---
name: "Larenz Tate"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/larenz-tate"
fi1m_id: "larenz-tate"
imdb_id: "nm0005478"
tmdb_id: 18291
wikidata_id: "Q1805906"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "8 September 1975"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 69
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-09-20T07:16:32.387194+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Larenz Tate

## Identity

Larenz Tate

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/larenz-tate
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** larenz-tate
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005478
- **TMDB ID:** 18291
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1805906
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larenz_Tate, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1805906, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005478/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18291

Actor. Born 8 September 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 8 September 1975, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 1988–present
- **Also known as:** Ларънс Тейт
- **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (1), 1990s 82 (1), 2000s 67 (3), 2020s 47 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 63 to 63 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Music 2, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Family 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,284m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larenz_Tate, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1805906, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005478/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18291

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*Menace II Society*](https://film.one/film/menace-ii-society.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Crash*](https://film.one/film/crash-2005.md) (54)
- **Apple TV:** [*Michael*](https://film.one/film/michael.md) (47)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Larenz Tate

> Larenz Tate can make danger look like a young man's wish to impress. We rate him most highly when that restless energy has room to unsettle us, though his romantic leads offer good reason to look beyond O-Dog.

In *Menace II Society* (1993), Larenz Tate's O-Dog makes the prospect of hurting someone sound ordinary, almost something to show off about. We were horrified by that casualness, because Tate lets us recognise the boyish energy without making the danger any less real. He does not need to announce menace with a conspicuously sinister performance; the eagerness is troubling enough. It remains the strongest reason for our regard for him, although it should not be allowed to define everything we expect from his acting.

Allen and Albert Hughes give him a film concerned with how violent behaviour is learnt, and Tate keeps O-Dog from becoming merely an illustration of it. Alongside Tyrin Turner's more reserved Caine, his immediate force helps us distinguish two young men whom a less attentive drama might lump together. The directors do not always leave enough space for either actor: the relentless pace can hurry past the performances that make the violence matter. We recommend the film with that caveat, rather than pretending that its pressure never becomes excessive.

The return to the Hughes brothers for *Dead Presidents* (1995), as Vietnam veteran Anthony Curtis, gave Tate a more sympathetic part after his breakthrough. Then *Love Jones* (1997) put his charm to romantic use as Darius Lovehall opposite Nia Long. Those roles matter because they offer something other than another volatile young man, a casting habit that could easily have become a restriction. Supporting work included *Crash* (2004) and a turn as Quincy Jones in *Ray* (2004), before the recurring role of Rashad Tate across *Power* and *Power Book II: Ghost*.

In Antoine Fuqua's *Michael* (2026), he plays Berry Gordy. We found its dancing worth the evening, but not enough to excuse the authorised biography around it. John Logan's straightforward rise-to-fame script leaves little room for the complications its subject demands. For a first encounter with Tate, choose *Menace II Society*, provided a comfortable evening is not the aim.

## Biography

Larenz Tate is an American actor. Born on 8 September 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, he is the youngest of three brothers, both of whom are also actors. The family moved to California in the early 1980s. He began acting after enrolling with his brothers in a drama programme at the Inner City Cultural Center, making his television debut in an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1985.

Tate gained prominence with his role as O-Dog in Menace II Society (1993). Subsequent film credits include Dead Presidents (1995), Love Jones (1997), Ray (2004) as Quincy Jones, Crash (2005), and Girls Trip (2017). On television he has appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wonder Years and, more recently, as Rashad Tate in Power (2014–2020) and Power Book II: Ghost (2020–2024). In 2026 he portrayed Berry Gordy in the Michael Jackson biopic Michael.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Michael* (2026), Fi1m 47, as Berry Gordy — [page](https://film.one/film/michael.md)
- *Crash* (2005), Fi1m 54, as Peter — [page](https://film.one/film/crash-2005.md)
- *Ray* (2004), Fi1m 70, as Quincy Jones — [page](https://film.one/film/ray.md)
- *Rescue Me* (2004), Fi1m 77, as Bart Johnston — [page](https://film.one/tv/rescue-me.md)
- *Menace II Society* (1993), Fi1m 82, as Kevin 'O-Dog' — [page](https://film.one/film/menace-ii-society.md)
- *The Wonder Years* (1988), Fi1m 82, as Basketball Team Captain — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wonder-years.md)

## Complete filmography (45)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Michael* (2026), as Berry Gordy — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/michael.md)
- *Business Ethics* (2020), as Zachery Cranston
- *Power Book II: Ghost* (2020), series, as Councilman Tate
- *Girls Trip* (2017), as Julian Stevens
- *Deuces* (2017), as Deuces
- *Beta Test* (2016), as Max · Producer
- *Game of Silence* (2016), series, as Shawn Polk
- *Unity* (2015), as Narrator (voice)
- *White Water* (2015), as Terrance
- *Rush* (2014), series, as Dr. Alex Burke
- *Gun Hill* (2014), as Bird Stevens
- *Power* (2014), series, as Rashad Tate
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), series, as Tracy — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *House of Lies* (2012), series, as Malcolm Kaan
- *Justified* (2010), series, as Clinton Moss — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *Gangsta Vision: Making ‘Menace 2 Society’* (2009), Actor
- *Waist Deep* (2006), as Lucky
- *Love Monkey* (2006), series, as Shooter Cooper
- *The Hot Spot* (2005), Director, Writer
- *Crash* (2005), as Peter — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/crash-2005.md)
- *Ray* (2004), as Quincy Jones — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/ray.md)
- *Rescue Me* (2004), series, as Bart 'Black Shawn' Johnston, Bart Johnston — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/rescue-me.md)
- *A Man Apart* (2003), as Demetrius Hicks
- *Biker Boyz* (2003), as Wood
- *Love Come Down* (2000), as Neville Carter
- *Why Do Fools Fall In Love* (1998), as Frankie Lymon
- *The Postman* (1997), as Ford
- *Love Jones* (1997), as Darius Lovehall
- *Dead Presidents* (1995), as Anthony Curtis
- *The Inkwell* (1994), as Drew Tate
- *South Central* (1994), series, as Andre Mosely
- *Menace II Society* (1993), as Kevin 'O-Dog' — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/menace-ii-society.md)
- *The Royal Family* (1991), series, as Curtis Royal
- *Seeds of Tragedy* (1991), as Cornelius
- *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Kenny
- *New Attitude* (1990), series, as Chilly D
- *Family Matters* (1989), series, as Willie Fuffner
- *The Women of Brewster Place* (1989), as Sammy
- *The Women of Brewster Place* (1989), series, as Sammy
- *The Wonder Years* (1988), series, as Basketball Team Captain — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wonder-years.md)
- *21 Jump Street* (1987), series, as Young Adam Fuller
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Street Kid #3
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as (segment "Night of the Meek")
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Sporty's Nephew
- *Don't Ever Wonder*, as Producer

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/larenz-tate