander | Ethan | TV movie |
| 2017–2020 | Power | Councilman Rashad Tate | Recurring cast: season 4, main cast: seasons 5-6 |
| 2020–2024 | Power Book II: Ghost | Recurring cast: season 1, main cast: seasons 2-3, guest: season 4 |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 187 Ride or Die | Buck | Voice role |
Awards and nominations
References
External links
- Larenz Tate on Menace II Society and House of Lies, fastlifeshow.com, December 2012; accessed September 18, 2015.
- Template:IMDb name
Template:Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series Template:Authority control
- 1975 births
- 20th-century African-American male actors
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century African-American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Actors from Palmdale, California
- African-American male child actors
- American male child actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- Living people
- Male actors from Chicago
- Male actors from Los Angeles County, California
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People with sickle-cell disease