Laurence Fishburne leftCSI: Crime Scene Investigationfor a specific reason. The show, which premiered on CBS in 2000, was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and ran for 15 seasons, in the process spawning half a dozen spinoffs includingCSI: Miami, which ran for 10 seasons, andCSI: NY, which ran for nine. The flagship show, which followed a Las Vegas Police Department crime scene investigation team, featured a rotating cast of stars over the years, which included William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Paul Guilfoyle, Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, Louise Lombard, and Elisabeth Shue.
Laurence Fishburne joined theCSIfranchisein 2008, first appearing on the flagship show in season 9 as former medical doctor Raymond Langston and becoming a main cast member two episodes later, after the departure of Petersen’s longtime character Gil Grissom, who had been a part of the series since the pilot. During his tenure, Fishburne also portrayed Langston in crossover episodes ofNYandMiami,in addition to voicing the character in the tie-in video gamesDeadly IntentandFatal Conspiracy. He remained on the series for 60 episodes untildeparting at the end of season 11 in 2011.
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Laurence Fishburne Left CSI To Focus On Feature Films Again
He Is Best Known For His Movie Roles
According to aDeadlinereport from the time, Fishburne departed the series after two-and-a-half seasons becausehis contract was up, andhe was interested in taking on more work in feature films. In fact, at the time he left, he was already set to appear in a major role inSteven Soderbergh’sContagion, which debuted in theaters just four months after his final episode ofCSI: Crime Scene Investigation. While he opted not to renew his contract at the end of season 11, he had previously renewed it for another season at the end of season 10.
Fishburne was third-billed in the closing credits ofContagion, which featured a vast ensemble cast that also included Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Sanaa Lathan, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Considering the number of movies that Fishburne had made before joining the series,it makes sense that he would want to continue working in that medium. In addition to his role as Morpheus in theMatrixtrilogy, which helped him gain an even wider audience, his pre-CSIfilmography includes such notable features asApocalypse Now,Death Wish II,Rumble Fish,The Color Purple,A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, andBoyz n the Hood. In fact, an insider toldDeadlineas much, saying that “nobody expected him to be on the show for 7 years, it’s Laurence Fishburne.”
What Laurence Fishburne Has Done Since He Left CSI
He Has Made Both Movies And TV
Laurence Fishburne has appeared regularly on television since he left the cast ofCSI: Crime Scene Investigation. This includes playingprominent roles such as the recurring character Earl Johnson in all eight seasons ofBlack-ishand major character Jack Crawford in all three seasons ofHannibal. He has also appeared in shows such asRoots,MacGruber,Clipped,Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, and the upcoming season of Netflix’sThe Witcher. However, he did take a roughly two-year break from episodic television acting after his final episode ofCSI.
[Fishburne] has appeared in a variety of major post-CSIblockbusters…
Additionally,the number of movies that he has made since 2011 far exceeds his television roles. He has appeared in a variety of major post-CSIblockbusters includingMan of Steel,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,Ant-Man and the Wasp,Ride Along, and every movie in theJohn Wickfranchiseso far sinceChapter 2. He has also appeared in many smaller movies made by respected directors, including Clint Eastwood’sThe Muleand the Richard Linklater titlesWhere’d You Go, BernadetteandLast Flag Flying. His upcoming roles include a supporting performance opposite Rami Malek in the thrillerThe Amateur.
Who Replaced Laurence Fishburne In CSI
Another Major Star Stepped In
As was the case when Fishburne originally joined the series to fill in for William Petersen’s character,a new star arrived in the main cast in the wake of his 2011 departure.The Good PlaceandCheersstar Ted DansonboardedCSI: Crime Scene Investigationas D.B. Russell at the beginning of season 12. While his character did not occupy a similar position in the team, he did replace Fishburne as a major name-brand star at the core of the show, a position he held until the series concluded at the end of season 15 in 2015.
Source:Deadline
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation centers around a team of forensic investigators in Las Vegas. The series, released in 2000, follows the experts as they solve criminal cases by meticulously analyzing crime scenes, gathering evidence, and uncovering the truth behind various mysteries.
