Larenz Tate was the man of the hour in the 90s.
The legendary actor made a name for himself quickly, and left a lasting mark on Black entertainment. He’s continued working steadily and has been in some surprising and memorable performances along the way.
Tate got his start in a 1985 Christmas episode of the iconic television show The Twilight Zone. A young Tate played “Older Brother” in a short segment titled “Night of the Meek.” From there, he kept doing bit roles in many television series. Then his big break hit in the early 90s and cemented him as a movie star.
Many sitcom fans may remember him as Steve Urkel’s nemesis Willie Fuffner in the sitcom Family Matters. He also guest starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for one episode.
In 1993 he got his breakout role in the hit film Menace II Society as the character O-Dog. The role was a departure from his earlier work. Which gave him a chance to showcase his range as an actor, which ultimately helped define his career.
“A lot of people didn’t know I was doing television before,” Tate shared on the Breakfast Club. “I started out as sort of a child actor. So when I got an opportunity to play that role, I just wanted to separate myself from things that people probably had seen. I did a show with the late Red Foxx and Della Reese, called The Royal Family, so I had this kind of cookie-cutter look and I wanted to get away from that completely.”
Tate has had many legendary roles since then, but he still refers fondly to this movie as changing the trajectory of his career. Soon after the movie was released, the offers started rolling in. Tate had a legendary streak being featured as the lead in Dead Presidents and ultimately gifting the world with Love Jones alongside Nia Long.
“I’m always looking for new challenges and something that would be different,” Tate recalled about receiving the script for the film. “Over my career as I look back, I don’t typically have a one kind of movie that I gravitate towards…This was something I thought would be kind of cool. I love the idea that these people spoke differently to each other. I love the idea that it was romantic. And at the same time, it was going to be in Chicago and I hadn’t seen anything in my hometown quite like it.”
His instincts proved to be true, and that film remains a staple in incredible films about Black love. He continued to work throughout the 2000s. Including a role in Crash in 2004. As well as a recurring role on the Showtime series House of Lies.
It’s the 2017 movie Girls Trip, however, that launched him back into mainstream success. The film stood as a testament to Tate’s overall acting skillset and his longevity as a sex symbol for decades.
He’ll be reuniting with his Love Jones co-star Nia Long for a new Netflix movie . It’s a romance film that will also star Blair Underwood and Susan Kelechi Watson as well. The film reportedly based on Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite album.
Tate has been a lasting figure in Black entertainment and he plans on sticking around for years to come.
“I’m not in it for the fame alone. I really want to continue to use my talent, my gift, my platform, or the fact I’m in an industry where I can give voice to the voiceless,” he shared with Revolt. “When it comes to telling stories of Black people in general, making sure I make an effort to get around any stereotypes that have been created by other people. I’m always fighting the good fight in that respect, trying to uplift us as the people.”
