Larenz Tate

Larenz Tate (born September 8, 1975) is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his roles as O-Dog in Menace II Society, 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, who is of African American heritage, was born in Chicago, to Peggy and Larry Tate. He is the youngest of three siblings; his two brothers, Larron and Lahmard, are also actors. The family moved to California during the early 1980s. 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 Twilight Zone. Tate attended Palmdale High School, graduating in 1993.

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. He also appeared as Curtis, a grandson of Redd Foxx's character on the CBS series The Royal Family. 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.

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. Frederick I. Douglass of the Baltimore Black-American opined Tate's performance in the film made it an instant classic. Tate had a regular role on the short-lived television series South Central (1994) as Andre.

Tate acted in The Inkwell (1994) as Drew. One reviewer praised his performance and called Tate a "promising" actor. However, in negative reviews Tate was seen as "overacting" and compared unfavorably to Jim Carrey. In 1995, Tate portrayed Vietnam veteran Anthony Curtis in the Hughes brothers' Dead Presidents. A film reviewer stated Tate proved he could play sympathetic characters with his performance in the film.

He took on the role of love-stricken young poet Darius in Love Jones (1997). Tate also played Kenny in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the episode "That's No Lady, That's My Cousin", which was produced by Quincy Jones who Tate would later portray in the 2004 film Ray.

In 1997, Tate appeared as Ford Lincoln Mercury in The Postman. He played Frankie Lymon in the biopic Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998). One critic praised Tate's dancing prowess in the film. He was the lead character, Neville, in 2000's Love Come Down.

Throughout the 2000s, Tate continued his film career. Tate portrayed Vin Diesel's drug officer partner in A Man Apart (2003), with his other film work including Biker Boyz (2003), Crash (2004), and Waist Deep (2006). 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, which was cancelled after three episodes. He starred in seasons 4-7 of FX's Rescue Me as Bart "Black Shawn" Johnston. Tate appeared as Malcolm, the brother of Don Cheadle's character, in House of Lies and guest starred on an episode of The Mindy Project. Tate starred as beta tester Max in Beta Test (2016) and appeared in the 2017 film Girls Trip. Starting in 2017, Tate played Councilman Rashad Tate on Power, and continued portraying the character in sequel series Power Book II: Ghost.

In 2026, he portrayed Motown executive Berry Gordy in the Michael Jackson biopic Michael.

Tate is a national spokesman for sickle cell disease.

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

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 movie2011 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